A backup is a second copy of your files somewhere else, so a broken drive, a lost laptop, or a bad update does not mean losing your photos and documents. The easiest setup is File History to an external drive, plus cloud storage for the files you care about most.
Steps
Decide what matters most. Start with Documents, Pictures, Desktop, and any folders where you keep photos, work, or important files. A backup that covers those folders protects almost everything people actually miss.
Set up File History with an external drive. Plug in an external drive, open Settings, select System, then Storage, then Advanced storage settings, then Backup options. On Windows 10, the path is Settings, then Update and Security, then Backup. Select Add a drive, choose your external drive, and turn File History on.
Choose how often File History saves. On the same Backup options page, set how often copies are saved and how long they are kept. The default of every hour is fine for most people.
Back up with OneDrive for an off-site copy. Open OneDrive from the taskbar cloud icon, sign in, and select the folders to sync, such as Documents and Pictures. Files in those folders are copied to the cloud as well as staying on your computer. OneDrive comes with a small amount of free storage, and larger plans cost extra.
Run a first backup now. On the Backup options page, select Back up now. Leave the external drive connected until it finishes, and check that the drive shows a backup folder afterwards.
Keep the external drive somewhere safe. After the backup finishes, unplug the drive and store it away from the computer. A backup on a drive that sits next to the laptop does not help if the laptop is stolen or the room floods.
Test the backup. Open File History from the Backup options page and check that you can see older versions of a file. A backup you have never tested is a backup you cannot trust.
Repeat on a schedule. Reconnect the external drive at least once a week so File History can catch up, and check every month that recent files appear in the backup.
A backup is only a backup if the copy is somewhere the original is not. Keeping the only second copy on the same drive, or in the same folder, does not protect you from a drive failure.
File History or OneDrive, which should I use?
Use both if you can. File History keeps a local copy you control and can restore quickly, including older versions of files. OneDrive keeps a copy off-site, so it still helps if the computer and the external drive are both lost. Neither one replaces the other.
About this guide
This guide covers the built-in backup tools on Windows 11 and Windows 10. OneDrive is included with Windows, and File History works with any external drive with enough free space.
Common questions
How big should my external drive be? At least as large as the files you are backing up, and ideally twice as large, so File History has room to keep older versions of files.
Does File History back up everything on my computer? No. It backs up the folders in your user profile, such as Documents, Pictures, Desktop, Music, and Videos, plus any folders you add. It does not back up installed programs, which you would reinstall instead.
What happens if I forget to plug the drive in? File History waits until the drive is connected again, then catches up. That is why a regular habit, such as plugging it in once a week, matters more than the exact settings.
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