Click "More options" to choose how often you want to back up (e.g., every hour) and how long you want to keep saved versions.
Windows 11 Backup to External Drive: The Ultimate 2026 Guide
In an era of rising ransomware and hardware failures, your digital life is only as safe as your last backup. Windows 11 has evolved significantly since its launch, streamlining how users protect their data. While cloud storage like OneDrive is popular, a physical external drive remains the gold standard for speed, privacy, and total system recovery.
For the best performance on Windows 11, format your external drive to NTFS . Avoid FAT32 as it limits individual file sizes to 4GB. Troubleshooting Common Issues
Old backups often clutter drives. In File History settings, use the "Clean up versions" tool to delete files older than six months to free up room for new data.