How to Perform Windows Folder Backup [Step-by-step Guide]

This page covers Windows folder backup, elaborates on two ways to finish a Windows folder backup, and introduces a professional backup tool.

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Sherly

Updated on Jan 12, 2024

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Introduction

Nowadays, backup matters in our daily life since data loss may cause serious economic loss or even worse consequences. Backup is a useful method to prevent our data from:

  • Software failure
  • Data corruption
  • Malicious virus attack
  • Accidental deletion of data

Therefore, we need to develop backup habits. However, do you know what you should back up? The next paragraph may tell you the answer.

Which Windows Folders Should I Backup?

Users in modern society always need to back up folders to avoid data loss. But do you know what to backup before formatting pc or what to backup in daily work? Here is a list to help you with this problem.

  • App data and program data
  • Documents
  • Downloads
  • Emails
  • Video, music, and pictures

These folders matter a lot, so users need to develop a habit of backing them up. But do you know how you can back up a folder?

How Do I Backup a Folder?

Windows provides built-in backup tools such as File History. Users are free to use it to perform a Windows folder backup. Continue to read, and you can see the detailed steps in the next part. 

How to Perform Windows Folder Backup - 2 Ways

Have you ever tried to perform a Windows folder backup? Is it troublesome? You can learn how to finish Windows folder backup with File History and EaseUS Todo Backup software in this part.

Before we start, let's use a table to compare the two ways of space occupied and backup speed.

Features EaseUS Todo Backup Home File History
Speed Faster Lower
Space occupied Less More

You see. EaseUS Todo Backup Home can help you finish a Windows folder backup efficiently while occupying less space.

Also, you need to know Windows File History can back up certain files, such as Documents, Pictures, Videos, Music, or offline OneDrive files, but it can't back up programs, systems, settings, etc. Therefore, you need professional backup software, EaseUS Todo Backup Home. Now, let's see how to use these tools to finish a Windows folder backup.

Way 1. Windows Folder Backup with Windows Backup and Restore Utility - File History

As a built-in backup program of Windows, File History allows its users to have Windows folder backup easily.

Besides, if you want to know more about File History, this link can help.

Now, follow these steps to perform a Windows folder backup.

Step 1. Click the Update & Security and then choose "Backup".

Step 2. Select "Backup Using File History".

backup using file history

Step 3. Choose a backup destination for your backup folders. It can be an external hard drive, local drive, or network drive.

Step 4. Then, click "Back up now". 

click backup now

As mentioned above, File History can only back up the files in specific folders. If users want to backup hard drive or have a system backup, they need a professional backup helper, EaseUS Todo Backup Home.

Way 2: Windows Folder Backup Using Windows Backup Software - EaseUS Todo Backup

In this part, you can learn an intuitive Windows backup software, EaseUS Todo Backup Home. It makes Windows folder backup easy. Now, let's see how.

Step 1. For the first time you use EaseUS Todo Backup to back up files, click Create backup on the home screen and then mouse click the big question mark to select backup contents.

backup files step 1

Step 2. Since you're going to back up files and folders on your computer, go on with the "File" backup mode, where you can select pictures, videos, documents and all other types of files to back up.

backup files step 2

Step 3. Follow the paths to locate the files, folders or directories you want to back up, select them all and click "OK".

backup files step 3

Step 4. Now you need to select a backup location to save and retain the backup.

backup files step 3

Step 5. EaseUS Todo Backup allows users to save the backup files to every device that is handy for you, like a local hard drive, external USB drive, SD card, network drive, or a NAS drive, plus a cloud drive of the EaseUS brand. We personally recommend users to choose the cloud drive prior to a physical drive to save important backups due to the greater accessibility, flexibility and safety.

backup files step 5

To be able to access to EaseUS cloud, all you need is an email registration and login. 

backup files to cloud

Step 6. If you're interested in an automatic and intelligent backup schedule for the next file backup task, go on with the "Options" setting. There you can encrypt a confidential file backup, compress the backup image size, or customize a backup scheme to tell the software in what time to start the next backup. 

Customize an advanced and automatic backup task here:

backup scheme

Step 7. Click "Backup Now" to start the file backup process. Your completed backup files are visible on the left area in a card style.

backup files step 6

You see, it is easy to back up files and folders in Windows with EaseUS Todo Backup. Besides backing up files and folders, it allows users to have an automatic backup external hard drive. Its specific functions are as follows:

  • Support Windows folder backup
  • Support partition and disk backup
  • Support system clone and disk clone
  • Support automatic backup, incremental backup, and differential backup.

If you are facing backup problems, don't hesitate to download it and have a try.

Where Are Windows Backup Files Located?

Since we have finished a backup, finding the backup files becomes crucial. Generally speaking, if users don't select a special backup location, Windows will store them in the "File History Backups" folder in the C drive. EaseUS Todo Backup software also chooses the disk with the most space as the default backup location without receiving a special order. There is a table to help you find your backup files quickly.

Program Default Location Targeted Location
File History File History Backups of C drive
  • Local drive
  • Network drive
  • External drive
EaseUS Todo Backup The disk with the most space
  • Local drive
  • Network drive
  • External drive

This article introduces two ways to finish Windows folder backup and introduces an efficient Windows backup software, EaseUS Todo Backup Home. It can finish a backup plan more quickly than File History and occupies less space simultaneously. Therefore, if you want to finish a quick Windows folder backup, just download it. It will help you with various backup problems.

FAQs About Windows Folder Backup

Do you have other questions about Windows folder backup? This part lists three common questions to help.

1. How do I back up a folder on C drive?

Follow these steps, and you can back up the folder on the C drive.

Step 1. Launch EaseUS Todo Backup Home and select the folder on the C drive.

Step 2. Select a backup destination for your backup folder.

Step 3. Start back up.

2. Does Windows 10 have a backup program?

Yes, of course. Windows 10 provides two backup programs, File History, and Backup and Restore (Windows 7).

3. What are the most important files to back up?

Users need to back up App data and program data, documents, downloads, Emails, videos, music, and pictures.

EaseUS Todo Backup

EaseUS Todo Backup is a dependable and professional data backup solution capable of backing up files, folders, drives, APP data and creating a system image. It also makes it easy to clone HDD/SSD, transfer the system to different hardware, and create bootable WinPE bootable disks.

  • Updated by

    Sherly

    Sherly joined EaseUS in 2022 and she has always loved writing articles and enjoys the fun they bring. She receives professional training here, focusing on product performance and other relative knowledge. She has written over 200 articles to help people overcome computing issues.…
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