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How to Back Up Important Files on Windows

Protect documents, photos, and other files from hardware failure or accidental deletion.

Quick Answer

Choose trusted external or cloud storage and make a regular copy or configure a supported automatic backup method.

Step by Step

  1. Use the official settings or website for the account, device, browser, or service involved.
  2. Choose trusted external or cloud storage and make a regular copy or configure a supported automatic backup method.
  3. Review security and recovery settings after making the change.
  4. Keep recovery information and backups somewhere you can access if the primary device is lost.

If That Doesn't Work

  • Never give an unsolicited caller or message sender your password, recovery code, or one-time verification code.
  • If money or a critical account is at risk, use a known official contact method rather than contact information supplied in the suspicious message.