Before resetting your PC, use Windows Backup to sync the standard folders you need to OneDrive, then verify Windows reports the backup as current. Check separately for files stored elsewhere, make sure your OneDrive has enough space, and save your BitLocker recovery key if device encryption is on. Windows Backup can preserve selected files and supported settings, but it is not a full copy of your PC or a guarantee that every app will be reinstalled.
How do I back up my files before resetting my PC?
- Sign in with a personal Microsoft account. The consumer Windows Backup app associates its backup with that account. Microsoft says work or school accounts do not work with this app workflow. See Microsoft’s Windows Backup guide.
- Open Windows Backup. Search for “Windows Backup” from Start and open it. You can also go to Settings > Accounts > Windows backup. Labels may vary slightly between Windows 10 and Windows 11.
- Choose the folders to sync. In Windows Backup, expand Folders and turn on the folders you want. Microsoft lists Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Videos, and Music. This covers the selected folders, not every file on your computer.
- Choose supported app and settings preferences. Turn on the categories you want Windows to save, such as accessibility, account and Wi-Fi information, personalization, language preferences, Windows settings, and an installed-app list. These are supported preferences and records, not a full image of every program and custom configuration.
- Select Back up and check the result. After starting the backup, return to Windows Backup or Settings > Accounts > Windows backup and confirm the displayed status shows the intended backup is current. Do not reset merely because you clicked the button; resolve any OneDrive or sync error first.
- Copy files outside the selected folders separately. Look for files in other locations, including user-created folders and other drives. Make a separate copy of anything important that Windows Backup’s selected folder sync does not cover. An external drive is one possible destination.
- Complete the reset preflight. If device encryption is enabled, locate and retain your BitLocker recovery key. Choose the reset option with care, then let the reset finish; Microsoft warns that manually restarting while it is running can cause it to fail.
What does Windows Backup save—and what does it not?
Files in selected folders
The folders you select are synced to OneDrive under the Microsoft account used for the backup. Microsoft says, “Files can be restored anytime by signing in to OneDrive with the same Microsoft account you used to make the original backup.” That is a sync-based recovery route, not a complete disk image.
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Supported settings and apps
Windows Backup can save supported settings and a list of installed apps. When you set up a new or reinstalled Windows installation and sign in with the same Microsoft account, Windows can offer to restore a backup. App pins may be restored, but Microsoft Store apps must be launched to begin restoring; non-Store apps may send you to a web installer. Plan to reinstall some programs and revisit settings rather than expecting every app and customization to return automatically. See Microsoft’s backup and restore information.
Sync is not an independent historical backup
Changes and deletions in synced folders can propagate to OneDrive. For critical files, keep a separate copy before resetting rather than relying on sync as a versioned archive. Microsoft describes external drives as another possible backup destination; they are optional, not required for the Windows Backup procedure. See Microsoft’s Windows Backup guide and Microsoft’s File History guide.
#1 Best Overall
- Easily store and access 2TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Check OneDrive storage before you reset
Microsoft states that a free Microsoft account includes 5 GB of OneDrive storage; the support page does not display a year for that figure. If storage is insufficient, some backup preferences may not be saved. Check the Windows Backup status and address any OneDrive sign-in, sync, or capacity problem before proceeding. Microsoft says additional storage is available to purchase. Details are in the Windows Backup guide and Microsoft’s OneDrive storage information.
Which Windows reset option should you choose?
| Choice | What it does | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Keep my files | Reinstalls Windows and preserves personal files, but removes apps and settings. | Still verify your backup; reinstall apps and adjust settings afterward. |
| Remove everything | Reinstalls Windows and removes personal files, apps, and settings. | Verify the backup and any separate copies before starting. |
| Cloud download | Downloads a fresh copy of Windows. | This selects the reinstall source, not where your files are backed up. It can be useful if local Windows files are corrupted or missing. |
| Local reinstall | Uses Windows files already on the PC and may not include the latest updates. | This is also a reinstall-source choice, not a backup method. |
These are separate decisions: whether personal files are retained, whether apps and settings are removed, and whether Windows is reinstalled from a cloud download or local files. Microsoft says its consumer data-erasure functionality does not meet government and industry data-erasure standards, so do not treat the reset’s clean-data option as certified secure sanitization. Read Microsoft Support’s Reset your PC guidance, which says: “Back up important files before you begin.”
Rank #2
- Easily store and access 5TB of content on the go with the Seagate portable drive, a USB external hard Drive
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
What to do after Windows is reinstalled
- Sign in during Windows setup with the same personal Microsoft account used for the backup.
- If Windows offers to restore a backup, choose the relevant backup and allow supported settings and preferences to be restored.
- Sign in to OneDrive with that same account to access synced files; allow files to sync or download as needed.
- Launch Microsoft Store apps to begin restoring them, and reinstall non-Store apps from their publishers when prompted or needed.
- Retrieve any separate copy you made of files outside the selected folders.
Windows Backup is available for Windows 10 and Windows 11. Microsoft states that Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. Account requirements and interface labels can change, so consult the linked Microsoft instructions for the current workflow.
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- Easily store and access 1TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive.Specific uses: Personal
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop. Reformatting may be required for Mac
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
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