Yes—but only for eligible devices running Windows 11 version 26H2 or later where the Windows settings backup policy is Not Configured. Microsoft’s default-on change does not override an administrator’s explicit Enabled or Disabled setting, and it does not turn on restore during device setup.
What the new default changes
Microsoft made the default-on behavior generally available on September 29, 2026, with Windows 11 version 26H2. Its Message Center notice MC1483538, dated September 30, says, “We honor any existing explicit enable or disable setting.” In practice, the result depends on the policy value:
| Windows settings backup policy | Result on an eligible device |
|---|---|
| Not Configured | Backup is enabled by default under the 26H2 change. |
| Enabled | Backup remains enabled because the administrator explicitly enabled it. |
| Disabled | Backup remains disabled because the administrator explicitly disabled it. |
The policy can still be managed through Intune, Group Policy, or another MDM. The new behavior is a default for devices without an explicit policy choice, not a replacement for administrative control.
Which devices qualify
The default-on change applies to eligible Windows 11 version 26H2-or-later devices. Microsoft’s Message Center eligibility criteria also require the policy to be Not Configured and exclude privacy-sensitive countries or regions and sovereign or restricted cloud environments. Devices with an explicit policy setting are unaffected by the default.
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Microsoft Learn documents broader Windows Backup for Organizations support requirements for Entra-joined devices. That feature documentation includes Windows 10 version 22H2, build 19045.6216 or later, and Windows 11 versions 22H2, 23H2, and 24H2 at their documented build thresholds. Those listed builds describe feature support; they do not make those earlier Windows versions eligible for the new 26H2 default.
- Join state: Microsoft Entra joined or Microsoft Entra hybrid joined, subject to the applicable feature and OS requirements.
- Unsupported environments: Microsoft says the feature is unavailable in GCCH/sovereign clouds and China. Intune documentation also lists Government cloud and 21Vianet as unsupported.
- Unsupported device types: Shared and userless devices are not supported.
- Regional limits: Some privacy-sensitive countries or regions are excluded; Microsoft’s cited eligibility notice does not provide their names here.
What Windows Backup for Organizations saves
The feature preserves a user’s Windows settings and preferences, plus a list of installed Microsoft Store apps. It is not a full-disk image and should not be treated as a complete device backup or a way to recover arbitrary files and desktop applications.
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Once the policy has applied, a scheduled backup runs automatically every eight days. A user can also start a backup manually in the Windows Backup app. Microsoft warns that disabling required connected-device or activity-feed policies prevents backup, so check that those policies are not blocked in your environment.
How to opt out or make the policy explicit in Intune
- Review targeting and policy intent. Inventory Windows 11 26H2-or-later devices, their Entra join state, and their cloud and regional eligibility. Decide whether each targeted group should back up or opt out.
- Set the policy value. In an Intune Settings catalog policy, locate Enable Windows backup. Leave it Not Configured to use the new default on eligible devices; choose Enabled to record an explicit enablement; choose Disabled to opt out.
- Check dependencies. Confirm required connected-device and activity-feed policies are not disabled, since Microsoft says doing so prevents backup.
- Review per-device status. Use Intune reporting to look for statuses including Succeeded, Failed, No policy assigned, and No Backup Profiles. These results help distinguish a policy-delivery issue from the absence of a backup profile.
Backup policy targeting can be applied through device or user groups. Organizations that manage settings outside Intune can continue using Group Policy or another MDM, while preserving an explicit choice wherever they do not want the default to decide.
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Backup and restore are separate controls
The default-on change enables backup only. Microsoft’s Windows IT Pro Blog, updated September 29, 2026, states: “Restore behavior is unchanged and isn’t enabled by default.” To offer restore during enrollment, an administrator must separately enable the enrollment restore page in Intune.
- Configure the backup policy in an Intune Settings catalog policy.
- In the Intune admin center, go to Devices > Enrollment > Windows Backup and Restore, then set Show restore page to On.
The restore-page control is tenant-wide, not a per-device-group setting, and changing it requires the Intune Service Administrator or Global Administrator role. Restore requires a Microsoft Entra-joined device and at least one backup profile. If using Windows Autopilot, the deployment must be user-driven. Restore can be offered during OOBE or, on supported builds, at first sign-in after enrollment.
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- 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 decide before rollout
- Whether eligible devices with no configured value should inherit the default, or whether you want explicit Enabled or Disabled intent in policy.
- Whether the organization’s cloud, region, join state, OS version, and device type fall within Microsoft’s support and eligibility boundaries.
- Whether users should be offered restore during setup; that decision belongs to the separate, tenant-wide enrollment setting.
- Whether required connected-device and activity-feed policies are allowed, and whether Intune reporting shows successful policy application and available backup profiles.
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