✅ – Still the go-to tool. Now connects faster to external drives (NTFS or exFAT). ✅ Backup & Restore (Windows 7) – Still present for system images, but combined with modern File History settings. ✅ New Settings sync – Windows 11 now reminds you to set up an external backup when a drive is connected for the first time. ✅ Improved recovery options – Restore personal folders, system settings, or the entire PC without third-party tools.
— but only if they are formatted as NTFS and have at least 20% free space. Drives formatted as exFAT or FAT32 are rejected without a clear error message. windows 11 backup to external drive updated
He clicked Create a system image on the left. He selected his external drive as the destination, and Windows began weaving a "clone" of his entire C: drive. ✅ – Still the go-to tool