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Windows 10/11 System Image Backup: Full Guide & Best Tools

4 min. read

Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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Key notes

Backing up your OS is crucial in times of need such as corrupted system files,BSoD issues, malware infections, or various system malfunctions.

In such cases, a full system reinstall is recommended as the ultimate solution, yet perhaps, the safest one.

On the other hand, a system backup ensures that you have your most important files and system settings at hand, without worrying that you might lose them or waste time recovering them.

Perhaps you didn’t know, but you have a Windows built-in option to create a backup of your operating system. And there are also plenty of third-party tools. So let’s see more about how to secure your operating system.

How to create a full backup of Windows 10 system image?

What is the difference between a system image and a backup?

A system imageis an exact copy of your drive. It includes, by default, the drives required for Windows to run. It also includes your system settings, programs, and files. Using it implies a completed restoration of your OS.

By contrast, a full backup contains onlythe data in the folders and files that are selected to be backed up. Meaning that it is more selective, and when used, it is also a faster restoration means than a system image. However, this implies that you have to perform a backup of your files regularly.

What is the way to create a Windows 10 system image?

1. Use Windows built-in tool

2. Use a third-party program

Acronis Cyber ProtectHome Officeis our recommendation as ahighly-ratedbackuputilityforWindows 10and other platforms.

Besides local backup, the toolalso providescloudor hybrid storage to help you safe-keep your OS image.

One of the great things about theutilityis that it’s so easy to set up and restore a fullimagebackupwith it. That said, with just a couple of clicksyouset up the fulldisk imagebackupand only a few more clicks restore that to an alternativedrive.

The tool boasts a wide range of backup and recovery options, end-to-end encryption, automatic compression, custom commands, advanceddisk tools, automatic backup splitting, anddiskcloning.

Acronisalso comes with a security dashboard to allow you to monitor potential cyberthreats and identify blocked activity.

Not to mention that itbrings some unique capabilities tobackup softwareincluding mobile backup, Office 365 cloud-to-cloud backup, or Facebook backup.

Concluding here, the backup method offered by this solution is thoroughly safe from cyber threats, and you will backup your data in a few clicks.

⇒Get Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office

How to recover your PC using your system image backup?

If you’re using Acronis as recommended in the first solution, you might want to choose the hybrid backup option. This allows you to store the image locally as well, to have it at hand, just in case.

Then, there aremore recovery options, so use the one that suits you.

Perhaps the easiest is toopenSettingsand go toUpdate & Security>Recovery. In theAdvanced startupsection, click theRestart nowbutton.

When your PC restarts, go toTroubleshoot > Advanced Options > System Image Recoveryand follow the instructions to restore your PC using the system image you created.

We hope that this article was helpful and that you managed to back up your OS quickly and efficiently. Yet, let’s hope that you won’t have to use the image any time soon!

Windows 10/11 System Image Backup: Full Guide & Best Tools#

How to create a full backup of Windows 10 system image?#

What is the difference between a system image and a backup?#

What is the way to create a Windows 10 system image?#

1. Use Windows built-in tool#

2. Use a third-party program#

How to recover your PC using your system image backup?#