How to Back Up Your Computer
If your computer died today, would you lose your photos and documents? Set up backups that run by themselves in about 20 minutes.
Drives fail, laptops get stolen, ransomware happens
A good backup means losing your computer is an inconvenience instead of a disaster. The simple rule: keep your important files in two places besides the computer, ideally one at home (an external drive) and one online (cloud storage).
SET UPSet up automatic backups
Set it up once and it runs by itself.
Open the Windows Backup app from the Start menu. Turn on backup for your Desktop, Documents and Pictures folders (stored in OneDrive), and your apps and settings. The free OneDrive plan is small, so you may need more storage for lots of photos.
- Plug in an external drive with at least as much space as your files.
- Search for Control Panel, open System and Security › File History, choose the drive and click Turn on.
- It saves copies of your files every hour while the drive is connected, and keeps older versions.
- Plug in an external drive at least twice the size of your Mac's storage.
- Go to System Settings › General › Time Machine and click Add Backup Disk, then choose the drive.
- Time Machine backs up everything hourly while connected, and keeps daily and weekly versions.
Go to System Settings › your name › iCloud › iCloud Drive and turn on Desktop & Documents Folders. Turn on iCloud Photos in the Photos app settings. You'll likely need an iCloud+ plan for more than 5 GB.
A backup you've never tested isn't really a backup. Pick an unimportant file and restore it:
Right-click a file, choose Show more options › Restore previous versions, or open File History and click Restore personal files.
Open a folder in Finder, click the Time Machine icon in the menu bar, choose Browse Time Machine Backups, and restore a file.
- Plug the external drive in at least weekly, or leave it connected to a desktop.
- Check the cloud backup is still running once a month.
- Keep the external drive somewhere safe, away from the computer, so one theft or fire doesn't take both.
For most people: cloud backup for documents and photos, plus an external drive with File History or Time Machine for everything.
FAQCommon questions
Is OneDrive or iCloud enough on its own?
It protects against a broken or stolen computer, but files deleted or damaged on the computer can sync to the cloud too. An external drive with older versions covers that gap.
How big should my backup drive be?
At least as big as the files you're backing up. For Time Machine, Apple recommends about twice your Mac's storage, so it can keep older versions.
Do I need backup software?
No. Windows Backup, File History and Time Machine are built in and free.
What about my phone?
Turn on iCloud Backup (iPhone) or Google One backup (Android), and Google Photos or iCloud Photos for your pictures.