How to Back Up and Restore an Image File of Windows 10 and 11

Authored by: Support.com Tech Pro Team

1. Introduction

System Image Backups come in handy if your current Windows 10 or Windows 11 system ever fails. In this guide, you'll learn How to Back Up and Restore an Image File of Windows 10 and 11.

2. How to Back up and Restore

Before you get started, you'll need to set up an external source on which to save your image file. You can create the image on DVDs, but the easiest option is to use an external drive, a network drive, or a network-attached storage (NAS) drive. Let's get started.

Set Up Backup

The quickest way to get to the System Image Backup in Windows 10 or 11 is through the Control Panel. Use the Windows search function from the Taskbar to type Control Panel, then select it from the results. With Control Panel in icon view, select Backup and Restore (Windows 7). Yes, it still says Windows 7, but this feature works just fine in Windows 10 and 11.

Click the Create a system image link, then choose where you want to save the backup—on a drive, DVD, or network location. If you want to use an external drive, make sure it’s formatted using NTFS in order to store the image. Click Next.

Confirm which areas or partitions of your hard drive will be included in the image file, then click the Start Backup button. Windows now creates the image file.

Create a System Repair Disc

You’ll then want to create a system repair disc to use if Windows is ever incapable of booting up on its own. You’ll need a disk drive as this option still doesn’t support USB drives for booting up your PC. If your computer doesn’t have the right drive, you can always buy and connect an external DVD drive. 

Insert a CD or DVD into your drive. Click the Create a system repair disc link at the Backup and Restore (Windows 7) window. Confirm that your DVD drive appears and then click the Create disc button.

System Image Recovery

Okay, now let's say you're in a jam one day because Windows is misbehaving. Restoring it from the image file may be your only option. Make sure your backup media is available. If you still can, boot up your PC.

In Windows 10, go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery. In the Advanced startup section on the right, click the Restart now button under Advanced startup. Windows 11 users should open Settings > System > Recovery and then click the Restart now button next to Advanced startup.

At the Choose an option window, go to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > System Image Recovery > See more recovery options. Select System Image Recovery. From there, follow the prompts to restore your image file.

If Windows won't boot, start up your PC with the system repair disc. You should be taken to the Choose an option window, where you can follow the same steps to restore Windows to a previous and (hopefully healthy) state.