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Announcing Windows Backup for Organizations

Miranda_Leschke's avatar
May 27, 2025

Exciting news: Windows Backup for Organizations is now in limited public preview!

Have you ever wanted the ability to back up your organization's Windows 10 or Windows 11 settings and restore them on a Microsoft Entra joined device? With Windows 10 reaching its end of support on October 14, 2025 (excluding certain LTSC editions), this new feature can simplify your transition to Windows 11. Whether you're planning a large-scale upgrade or simply looking to enhance your organization's device continuity strategy, this capability helps reduce migration overhead, minimize user disruption, and strengthen device resilience against incidents.

Here's what you need to know about the limited public preview of Windows Backup for Organizations.

Key benefits of Windows Backup for Organizations

First announced at Microsoft Ignite in November 2024, Windows Backup for Organizations offers:

  • Reduced troubleshooting: Easily reset devices with confidence that users can quickly recover and return to their previous settings.
  • Seamless experience: Smoothly transition from Windows 10 devices to Windows 11 devices thanks to saved backups.
  • Enhanced productivity: Minimize downtime and maximize user productivity by restoring user settings to their preferred and familiar PC preferences.

Over time, many of your peers have moved toward reducing troubleshooting time before resetting devices. There's an overall greater emphasis on "mean time to productivity." With Windows Backup for Organizations, get your users up and running as quickly as possible with their familiar Windows settings already in place. It doesn't matter if they're experiencing a device reimage or reset.

Eligibility for the limited public preview

Determine if you're eligible for Windows Backup for Organizations only to back up settings or also to restore them.

To use the backup functionality, devices are minimally required to be:

  • Microsoft Entra hybrid joined or Microsoft Entra joined
  • Running a current supported version of either Windows 10 or Windows 11

To take full advantage of the feature and also restore settings on new or reimaged Windows devices, check that you have:

  • Windows 11, version 22H2 and later
  • Microsoft Entra joined devices
  • An active Microsoft Intune test tenant (required for this preview)
  • Microsoft Intune service administrator permissions

You also need to be part of Microsoft Management Customer Connection Program (CCP). If you're not a current member, please opt in through this form: aka.ms/JoinMMCCP.

What's next?

Prepare for the upcoming Windows 10 end of support date on October 14, 2025!

Try out Windows Backup for Organizations during the limited public preview. Simply fill in this form to nominate your organization for the program. If selected, you'll receive further steps from our team.

Note: While with Windows Backup for Organizations you can easily move to Windows 11 with your settings already in place, there are circumstances that could prevent you from replacing Windows 10 devices before the end of support. Consider your options in Plan for Windows 10 EOS with Windows 11, Windows 365, and ESU. To learn more about Extended Security Updates (ESU), please visit When to use Windows 10 Extended Security Updates.

This is just the beginning. As we continue to evolve this experience, more enhancements are on the horizon—ensuring your organization is always ready for what's next. Your feedback is invaluable as we shape the future of Windows Backup for Organizations and roll out exciting new features. Thank you for partnering with us to make Windows even better!


Continue the conversation. Find best practices. Bookmark the Windows Tech Community, then follow us @MSWindowsITPro on X and on LinkedIn. Looking for support? Visit Windows on Microsoft Q&A.

Updated May 23, 2025
Version 1.0

24 Comments

  • Renaudseries's avatar
    Renaudseries
    Copper Contributor

    I am also curious to understand the positioning and your vision between Windows backup and Enterprise State Roaming. Thank you

    • Miranda_Leschke's avatar
      Miranda_Leschke
      Icon for Microsoft rankMicrosoft

      Details surrounding Enterprise State Roaming and Windows Backup for Organizations will be coming soon. 

  • It mentions that this feature requires an Intune tenant. Can the Intune tenant be an Intune tenant from 21Vianet?

  • MikeCrowley's avatar
    MikeCrowley
    Iron Contributor

    What "settings" are backed up? Does this include installed applications? An answer to the earlier USMT questions might answer this indirectly. 

    • Miranda_Leschke's avatar
      Miranda_Leschke
      Icon for Microsoft rankMicrosoft

      Categories of settings restored include:

      • System 
      • Bluetooth & devices 
      • Network & internet 
      • Personalization 
      • Accounts
      • Time & language
      • Gaming
      • Accessibility 
      • File explorer

      Apps are not currently backed up or restored by Windows Backup for Organizations. We love hearing feedback, however, and we will share the product roadmap soon. Thank you!

      • AndAufVCG's avatar
        AndAufVCG
        Copper Contributor

        "for Organizations" "Gaming"... . I would have prefered customizable %appdata% folders for program settings. But that's only me.

  • ITChief's avatar
    ITChief
    Copper Contributor

    Is there a reason you can back up from a hybrid joined pc but you can't apply the backup to hybrid pcs? Will this not be provided to Hybrid PCs?

    • Miranda_Leschke's avatar
      Miranda_Leschke
      Icon for Microsoft rankMicrosoft

      Great question—and we hear you! Restoring on Microsoft Entra hybrid joined devices is a top request from many of our customers and remains a priority for us. We’ll be sharing the Windows Backup for Organizations roadmap soon.

  • MScommTime's avatar
    MScommTime
    Copper Contributor

    This could be a helpful tool. However, I'm a bit hesitant to opt in our whole tenant without seeing how it works and testing it. Are there screenshots, a demo, or more information about what can be configured somewhere? What are the implications of opting in? Will we get a dashboard? Can we test on smaller user groups? Thank you.

  • AndAufVCG's avatar
    AndAufVCG
    Copper Contributor

    somehow, this article provides zero information about what Windows Backup for Organisation actually is/can

    as MVP(!) Michael already asked how this compares to USMT, I wonder, how this is different to Enterprise State Roaming?

    • MichaelNiehaus's avatar
      MichaelNiehaus
      Copper Contributor

      Enterprise state roaming is dead.  But it didn't roam much anyway, mostly just Windows settings.

      • Jason_Leznek's avatar
        Jason_Leznek
        Icon for Microsoft rankMicrosoft

        ESR is not dead.   We will announce the roadmap as it relates to Windows Backup for Organizations soon.

  • rico_roodenburg's avatar
    rico_roodenburg
    Copper Contributor

    It's a bit last-minute, will you manage to get this GA released before Windows 10 reaches end of life? I'm getting a bit concerned.

    • Jason_Leznek's avatar
      Jason_Leznek
      Icon for Microsoft rankMicrosoft

      Yes, absolutely!   This is not last minute; it has been in testing since last September, and we announced it at Ignite in November.

  • Sergio's avatar
    Sergio
    Copper Contributor

    Can this new functionality migrate a Hybrid Domain Joined machine to Entra ID without having to reset it ?

    • Jason_Leznek's avatar
      Jason_Leznek
      Icon for Microsoft rankMicrosoft

      Unfortunately, no.  This moves Windows settings, not the device itself.

    • Hi Sergio,

      The settings restore happens during OOBE, it needs a new or reset device. 

      • Sergio's avatar
        Sergio
        Copper Contributor

        Thanks Erik for your comment.

        Does Microsoft have any plans to develop a tool that will allow migration without resetting ?

  • 365vCloud's avatar
    365vCloud
    Copper Contributor

    Very nice feature. Would like to ask if it supports software installed on Windows 10?

    • Miranda_Leschke's avatar
      Miranda_Leschke
      Icon for Microsoft rankMicrosoft

      It supports backing up settings on Win10 and Win11 Microsoft Entra hybrid joined or Microsoft Entra joined devices, and then restoring on Win11 Microsoft Entra joined devices. The current focus of the feature is settings migration, and we're investigating further options to expand.

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