Microsoft turns on Windows 11 26H2 settings backup by default

Microsoft enables Windows settings backup by default on eligible unconfigured Windows 11 26H2 Entra-joined devices, while restore stays off.

Microsoft enabled Windows settings backup by default for eligible Windows 11 version 26H2 devices beginning with the September 29 release, but only when the backup policy remains Not Configured. BleepingComputer and GBHackers specify commercial Microsoft Entra-joined and hybrid-joined devices, while Cyber Security News says earlier Windows 11 releases stay off by default. The backup stores user settings, preferences, and the Microsoft Store app list on an eight-day schedule according to Cyber Security News, or about every eight days according to GBHackers, and the sources agree it is not a full file, image, or business-data backup. Restore remains off until an administrator explicitly enables it; Intune and Group Policy override the default, and Cyber Security News also lists MDM as a way to enable restore. All three reports exclude EU Digital Markets Act regions; BleepingComputer and GBHackers also exclude sovereign or restricted clouds, while Cyber Security News cites sovereign clouds. GBHackers notes the capability was previously called Windows Backup for Organizations.

• Microsoft enabled Windows settings backup by default for eligible Windows 11 version 26H2 devices beginning with the September 29 release.
• The default applies only when the backup policy is left Not Configured, on commercial Microsoft Entra-joined or hybrid-joined devices; Cyber Security News says earlier Windows 11 releases stay off.
• Backup stores user settings, preferences, and the Microsoft Store app list; Cyber Security News says every eight days, while GBHackers says about every eight days.
• Restore remains disabled until an administrator explicitly enables it through Intune, Group Policy, or, according to Cyber Security News, MDM.
• Explicit Intune and Group Policy settings override the new default.
• EU Digital Markets Act regions are excluded; BleepingComputer and GBHackers also exclude sovereign or restricted clouds, while Cyber Security News cites sovereign clouds.
• Sources agree this is not a full system-image, personal-file, or business-data backup.
• GBHackers says the capability was previously called Windows Backup for Organizations.