How to back up your MacBook or Windows laptop

Do you worry about losing important files on your MacBook® or Windows™ laptop? There's a simple solution: Regularly back up your computer. This will also help you keep your data if you want to replace your device or if it's lost, stolen, or damaged.

At Asurion, we help you get the most out of your tech, whether you want to use your phone as a mobile hotspot or stop lag when playing online multiplayer games. Here's our step-by-step guide on how—and why—to back up your MacBook or Windows laptop.

What does backing up your laptop do?

Backing up your laptop makes sure that you don't lose any of your important data, such as your:

• Contacts
• Photos and videos
• Wi-Fi network information
• Music
• Books
• Apps and app settings
• Email
• Passwords

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How to back up your MacBook

The best way to back up the crucial data on your Mac® is to use Time Machine® or iCloud®. Here are the steps for modern MacBooks:

How to complete a Time Machine backup

1. Connect an external storage device—like an external hard drive or high-capacity thumb drive—to your Mac.
2. Click the Apple icon in the upper-left corner of your screen and select System Settings.
3. Click General in the left sidebar, then select Time Machine on the right.
4. Click Add Backup Disk... (or Select Backup Disk).
5. Select the name of your external storage device, then click Set Up Disk.
6. Once configured, click the Time Machine icon in your top menu bar and choose Back Up Now to start your backup.

How to complete an iCloud backup

1. Click the Apple icon in the upper-left corner of your screen and select System Settings.
2. Click your name at the top of the left sidebar, then select iCloud on the right.
3. Click iCloud Drive and ensure the Sync this Mac toggle is turned on.
4. Turn on the toggle for Desktop & Documents Folders to make sure your primary files and desktop settings are instantly backed up to the cloud.

For more information, check out our guide on how to use iCloud.

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How to back up your Windows laptop

The best way to back up your Windows data is with an external storage drive or Microsoft® OneDrive. Here are the steps for both methods:

Back up your files using an external storage drive

• For Windows 10: Click Start in your taskbar. Select Settings > Update & Security > Backup. Connect an external storage drive to your laptop, click Add a drive, and select your device to begin the automatic backup.
• For Windows 11: Connect your external storage drive to your laptop. Press the Windows Key, type File History into the search bar, and select it from the results. Click the Turn on button to automatically back up your core folders to the drive every hour.

Back up your files using Microsoft OneDrive

Microsoft OneDrive is a cloud service that allows you to store your files virtually, making them accessible from your laptop, phone, tablet, or any other device that connects to the internet. Here's how to use it to back up your data:

1. Click the cloud icon in the bottom-right corner of your taskbar to open OneDrive.
2. Click the gear icon (Help & Settings), then choose Settings.
3. In the left sidebar of the window, click Sync and backup, then click Manage backup.
4. Select the folders you'd like to protect (like Desktop, Documents, and Pictures), then click Start backup.

Once the backup is complete, you'll be able to access your files under the OneDrive tab in your File Explorer.