Microsoft Makes Windows 11 Backup and Restore Easier for Organizations

Microsoft has introduced several improvements to Windows settings backup and restore, making it easier for organizations to migrate employees to new Windows 11 devices while preserving their settings.

According to Microsoft’s announcement, the latest changes include Enterprise State Roaming integration, automatic enablement on eligible devices, new administrative controls, and Restore Summary.

Microsoft combines Windows Backup with Enterprise State Roaming

Microsoft originally launched Windows Backup for Organizations in May 2025 to help businesses migrate from Windows 10 to Windows 11 and configure replacement devices.

In July 2026, the company renamed the service to Windows settings backup and restore. The change required no action from IT administrators.

The service now incorporates Enterprise State Roaming (ESR), allowing employees to maintain consistent Windows settings across devices linked to the same Microsoft Entra ID account.

Microsoft confirmed that existing ESR functionality and licensing requirements remain unchanged.

The improvements also include Restore Summary, which gives organizations greater visibility into the restoration process when employees move to new devices.

Windows 11 26H2 enables backup and restore by default

Microsoft has also made Windows settings backup and restore enabled by default on eligible Windows 11 26H2 devices, reducing the configuration work required from IT administrators.

Organizations can manage the feature through the WindowsBackupAdmin PowerShell module, which provides configuration capabilities using Microsoft Graph beta APIs.

These controls give administrators more flexibility when managing backup and restore settings across their organizations.

Microsoft says it will continue improving the service to make device transitions easier for employees and reduce the administrative work involved in migrating or replacing Windows PCs.

In other news, Microsoft introduced Windows Server TAP, giving businesses early access to upcoming features. The company also announced its November 2026 Microsoft Entra update and is improving Windows Hello PIN access in Windows 11.