Microsoft will enable the Windows settings backup tool by default for enterprise systems using Windows 11 version 26H2. This change aims to streamline the backup process for IT administrators managing device resets or upgrades.
Microsoft announced that the Windows settings backup and restore tool will become enabled by default for Microsoft Entra-joined and hybrid-joined enterprise systems upgrading to Windows 11 version 26H2. This tool, previously known as Windows Backup for Organizations, facilitates the backup and restoration of Windows settings after device changes.
The tool was initially introduced at the Microsoft Ignite conference in November 2024 and became generally available in August 2025. It is accessible after installing the September 2025 Windows Monthly Cumulative Update on eligible devices. IT administrators must configure specific policy settings to enable the tool.
The default enabled status applies only to devices running Windows 11 version 26H2 outside EU DMA-regulated regions and those not part of restricted cloud environments. If IT administrators have pre-defined policies, those will take precedence over the default setting.
While the backup will be automatically enabled, IT administrators retain control through mobile device management solutions. However, restoring devices will not be automatically enabled and requires explicit configuration from admins. Additionally, the default-on behavior will be testable for Windows 11 users in the Windows Insider Program starting July 2026.
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Microsoft will enable the Windows settings backup tool by default for enterprise systems using Windows 11 version 26H2. This change aims to streamline the backup process for IT administrators managing device resets or upgrades.