Microsoft to Enable Windows Settings Backup by Default for Organizations
Microsoft will automatically enable its Windows settings backup and restore tool for enterprise devices upgrading to Windows 11 26H2, simplifying management and user experience.
Microsoft is set to change the default behavior of its Windows settings backup and restore tool, making it enabled by default for enterprise systems that are joined to Microsoft Entra or are hybrid-joined, following an upgrade to Windows 11 version 26H2. This strategic shift aims to streamline device management for IT administrators and enhance the user experience by ensuring that critical settings, such as application data, passwords, and language preferences, are automatically backed up.
The tool, previously known as Windows Backup for Organizations, is designed to facilitate the backup and restoration of user settings when a device is reset, replaced, upgraded, or reimaged. It was initially introduced at the Microsoft Ignite conference in November 2024 as an opt-in feature. Following a public preview in May 2025, it reached general availability in August 2025. For the tool to be functional, organizations needed to install the September 2025 Windows Monthly Cumulative Update and then manually enable it through policy configurations.
However, the upcoming change, announced via a message center update, will see the default behavior of the Windows settings backup policy shift from disabled to enabled starting with Windows 11, version 26H2. Microsoft clarified that this default-on behavior will only apply to eligible devices where administrators have not explicitly configured the policy. Any explicit enablement or disablement settings set by administrators will always take precedence.
Eligibility for this default-on behavior is specific: it applies to devices running Windows 11 26H2 in regions not subject to the EU Digital Markets Act (DMA), excluding sovereign or restricted cloud environments, and only when the backup policy has not been pre-configured. This ensures that the change respects existing administrative controls and regional regulations.
Even with the default-on setting, IT administrators will retain comprehensive control over the feature through their chosen mobile device management (MDM) solutions. Administrators who wish to explicitly disable the backup policy can do so using Microsoft Intune or Group Policy, and these configurations will override the new default behavior. It is important to note that while backup will be enabled by default, the restore functionality will still require explicit administrative configuration.
Microsoft is providing an early opportunity for validation. The default-on behavior will be available in the Windows Insider Program's Experimental channel starting in July 2026 for Windows 11, version 26H2. The broader rollout for eligible devices is slated for the general availability of Windows 11, version 26H2 later this year. Devices that were initially running Windows 11, version 26H1 will also receive this default-on treatment with their subsequent feature update.
This move by Microsoft underscores a growing trend towards automated device management and enhanced user continuity in enterprise environments. By making settings backup a default feature, Microsoft aims to reduce the burden on IT departments and minimize disruption for end-users during device transitions, ultimately improving overall productivity and security posture through consistent configurations.
The new article clarifies that while Windows settings backup will be enabled by default in Windows 11 version 26H2, administrators can still override this behavior using existing enterprise management tools like Microsoft Intune and Group Policy. It also emphasizes that restore functionality remains unchanged and will continue to require administrative control, ensuring enterprises maintain governance over data recovery processes.