Microsoft has announced the general availability of Windows Backup for Organizations, a new feature designed to help IT departments streamline the migration of user settings and preferences and in time as time winds down on Windows 10 support. First unveiled at Microsoft Ignite in late 2024 and introduced in public preview earlier this year, the feature is now rolling out widely to enterprise customers following the September 2025 Windows update.
Though the name might suggest a full system backup solution, Windows Backup for Organizations is purpose-built to preserve user experience rather than files or applications. It captures a snapshot of a user’s Windows configuration—such as display preferences, language settings, accessibility options, and Microsoft Store apps—and stores it in the organization’s Microsoft 365 tenant.
The tool is available to organizations using Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory) and integrates with Microsoft Intune or Group Policy for activation and management.
Microsoft is positioning the feature as a way to reduce friction during device refreshes and migrations from Windows 10 to Windows 11, a process still underway in many enterprises despite the looming October 14, 2025 end-of-support deadline for Windows 10.
Unlike legacy migration tools such as the User State Migration Tool (USMT) which require manual scripting and administrative oversight, Windows Backup for Organizations is designed to operate with minimal intervention. Once enabled, backups are triggered automatically in the background every eight days, and the restoration process initiates when a user signs into a new Windows 11 device with their Entra ID credentials.
According to Microsoft, the result is a faster, more consistent setup experience for users and less configuration burden for IT teams.
A Cloud-First, Configuration-Centric Approach
While not a replacement for traditional file backup or disaster recovery tools, the new feature fills a gap in user environment continuity. The backed-up data is stored in Exchange Online, localized within the tenant’s regional data boundaries. Microsoft emphasizes that this data is encrypted and accessible only under supervision, typically for compliance or troubleshooting purposes.
The restore functionality is limited to Windows 11 (version 22H2 and later), although backup is supported on both Windows 10 (22H2) and Windows 11 systems. This aligns with Microsoft’s effort to nudge organizations toward completing their migration to Windows 11.
To use the service, organizations must apply the August 2025 Windows security update, and devices must be cloud-joined to Entra ID or hybrid-joined from on-prem Active Directory environments.
Microsoft notes that the restore capability is rolling out incrementally across Intune tenants, with full availability expected in the coming weeks. Admins can monitor rollout progress and data location via the Microsoft 365 Admin Center.
While the new backup tool won’t address all the challenges of OS migration such as application compatibility or hardware requirements, it represents a practical step toward reducing downtime and simplifying device provisioning in enterprise environments.
For more information on Windows Backup for Organizations, visit the official documentation page.
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