Microsoft announced updates to its Windows settings backup and restore feature, designed to streamline device migration, system resets, and recovery for enterprise environments. The tool, formerly known as Windows Backup for Organizations, was renamed in July 2026 to reflect its expanded scope.
The feature was first introduced in preview in May 2025 and reached general availability in August 2025. It is now enabled by default on eligible Windows 11 26H2 devices, aiming to reduce migration costs by preserving user settings and work environments during hardware transitions.
The update integrates Enterprise State Roaming (ESR) into the unified workflow, allowing employees to maintain consistent settings across devices when using the same Microsoft Entra ID account. Existing ESR capabilities and licensing requirements remain unchanged.
For IT administrators, Microsoft introduced the WindowsBackupAdmin PowerShell module, built on the Microsoft Graph beta API. This tool allows for granular control over backup and restore policies, enabling deployment as an organizational baseline.
A new Restore Summary feature provides users with clear visibility into the progress and results of the migration process. This addition helps employees confirm which settings have been successfully transferred to their new devices, reducing uncertainty during the setup phase.
