Microsoft has started enabling Windows settings backup by default on eligible enterprise devices running Windows 11 26H2.
The feature, previously known as Windows Backup for Organizations, automatically backs up users’ Windows settings and Microsoft Store app lists so they can be restored after a device is reset, replaced, upgraded, or reimaged.
Microsoft first introduced the feature at Ignite in November 2024 as an optional capability that was disabled by default. It entered public preview in May 2025 before becoming generally available in August 2025.
The change was announced in July and takes effect for eligible devices following the release of Windows 11 version 26H2 on September 29.
Microsoft says the new default is intended to make recovery easier for users and IT teams. If a device enters recovery or needs to be replaced, backed-up Windows settings and the Microsoft Store app list can be available for restoration instead of requiring users to configure everything again manually.
However, the change does not override existing administrator settings. If an organization has already explicitly enabled or disabled the backup policy, that configuration remains in place.
The default-on behavior only applies to eligible Windows 11 26H2 devices. Microsoft excludes devices in countries or regions covered by the EU Digital Markets Act, as well as systems operating in sovereign or restricted cloud environments. The backup policy must also not have been explicitly configured by an administrator.
Importantly, Microsoft is not automatically enabling device restoration. Restore functionality remains under administrator control and requires explicit configuration.
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IT administrators continue to have full control over the feature through mobile device management tools. Organizations can disable Windows settings backup using Microsoft Intune or Group Policy, with those administrator-configured policies taking precedence over Microsoft’s new default.
