Windows 10 relocation assistance with "Windows Backup for Organizations"

Microsoft is launching a limited public preview of “Windows Backup for Organizations”. This allows IT administrators to back up the settings of Windows 10 and Windows 11 PCs with little effort and restore them to devices with Microsoft Entra.

With the end of support for Windows 10 approaching on October 14 this year, this should make it easier for IT managers to migrate to Windows 11 machines. Microsoft announced this in a blog post for the tech community. “Whether you're planning a major upgrade or simply want to improve your organization's device continuity strategy, this feature will help reduce migration efforts, minimize usage disruptions, and strengthen device resilience to incidents,” the Redmond company enthuses.

Windows Backup for Organizations: The benefits

Microsoft emphasizes that with “Windows Backup for Organizations” there is less support for troubleshooting, as devices can be easily reset and restored with the previous settings. The software provides a seamless transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11 through the stored backups. This leads to minimized downtime, which maximizes the productivity of users – who can immediately find their way around restored systems with their preferred settings.

However, not everyone is eligible for the limited public preview. To use the backup functions, the devices must be at least “Microsoft Entra joined” or “Microsoft Entra hybrid joined” and be running a currently supported version of Windows 10 or 11. Windows 11 22H2 or newer, Microsoft Entra-joined devices, an active Microsoft Intune test tenant and Microsoft Intune service administrator rights are required for the full range of functions. Finally, interested parties must participate in the Microsoft Management Customer Connection Program (CCP) (link to registration).

Anyone interested in testing “Windows Backup for Organizations” must apply by filling out a form. Microsoft is planning to develop the function further. Feedback from testers is valuable for this.

Earlier this week, Microsoft added a migration assistant to the Insider Beta preview version of Windows 11, which is based on the Windows Backup app and allows “users to transfer their files and settings from their old PC to the new one during PC setup”. Details on the function are still missing, but the company intends to provide them soon.

(dmk)