Microsoft has announced that the Windows settings backup and restore tool will be set to enabled by default for enterprise systems joined to Microsoft Entra or operating in a hybrid environment, following the upgrade to Windows 11 version 26H2. This tool, previously known as Windows Backup for Organizations, is designed to assist enterprise users in backing up and restoring their Windows settings after events such as device resets, replacements, upgrades, or reimaging.
Key Features and Availability
The backup tool made its debut at the Microsoft Ignite conference in November 2024 as an opt-in feature, initially disabled by default. It progressed to public preview in May 2025 and reached general availability in August 2025. To access the tool, users must install the September 2025 Windows Monthly Cumulative Update on Entra-joined devices. However, IT administrators are required to enable it by configuring the relevant backup and restore policy settings.
In a recent update to the message center, Microsoft stated, “Starting with Windows 11, version 26H2, the default behavior of the Windows settings backup policy will shift from disabled to enabled.” This default-on setting applies exclusively to eligible devices, provided that administrators have not explicitly set the policy otherwise. It is important to note that explicit enablement and disablement settings will always take precedence.
The default-on behavior for Windows backup will be applicable only to devices running Windows 11 version 26H2 in regions not governed by the EU Digital Markets Act (DMA), those not operating within sovereign or restricted cloud environments, and where the backup policy remains unconfigured.
For systems where the backup tool is enabled by default, IT administrators will maintain comprehensive control through mobile device management (MDM) solutions. Administrators who prefer to disable the backup policy can do so using Microsoft Intune or Group Policy, which will override the default settings.
It is also noteworthy that the restore functionality will not be enabled by default; users will require explicit administrative configuration to restore their Windows devices.
Miranda Leschke, a product manager at Microsoft, mentioned, “You can validate the experience early. The default-on behavior is available with Windows 11, version 26H2 in the Windows Insider Program Experimental channel starting July 2026.” She further added that this feature will take broad effect for eligible devices at the general availability of Windows 11, version 26H2 later this year, with devices initially running Windows 11, version 26H1 set to receive the same default-on treatment with the subsequent feature update.
