How to Back Up Programs Before Reinstalling Windows 10/11? [3 Quick Ways]

Should I back up my programs before reinstalling Windows?

While Windows is a great OS, it can run into tricky startup issues like getting stuck at “[Windows isn't ready yet: Don't turn off your computer](/resource/fix-getting-windows-ready-dont-turn-off-your-computer.html)” or “[No Bootable Device Found](/data-recovery-solution/no-bootable-device.html)”. If your PC is beyond saving, you might need to go for a full reset of Windows 10 without a CD.

However, reformatting will erase all the files and programs on your hard drive, so you'll need to back up anything important beforehand in case something goes wrong with the reinstallation and you lose your data.

In this article, we'll explore whether you can back up your installed programs and software on Windows 10 and how to do so before reinstalling Windows 10 or 11. We'll also provide a step-by-step guide to walk you through the process!

How to Back Up Your Programs Using a File Backup Software Before Reinstalling Windows 10/11?

If you're going to reinstall Windows 10 or the latest version of Windows 11, it's best to back up your programs first. You can then restore them after the fresh install is complete.

There are several ways to back up programs on Windows. One of them is by using a backup software for PC, such as tools Todo Backup Home. It can create an image of the entire hard drive (including all programs) and then save that image to an external hard drive or a network location.

Here are the features and highlights of YiDu (tools) Backup Software:

* Smart Backup of hard drives, partitions, and files with quick restoration * Excellent cloning features for system and disk cloning * Secure backup of your system, boot partition, and program files * Backup files to various devices, including network shares, USB drives, cloud storage, and more.

To use the Todo Backup program, follow these steps: 1. Launch the Todo Backup software First, open the Todo Backup application on your computer. 2. Select the backup type On the main interface, you'll see options like "Disk Backup," "File Backup," "System Backup," and so on. Choose the appropriate backup type based on your needs. 3. Define the backup source Select the files, folders, disks, or partitions you wish to back up. Click the relevant option and navigate to the desired location. 4. Specify the backup target Decide where you want to save the backup files. You can choose another hard drive, an external device, or a network location. 5. Set up a backup schedule (Optional) If you need regular backups, click "Scheduled Backup" and configure the frequency, such as daily, weekly, or monthly. 6. Apply backup options Depending on your requirements, you can choose advanced options like compression level, encrypting the backup, or creating a backup copy. 7. Start the backup After confirming all settings, click the "Start Backup" button to initiate the backup process. Once you've completed these steps, Todo Backup will begin executing your backup task. Make sure your computer remains on during the backup process.

1. Launch Todo Backup, then click "Create Backup" on the main screen, and then click "Select backup content".

Step 2: Click on "Operating System" among the four options to start the backup process.

Step 3. The installer will automatically select the partition, and all you have to do is choose the location.

Step 3 of Creating System Backup

Step 4. You can save the backup file to your local drive, cloud, or NAS. You can also connect an external hard drive to save the system image.

5. In the lower-left corner, under "Options", you can make any customizations. Then tap "Back Up Now" to start the backup process.

* After the backup is complete, you can right-click on the backup task on the left to check its status, perform a recovery, open or delete the backup.

How to Backup Programs Using a Built-In Windows Tool

Windows 10 Backup and Restore is a built-in utility in Windows that allows you to back up and restore files using a system image. You can use this tool to back up your programs to prevent data loss.

The approach is straightforward:

**Step 1:** Open the "Control Panel" on your computer and select "Backup and Restore (Windows 7).

2. Click “Create a system image” on the screen.

Create a system image

Step 3: Next, choose where you want to save the backup copy. It's best to use an external hard drive or a USB flash drive.

Then, select a backup location:

Step 4: Check the “Include drive image” option, and click “Next.”

Next (Step 5), you'll be asked to choose the drives to back up to the image. The system should default to the drive that contains your Windows installation. If you have multiple drives, make sure they're all selected.

Select the system partition to backup.

6. After you've selected your files, click “Next,” and the backup process will begin. Depending on the size of your hard drive, this could take some time.

This is an image showing the Chinese characters "开始备份," which translates to "Start Backup" in American English.

When you're done, you'll have a complete image of your programs and data that you can restore if necessary.

How to use the Export/Import tool to back up programs before reinstalling Windows 10

Another option is to use built-in export features in apps to back them up on Windows. Many programs have this feature, which saves settings and data to a file. After reinstalling Windows 10, you can import these files into the same or different programs.

Export program settings:

Step 1: Open the program, and look for an "Export" or "Backup" option under the "File" menu.

Step 1. Choose an option, and then choose where you want to save the exported file. Remember this location.

1. Once that's done, you can reinstall Windows 10.

**Step 1:** Launch the program, and look for an “Import” or “Restore” option in the “File” menu.

**Step 1:** Choose an option, and then select the files to export. This will restore program settings and data.

Before you install Windows 10, back up your apps and settings

Before you reinstall Windows, learn how to back up your programs.

Will I lose my programs if I reinstall Windows?

Yes, reinstalling the system will delete files and programs from the system drive. That's why we recommend you back up your data before reinstalling Windows.

How to reinstall Windows without losing apps? If you wanna reinstall Windows without losing your installed apps, here's what I'd recommend: 1. **Backup Your Personal Files**: First off, back up all your important personal stuff like docs, pics, vids, and tunes. Copy 'em to an external hard drive, USB stick, or upload 'em to a cloud storage service. 2. **Make a Recovery Drive**: Head over to the official Microsoft site and use the Windows Media Creation Tool to make yourself a Windows install media – either a USB drive or a DVD. You'll use this during the reinstall. 3. **Save Your Apps and Settings**: Pick one of these ways to save your apps and settings: - **System Image Backup**: In "Settings" > "Update & Security" > "Backup," click "Create a system image." This'll save the whole shebang, including apps and settings. - **Third-Party Backup Software**: Use something like Todo Backup or Acronis True Image to save your apps and settings. 4. **Uninstall Unwanted Apps**: Open the Start menu, go to "Control Panel" > "Uninstall a Program," and get rid of any apps you don't need anymore. This'll help avoid issues after the reinstall. 5. **Do the Reinstall**: Pop in the recovery drive, restart your rig, and get into BIOS/UEFI settings to change the boot order so it boots from USB or DVD. Just follow the on-screen prompts for the Windows install. 6. **Bring Back Your Apps and Settings**: Once the install's done, use the system image or third-party backup tool you made earlier to bring back your apps and settings. If using a system image, go to "Settings" > "Update & Security" > "Recovery" > "Get started" > "Advanced options" > "Restore from a cloud or external drive." Now, keep in mind that not everything will come back exactly as it was. Some apps might need reactivating or updating, and hardware-specific ones could need reinstalling. So, even though this helps minimize data loss, it's smart to check each app's compatibility and restore options before diving in.

To reinstall Windows without losing programs, you can back them up first if the system is running normally. If your computer fails to start and contains important programs and data, don't worry. You can use the Data Recovery Wizard WinPE Edition to recover data and files from an unbootable computer. Thus, you can reinstall Windows without data loss.

How to back up Windows programs? If you want to back up Windows programs, there are typically several ways to do so: 1. **Using built-in backup tools:** - Windows 7 and earlier: You can use the "Backup and Restore" feature to create a system image, which includes installed programs. - Windows 8/8.1: The "File History" function can back up personal files but not directly programs. You would need to separately back up program installation files. - Windows 10/11: Using "Settings" > "Update & Security" > "Backup," you can choose to back up the entire system or specific folders, but not programs. You will need to manually back up program installation files. 2. **Backing up program installation files:** - Locate the installation files for each program (usually `.exe` or `.msi`) and copy them to an external storage device or cloud storage. 3. **Using third-party backup software:** - Many third-party backup tools (such as tools Todo Backup, Acronis True Image, etc.) let you selectively back up programs and associated files. 4. **Using in-program backup features:** - Some programs might have built-in backup or export functions. Consult the program's help documentation for details. 5. **Creating a system image:** - Create a disk image of the entire system drive using tools like `Disk Utility` (for Mac users) or `Clonezilla`. This allows you to restore the entire system, including programs. Remember that backing up programs doesn't usually mean you can run them directly on a new system. Typically, you'll need to reinstall the programs and then restore personal settings and data from the backup. Make sure to follow software license agreements during the backup process and don't forget to back up important user data and configuration files.

The fastest way to back up programs on a hard drive is by using a dedicated disk imaging software: </span>

Step 1: Download and install Todo Backup Home.

Step 2: Select "Disk Backup" to back up the system disk.

Step 3: Use the utility to restore the system partition as needed.

How to reinstall Windows 10 without losing any data? To reinstall Windows 10 while preserving all your files, settings, and apps, you can use the "Reset this PC" feature. Here's how: 1. Backup important files: Before starting, it's advisable to back up your crucial personal files to an external hard drive or cloud storage service for safety. 2. Open "Settings": Click on the "Start" button on the taskbar, then select the gear-shaped "Settings" icon. 3. Go to "Update & Security": In the "Settings" window, choose the "Update & Security" option. 4. Select "Recovery": On the left-hand menu, click on the "Recovery" option. 5. Find "Reset this PC": Under the right pane, locate and click the "Get started" button under the "Reset this PC" section. 6. Choose "Keep my files": In the pop-up window, select the "Keep my files" option. This will reinstall Windows 10 without deleting your personal files, some settings, and apps. 7. Continue and complete the reset process: Follow the on-screen instructions, and the system will download and install the latest version of Windows 10. This may take some time, so be patient. 8. Re-login and restore: After the reset is finished, you'll be prompted to sign back into your account. Upon logging in, your files, settings, and some apps should have been restored. Please note that not all applications will automatically recover after the reset; you might need to reinstall some. Additionally, certain settings might require manual adjustments. Nonetheless, this method should allow you to reinstall Windows 10 without losing essential data.

If you want to keep your personal files and settings but get rid of bloatware, you can perform a clean install of Windows 10 by “Resetting This PC.” This gives you a fresh copy of Windows 10 while keeping your personal files and settings. Learn more at How to Do a Clean Install of Windows 10 Without Losing Your Data.