WD Backup is an excellent tool that automatically safeguards your files, pictures, folders, documents, and more. It uses your WD drive as the primary storage disk and keeps your files backed up to an offsite cloud storage, reducing the risk of data loss. If you're a user of WD Backup, you might already know it's a user-friendly backup application.

wd backup not working

Though WD Backup is a convenient solution, you might encounter the issue of WD Backup not working on Windows 10 when backing up essential data. This situation causes frustration as people strive to perform WD Backup but fail to find a secure and quick way to resolve the problem.

?Further Reading: WD Backup Software | Best Free Software to Backup Hard Drive

This guide will swiftly walk you through resolving such issues. We'll explain various reasons behind problems like "unable to back up files" and "WD Backup not detecting my hard drive." This will provide you with a deeper understanding of the issues and help you avoid any future hassles. Furthermore, this guide will introduce a convenient software solution to effortlessly backup your data.

Let's delve into the reasons why WD Backup isn't working on Windows 10 and the solutions to fix it.

Why isn't WD Backup working on Windows 10?

Well, before getting to know the solutions to fix WD Backup not working on Windows 10, it's better to learn about the reasons causing this issue. Um, in this case, there is no specific reason that leads to this problem. Two conditions include WD Backup files won't restore and WD Backup not seeing the drive you may encounter.

After installing the WD Backup app, you might encounter issues with it not working as expected. However, it can also suddenly stop working after using the WD Backup application for a while.

  1. Scenario 1: Unable to Back Up Files
  2. Scenario 2: WD Backup Does Not Recognize My Drive

Scenario 1: Can't back up files

This is the first scenario where you might encounter an error with WD Backup. Reasons this can happen include:

Disk Fragmentation

If your Windows computer has disk fragmentation, there is a higher likelihood of errors with WD Backup. Therefore, run a disk check to view the disk status before you begin backing up your files.

Infected computer systems

Sometimes, a computer might be infected with a virus or malware that prevents the operating system from using the backup files. As a result, WD Backup fails to run properly on the system until the virus is removed, causing backup failure.

File permissions

The Windows operating system follows a set of rules to run. Hence, appropriate permissions need to be provided for files and folders to be saved at a specific location. If the required permission is not provided, it might lead to WD Backup operations failing.

Long File Names

While it's rare for file names that are too long to cause issues with WD Backup, having file names that are too long can cause problems when creating a WD Backup.

The folder path is too long.

Having a long folder path can also cause WD Backup issues, as this can prevent the system from reading the file path, resulting in backup errors.

Scenario 2: WD Backup does not detect my drive

The second scenario of this issue is that WD Backup is not seeing my drive. This can be caused by the following:

Local PC Security

If you use local PC security features in Windows, you might encounter issues where WD Backup fails to recognize the drive.

Antivirus software

Antivirus software can also cause WD Backup to fail to detect my drive issue due to the restrictions it imposes on the computer. It can also affect the efficiency of the computer system's tasks.

Antimalware Software

Like any anti-virus application, a malware protection system can also block WD Backup operations. This can lead to the WD Backup not seeing the drive issue.

Endpoint Protection Software

Endpoint protection software on the computer system might prevent you from using WD Backup freely.

Try an alternative software before fixing the issue with WD Backup not working

Before solving the issue of WD Backup not working, you should use an alternative software to prevent any data loss. It will keep everything safe by creating effective backups of files, folders, disks, partitions, and the Windows operating system in case anything goes wrong with your computer. For this purpose, you can use the most advanced backup tool available on the market, Todo Backup. Additionally, it offers a comprehensive and reliable PC backup and recovery solution for any version of Windows.

Simultaneously, it's worth saving multiple backups on USB drives, external and internal hard disks, and so on. The best thing about this software is that its advanced features are available for free. Its user-friendly interface makes it easy to use, even without prior experience. With this software, you can effortlessly get all your clean and tidy backup options with just a few clicks. It offers users a plethora of features, allowing you to set up automatic backups at specified time intervals.

In case you lose essential data, the Todo Backup tool can also help you recover files for free. This certified software leads the global industry with its reliable and advanced backup and restoration capabilities. You can also download a trial version of the software to leverage its user-friendly features for quick recovery and backup processes.

Below are three more articles you can read to get more information about the Todo Backup tool.

Here are the steps for using this software:

Step 1: Launch Todo Backup on your computer. On the main screen, click “Create Backup,” and then hit the big question mark button to choose “Backup Content.”

Backup Outlook emails step 1

Step 2. To back up the Windows operating system, click "OS" to start the backup task.

Backup Outlook emails step 2

Step 3. Windows will automatically select the operating system and all system-related files and partitions, so you don't need to make any manual selections here. Next, click on the area highlighted in the screenshot below to choose where you want to save your system image backup.

System Backup System Backup

Step 4: The backup location can be another local drive on your computer, an external hard drive, a network, the cloud, or a NAS. We generally recommend using an external physical drive or the cloud to save your system backup files.

Backup Outlook emails step 4

Click on "Options" to enable a scheduled backup plan that triggers daily, weekly, monthly, or event-based, and perform differential and incremental backups if needed. Click "Backup Now" and the Windows System Backup process will begin. When finished, the backup task will be displayed on the left panel as a card.

Backup Outlook Emails Step 5

After successfully backing up all important data with Todo Backup, you can try the following methods to fix the problem that WD Backup not working on Windows 10.

Fixing WD Backup not working on Windows 10 without software

In the above section, we have outlined the best approaches to resolve issues with Windows Backup and WD Backup. If you're looking for solutions to fix WD backup errors without using software, we've provided two convenient methods. Choose and apply the solution that suits your circumstances and requirements.

  1. Method 1: Enable File History and Windows Search
  2. Method 2: Reactivate System Protection

Method 1: Turn on File History and Windows Search

Enabling File History and Windows Search is a common but effective solution for addressing WD Backup issues. Here are the steps: 1. **Enable File History:** - Press `Windows Key + I` to open the Settings app. - Click on `Update & Security` and then select `Backup` from the left pane. - If File History is not already set up, click on `Add a drive` and choose your external WD drive. - Ensure that `Automatically back up my files` is turned on. - You can customize the backup settings as per your preference. 2. **Enable Windows Search:** - Press `Windows Key + R` to open the Run dialog box. - Type `services.msc` and hit Enter to open the Services Manager. - Scroll down and locate the `Windows Search` service. - Right-click on it and select `Properties`. - In the `General` tab, make sure the `Startup type` is set to `Automatic`. - If the service is not running, click on `Start` to start it. - Click `Apply` and then `OK`. After completing these steps, restart your computer and check if the WD Backup issue has been resolved. If the problem persists, it might be helpful to update the firmware of your WD drive or contact WD support for further assistance.

Step 1: Go to the Search bar or press Windows + S, type in Services, and click to open it.

Step 2: Find File History and Windows Search in the list of results, double-click both, and set Startup type to Automatic.

Windows Search

Now restart the system and try to back up your data again.

Method 2: Re-enable System Protection

If the issue persists, you can try enabling System Protection in your computer system using a different method.

To do this, follow these steps:

Step 1: Type “Control Panel” in the search bar and open it.

Step 2: Click on System and Security, then choose System, and then System Protection.

Step 3: Select a disk and click "Configure."

Step 4: Click “Turn off system protection,” and then click “Apply.” Next, choose “Restore system protection,” click “Apply” again, and then “OK.”

Local Disk System Protection

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Note:
It is recommended to update your Windows to the latest version and try using WD Backup. You can use a different hard drive to resolve issues with WD Backup not working properly on Windows 10.

Final Judgment

The issue of WD Backup not working might be bothering you. We've covered various scenarios and solutions to this problem. By following the provided methods, you can easily resolve this issue. However, to prevent future backup failures, it's recommended to regularly back up using a reliable tool like Todo Backup. If WD Backup fails to work on your Windows 10, this tool serves as an efficient backup solution to cater to all your needs.

Q&A: Troubleshooting Western Digital Backup Not Working on Windows 10

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us, or consult this list of frequently asked questions.

1. What to do if WD Backup is not working on Windows 7?

If you're seeing this issue while using Windows 7, check:

    • Your hard drive has fragmentation. You can run a disk check and defragment it.
    • If your system is infected with a virus, run a scan.
    • Permissions have been enabled for critical files.
    • The file name/folder path is too long.

2. Why does WD Backup not backup all files and how to fix this issue?

  1. Make sure the WD Backup Drive Assistant service is running when you open WD Backup.
  2. Make sure your antivirus software is not blocking WD Backup.
  3. The WD drive should be connected directly to the computer.
  4. If the firmware on your drive is not up to date, update it.

Why isn't my WD Passport working on my computer?

If you're experiencing issues with your WD My Passport not working or showing up on your Windows PC, try these troubleshooting tips to quickly resolve the problem.

    • Reconnect WD My Passport to the system
    • Format WD Passport on your PC
    • Change the drive letter of WD Passport
    • Remount WD Passport on Mac
    • Update WD Passport drivers and USB controller