How to Backup Only New or Changed Files in Windows 10 [2 Ways]

Can I copy only new files to an external hard drive in Windows 10? On this page, you'll find two efficient way that can help you fully backup all valuable files with ease:

PAGE CONTENT:

Can I backup only changed files in Windows 10
Method 1. Back Up Only New/Changed Files to External Hard Drive With Software
Method 2. Back Up Only Changed/New Files in Windows 10 via Backup and Restore

Can I backup only changed files in Windows 10?

"Hi guys, do you know how to back up the only changed files in Windows 10? I'm using File History for file backup in Windows 10 but File History will copy each file every time when it executes the backup command.

How can I back up the files that only altered in Windows 10? Help please."

Can Windows 10 back up only changed files? Some of you may have the same questions why trying to create a backup of newly changed files on Windows 10 computers. The answer is Yes but the process is quite complex.

To execute this task in Windows 10, you can follow either method as shown below by applying powerful backup software for Windows 10 and the Windows 10 Backup and Restore feature for help.

Follow and learn how to copy and create a backup of your changed files with a step-by-step guide in the next two methods.

Method 1. Back Up Only New/Changed Files to External Hard Drive With Software

For most Windows beginners, it's a wise decision to turn to Windows backup software to update and create a backup of only altered files like music, images, documents, videos, etc., on Windows 10 PC.

Powerful backup software - Qiling Backup with its incremental backup function can help.

Qiling Data Backup Software

Back up only changed files, like documents, photos, audio, music, emails effectively.
Back up Windows OS, hard disk partitions, even clone disk.
Compress the backup image, occupying small storage space on your PC or external hard drive.

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Tutorial: Back Up Only Changed or New Files to External Hard Drive with Qiling Backup

Before you start, remember to empty your external hard drive and connect it to your computer. Then start with the following steps:

Step 1. Open Qiling Backup and select "File backup".

You may have a large amount of vital data to be protected as time goes on, such as documents, pictures, music, and videos, etc. It is always a good habit to have a backup on a regular basis.

Step 2. Select the files that you want to back up.

If you just want to back up one or some specific file types from one folder, the option at the top right corner can help you exclude other files.

Step 3. Select a destination to save your backup file.

Step 4. Click "Schedule" to create an automatic incremental backup.

For example, if you want to back up these files every Sunday, select "Weekly", and select "Sun". Then, set the backup method as Incremental.

Our software will start with a full backup for the first time. After that, it will execute a backup task for only changed files every Sunday.

Notice:

Here's a warm tip for you. Since it's the first-time backup for creating a full backup image, the process normally takes longer as it needs to image all selected files. Have a little rest and wait patiently.

If you have enough space, you can also select the "Appoint weekly first backup as Full" option. This option enables you to take a full backup and an incremental backup at the same time. But it takes a lot of disk space.

Step 5. Click "Proceed" to save the task and execute the full back up.

Once done, it will automatically execute an incremental backup on a set day.

After this, Qiling Backup will automatically backup files that only altered for you in Windows 10 after the first full backup operation. Nothing else you'll need to do later.

Method 2. Back Up Only Changed/New Files in Windows 10 via Backup and Restore

Another way that you can try is to apply Windows built-in tool - Backup and Restore (Windows 7) for creating a scheduled backup plan.

By doing so, you can also back up newly added or updated files with manual steps. As the process is a bit complex, follow and try this method carefully:

Step 1. Connect an external hard drive with enough space to your PC.

Step 2. Press Windows + S keys, type Control Panel in the Search box, and click to open Control Panel.

Step 3. Click "Backup and Restore (Windows 7)" to open it.

Step 4. On the right pane, click "Set up backup".

Step 5. Select the external hard drive to save your backup and click "Next".

Step 6. Select the files you want to back up.

You can follow the default Windows settings or decide for yourself.

Step 7. On the set up backup window, tick "Run backup on a schedule", set the plan and click "OK".

Here, you need to set the backup schedule for how often, what day for the new backup, which will add newly changed files to your next backup.

Step 8. Click "Save settings and run backup".

Now files that have transformed and new files that have been created since your last backup will be added to your backup according to the schedule you set.

Sum Up

On this page, we collected two reliable ways to help you back up important Windows 10 files that have changed recently. For an easier way out, Qiling Backup is recommended for you to try. It's secure and reliable.

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