Microsoft Leverages Windows 11 Notification Center to Promote Backup App, Encouraging OneDrive Subscriptions

Microsoft has launched a somewhat underwhelming backup application called Windows Backup, which has now been distributed to Windows 10/11 users via Windows Update. With this backup app, users can back up some of their files.

Why is this app considered underwhelming? Although it's marketed as a "complete backup" solution, it fails to back up the entirety of a user's data. Instead, it primarily backs up system settings, documents, and apps installed from the Microsoft Store.

Significantly, backups created by this application rely on OneDrive, meaning users' data is stored on OneDrive, consuming their storage quota. Free users get only 5GB of storage, while Microsoft 365 subscribers can access 1TB.

Perhaps due to the low usage of Windows Backup, Microsoft is now pushing notifications through the Windows 11 Notification Center to encourage more users to utilize this backup function.

The notification reads:

"Your PC is not fully backed up. Credential and folder backup features are not enabled. Back them up now to prevent unexpected issues with your computer."

These notifications are sent from cloud servers, so users cannot completely block them. Dismissing the notification keeps it at bay for a few weeks, but Microsoft is likely to resend it to continue promoting the backup app.

For those in need of backup solutions, it is recommended to use more reliable third-party tools like AOMEI Backupper, ImageX, or DISM for a comprehensive, offline backup, rather than relying on Windows Backup to safeguard all your computer's data.