Experts recommend the 3-2-1 rule : three copies of data, on two different media types, with one copy offsite (cloud).

In 2026, the landscape for backing up Windows 11 to an external drive is divided between legacy built-in tools and more reliable third-party alternatives. While Microsoft has introduced a newer "Windows Backup" app, it primarily focuses on syncing settings to OneDrive rather than creating a true offline disaster recovery image for external drives.