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To back up Windows Server 2019, 2022 or 2025, install the Windows Server Backup feature with Install-WindowsFeature Windows-Server-Backup, then run wbadmin start backup -backupTarget:E: -allCritical -include:C: -quiet from an elevated prompt. The target must be a different volume or a network share, never the drive you are backing up. Schedule it with wbadmin enable backup and restore with wbadmin start recovery.

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Before you start

  • Connect with Remote Desktop as an administrator.
  • Run every wbadmin command in an elevated PowerShell or Command Prompt (right-click > Run as administrator). You must be in the Administrators or Backup Operators group.
  • Decide where backups go. A backup on the same disk as the server is lost with that disk. Good targets are a second disk or a network share on another machine (\\198.51.100.20\backups).
  • On a VPS you can also take full-disk backups in the panel: see VPS Panel backups. Windows Server Backup gives you a second copy you control.

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How to install Windows Server Backup

Success shows True when it is installed.
See install roles and features for more on Server Manager.

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How to run a one-time backup with wbadmin

  • -backupTarget:E: is where the backup is stored.
  • -include:C: lists the volumes, folders or files to back up, separated by commas.
  • -allCritical adds every volume Windows needs to start, so you can restore the whole server (bare-metal recovery).
  • -quiet runs without asking questions.
The target cannot be one of the volumes you are backing up. With -allCritical, the command fails if the target is a system volume such as C:.
When you back up the same server to the same network share again, the new backup overwrites the previous one. If that backup fails, you can be left with no usable backup. Use a separate subfolder per backup, for example \\198.51.100.20\backups\2026-11-04, if you need more than one version.
To back up only some folders, list them, for example -include:C:\inetpub,D:\Data. To add the system state to a backup of selected items, add -systemState.

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How to schedule daily backups

-schedule takes one or more times in HH:MM format, separated by commas, for example -schedule:01:00,13:00.
When the scheduled backup target is a whole disk, Windows formats that disk before first use, and everything on it is permanently erased. Check with wbadmin get disks that you picked the right disk. With a network share as the target, you can’t add more targets later and each run replaces the previous backup.
To stop scheduled backups: wbadmin disable backup.

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How to check your backups

Each backup is listed with a Version identifier such as 11/04/2026-01:00. To see what one contains:
wbadmin get status shows progress while a backup is running.

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How to restore files from Windows Server Backup

1

Find the version

2

Restore to a different folder

-recursive includes subfolders. -overwrite:CreateCopy never replaces an existing file; other options are Overwrite and Skip.
3

Copy back what you need

Check the restored files, then copy them into place.
To restore the whole server from an -allCritical backup, boot the server from the Windows Server installation ISO into the Windows Recovery Environment and recover from the backup there; wbadmin start sysrecovery only works in that environment. On a VPS, use custom ISOs and boot order and the VNC console. On a dedicated server, open a ticket for console or ISO access.

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Frequently asked questions

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Can I back up Windows Server to the same drive?

Not to the volume being backed up. A backup on another volume of the same physical disk is also lost if that disk fails, so prefer a second disk or a network share on another machine.

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Does Windows Server Backup keep several versions?

On a dedicated local backup disk, yes: wbadmin get versions lists each one. On a network share, each run overwrites the previous backup of that server unless you use separate subfolders.

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How do I back up SQL Server databases?

Use SQL Server’s own backups (BACKUP DATABASE) to a file, then include that folder in your Windows backup. See install SQL Server Express.

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Is a VPS panel backup the same as Windows Server Backup?

No. A panel backup copies the whole virtual disk from outside the server. Windows Server Backup runs inside Windows and lets you restore single files. Using both gives you two independent copies.

VPS and dedicated server guides

Every guide in this section.

VPS Panel backups

Full-disk backups and restores.

Install roles and features

Add Windows Server features.

Free up disk space on Windows Server

Make room for backups.

Back up a Linux server

The Linux equivalent.
Checked against the official Microsoft Learn pages for wbadmin start backup, wbadmin enable backup and wbadmin start recovery on 4 November 2026 (Windows Server 2019, 2022 and 2025). Commands were not run on a live Windows server. Options can change between Windows releases.

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Last Updated: November 2026