Can you actually restore your backup?

A backup can look reassuring without having been tested. A drive on the desk, a folder called “backup” or an old success notification doesn’t tell you whether your latest files are there—or whether you can get them back.

Before you spend time reorganising your storage, try this simple check. The goal is to recover a harmless sample file without changing your original.

1. Pick something that matters

Choose a recent document or photo you can recognise. Think about where your important files actually live: camera imports, college work, business documents and video-editing projects may be spread across several folders or drives.

Make a short list of those locations. A backup that covers your Documents folder might still miss a project saved somewhere else.

2. Find the latest completed backup

Open your backup software and check its most recent successful run. Look for warnings about a disconnected drive, insufficient space or files that could not be copied. Confirm that the folders on your list are included.

3. Restore a copy somewhere separate

Use the software’s restore function to recover your sample into a new test folder. Don’t overwrite the original as part of this check. Open the restored copy and make sure it contains the version you expect.

If your backup tool only offers to replace the original, pause and consult its restore instructions before continuing.

Built-in options to explore

Windows: File History can keep copies of personal files on an external drive or network location. Microsoft explains how to configure it, include additional folders through libraries and restore to a different location. See Microsoft’s File History guide.

Mac: Time Machine can make automatic backups to suitable external storage. Apple’s guide covers choosing a destination and starting a backup. See Apple’s Time Machine guide. If setup asks to erase or reformat a drive, protect anything already on that drive before proceeding.

Make the check repeatable

Keep a brief note of when you tested the restore and what you recovered. Repeat the check after changing your computer, backup drive or folder arrangement. A successful sample restore is useful evidence, though it doesn’t prove that every file is protected.

The useful question is simple: if this computer stopped working tomorrow, where would you get your important files—and have you checked that copy?

Official setup references checked 27 September 2026. Menu names can vary by operating-system version.