What is backed to your OneDrive


A

AshForeth

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I am wondering what gets backed up to OneDrive by Windows. According to the Windows Backup setting, it's
  • Folder Syncing
  • Remember my app
  • Remember my preferences.
I get what the folder syncing is doing. I think app preference is so you can reinstall apps. However does this only apply to Windows store app? I am not sure what preferences get saved? The Windows settings?

In addition, I notice that bitwarden recovery key can be save, too. I assume it is being save to onedrive?

Thanks
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 24H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS ProArt P16
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 Processor 2.0GHz
    Motherboard
    N/A
    Memory
    64 Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA® GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU
    Sound Card
    N/A
    Monitor(s) Displays
    N/A
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2400
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 23H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 5 5600
    Motherboard
    MSI MS-7C56
    Memory
    32 Gb
    Graphics card(s)
    AMD RX6600

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Home26H2Can
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 5 8600G (07/24)
    Motherboard
    ASROCK B650M-HDV/M.2 (07/24) BIOS 4.21 AGESA ComboAM5 1.3.0.1 (04/26)
    Memory
    2x32GB Kingston FURY DDR5 5600 MHz CL36 @5200 CL36 (07/24)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASROCK Radeon RX 6600 Challenger D 8G @48FPS (08/24)
    Sound Card
    Creative Sound BlasterX AE-5 Plus (05/24)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" Philips 24M1N3200ZS/00 (05/24)
    Screen Resolution
    1920×1080@165Hz via DP1.4
    Hard Drives
    Kingston KC3000 NVMe 2TB (05/24)
    ADATA XPG GAMMIX S11 Pro 512GB (07/19)
    PSU
    Seasonic Core GM 550 Gold (04/24)
    Case
    Fractal Design Define 7 Mini with 3x Noctua NF-P14s/12@555rpm (04/24)
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-U12S with Noctua NF-P12 (04/24)
    Keyboard
    HP Pavilion Wired Keyboard 300 (07/24) + Rabalux 76017 Parker (01/24)
    Mouse
    Logitech M330 Silent Plus (01/26)
    Internet Speed
    500/100 Mbps via RouterOS (05/21) & TCP Optimizer
    Browser
    Edge, Brave for YouTube, LibreWolf for FB
    Antivirus
    NextDNS blocking 1/3 Traffic
    Other Info
    Phone: Motorola Moto G86 (02/26)
    Backup: Hasleo Backup Suite (PreOS)
    Headphones: Sennheiser RS170 (09/10)
    Chair: Huzaro Force 4.4 Grey Mesh (05/24)
    Notifier: Xiaomi Mi Band 9 Milanese (10/24)
    FlexCore USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 (M) to LAN (F) (08/25)
TairikuOkami said:
Not all MS Store apps, only some.

Wallpaper and that is about it, it does not even remember dark theme ffs.

If you are referring to the recovery passkey, then no, passkeys are not backup up.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info, that's a bit disappointing to know that the system is inconsistently backed up.

When I say the bitlocker recovery key, I am not referring tot he passkey but the encryption recovery keys. Windows, more often than other OS like Linux, ChromeOS, and MacOS has a tendency to fail to decrypt during startup, probably after an update, and have to enter a recovery key. Often the recovery key is store in your MS account. Note that this can be consider a security risk since MS now has a way to decrypt your drive.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 24H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS ProArt P16
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 Processor 2.0GHz
    Motherboard
    N/A
    Memory
    64 Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA® GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU
    Sound Card
    N/A
    Monitor(s) Displays
    N/A
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2400
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 23H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 5 5600
    Motherboard
    MSI MS-7C56
    Memory
    32 Gb
    Graphics card(s)
    AMD RX6600

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
BruceR said:
I think Windows Backup stores a list of all installed Store apps for reinstallation. Why do you think it's only some?

Windows Backup stores hundreds of preference settings, including themes and dark/light mode.


You said bitwarden.
Click to expand...
My bad I meant to daily bitlocker. Looks like I cannot correct original post.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 24H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS ProArt P16
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 Processor 2.0GHz
    Motherboard
    N/A
    Memory
    64 Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA® GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU
    Sound Card
    N/A
    Monitor(s) Displays
    N/A
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2400
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 23H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 5 5600
    Motherboard
    MSI MS-7C56
    Memory
    32 Gb
    Graphics card(s)
    AMD RX6600
AshForeth said:
My bad I meant to daily bitlocker. Looks like I cannot correct original post.
Click to expand...
Yes, Bitlocker recovery key is backed up online.
BruceR said:
Why do you think it's only some?
Click to expand...
Because I always have to install them manually, like Audials, Bitwarden, eM Client, HEVC, Netflix, Rufus.
BruceR said:
Windows Backup stores hundreds of preference settings, including themes and dark/light mode.
Click to expand...
It never did for me and I always get upset that it does not even remember something as basic as a dark theme.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Home26H2Can
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 5 8600G (07/24)
    Motherboard
    ASROCK B650M-HDV/M.2 (07/24) BIOS 4.21 AGESA ComboAM5 1.3.0.1 (04/26)
    Memory
    2x32GB Kingston FURY DDR5 5600 MHz CL36 @5200 CL36 (07/24)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASROCK Radeon RX 6600 Challenger D 8G @48FPS (08/24)
    Sound Card
    Creative Sound BlasterX AE-5 Plus (05/24)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" Philips 24M1N3200ZS/00 (05/24)
    Screen Resolution
    1920×1080@165Hz via DP1.4
    Hard Drives
    Kingston KC3000 NVMe 2TB (05/24)
    ADATA XPG GAMMIX S11 Pro 512GB (07/19)
    PSU
    Seasonic Core GM 550 Gold (04/24)
    Case
    Fractal Design Define 7 Mini with 3x Noctua NF-P14s/12@555rpm (04/24)
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-U12S with Noctua NF-P12 (04/24)
    Keyboard
    HP Pavilion Wired Keyboard 300 (07/24) + Rabalux 76017 Parker (01/24)
    Mouse
    Logitech M330 Silent Plus (01/26)
    Internet Speed
    500/100 Mbps via RouterOS (05/21) & TCP Optimizer
    Browser
    Edge, Brave for YouTube, LibreWolf for FB
    Antivirus
    NextDNS blocking 1/3 Traffic
    Other Info
    Phone: Motorola Moto G86 (02/26)
    Backup: Hasleo Backup Suite (PreOS)
    Headphones: Sennheiser RS170 (09/10)
    Chair: Huzaro Force 4.4 Grey Mesh (05/24)
    Notifier: Xiaomi Mi Band 9 Milanese (10/24)
    FlexCore USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 (M) to LAN (F) (08/25)
AshForeth said:

What is backed to your OneDrive​

Click to expand...
Anything that Microsoft decides it wants to (which is why I summarily obliterate that abomination on setup)
AshForeth said:
I am not sure what preferences get saved? The Windows settings?
Click to expand...
Only what things Microsoft wants to. Despite the fact that Windows offers the user opportunities to change to suit the user's preferences, when it comes to backing up/restoring those preferences, Windows is not interested
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 2xH2 (latest update ... forever anal)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Slim S01
    CPU
    Intel i5-12400
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GT730
    Sound Card
    OOBE
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer 32"
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    512GB KIOXIA NVMe
    1TB SATA SSD
    PSU
    OOBE
    Case
    OOBE
    Cooling
    OOBE
    Keyboard
    BT
    Mouse
    BT
    Browser
    Brave FFox Chrome Opera
    Antivirus
    KIS
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 2xH2 (latest update ... 4ever anal)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavillion 15
    CPU
    i7-1165G7 @ 2.80GHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe Graphics
    Hard Drives
    Samsung NVMe 512GB
    + numerous/multiple SSD Type C USB enclosures
    Internet Speed
    NBN FTTN 50
    Browser
    Brave
    Antivirus
    KIS
idgat said:
Despite the fact that Windows offers the user opportunities to change to suit the user's preferences, when it comes to backing up/restoring those preferences, Windows is not interested
Click to expand...

Windows Backup stores at least 245 different preferences:

Expand each section to learn about what's backed up for each item that you can select from Settings or from the Windows Backup app.

Windows Backup settings and preferences catalog
Click to expand...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
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