What to save before a migration or reset

Before you migrate to a new Windows PC or reset the one you have, save your personal files, the data inside your apps, and the Windows settings you’ve customized. Personal files are the things you made or stored yourself; app data is the content an app keeps for you, like mail, notes, passwords, game saves, or project files; Windows settings are the preferences that shape how the PC behaves, like Wi‑Fi, printers, and accessibility. The safest order is simple: back up your files first, export or sync app data next, and save your settings and account recovery details before you reinstall or wipe anything.

Prerequisites

• A signed-in account for any cloud services you use, such as OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, browser sync, email, notes, or password managers.
• An external drive, USB stick, or another backup location with enough free space.
• Admin access on the PC if you need to export app data or change system settings.
• Time to check a few common folders and confirm the backup opens before you reset or move.
• If you plan to reset the PC, a second place to keep the backup so it will still exist after the wipe.

Start with the things that are hardest to replace

Start by saving anything that exists only because you created it. That usually means documents, photos, videos, recordings, spreadsheets, presentations, and project folders from work, school, or personal side projects.

A good rule is to ask whether a file can be recovered from the cloud, the app, or a download link. If the answer is no, back it up now. Common examples include tax records, scanned IDs, resumes, family photos, video edits, design source files, code repositories, and any folder you’ve been actively working in.

If you use OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, or another sync service, still check the local copy before you reset. Sync can fail, files can be marked online-only, and some folders may never have been included in the first place. Save a second copy of anything you cannot afford to lose.

Check the places people forget all the time

The most missed files are usually in plain sight. Check Desktop, Downloads, Documents, Pictures, and Videos first, because Windows and many apps like to store files there by default.

Look in Downloads for installers, receipts, PDFs, and anything you saved from email or the web. Many people also keep working files on the desktop because it feels temporary, then forget they never moved them into a proper folder. If you use an external drive, USB stick, or SD card, copy those files too. They are easy to overlook because they are not on the PC itself.

If you use cloud sync, open the provider’s folder on the PC and check what is actually stored there. For example, a OneDrive folder may contain only some of your files, not everything in your user profile. The same goes for shared or team folders in work apps. When in doubt, search by file type or recent date and copy the results into one backup location.

Browser bookmarks belong here too. Save or sync bookmarks, reading lists, and any browser profiles or extension settings you care about. If your browser offers open-tab sync, turn it on before you move so you can get back to the same pages later.

Save the data inside your apps, not just the apps themselves

Reinstalling an app usually does not restore your data. Many apps keep their important information in separate exports, synced accounts, or hidden local folders.

Browsers are a big one. Save or sync bookmarks, reading lists, saved passwords, open tabs if your browser supports them, and any downloaded profiles or extensions settings you care about. If you use a password manager, make sure you know how to get back into it on the new PC and that your vault is synced or exported in the way that app allows.

For email and notes, check whether the account is cloud-based or local. Webmail is usually tied to your account, but local mail clients may store archives on the PC. Note apps, to-do apps, and writing tools often have export options or sync settings you should verify before wiping anything.

Save passwords wherever they actually live, whether that is a browser, a password manager, or a separate app export. If the app uses sync, confirm that sync has finished before you reset.

If you work with creative or technical tools, export project files, presets, brushes, templates, libraries, and plugins that are not cloud-synced. Games can store saves locally, in the cloud, or in both places, so check each launcher or game separately. If a save matters, copy the local save folder before you reset.

Back up the Windows settings that make a new PC feel familiar

Most Windows settings can be rebuilt, but some are worth keeping because they save time and make the new setup usable right away.

Keep a record of Wi‑Fi names and passwords for networks you use often, especially home, office, and any hotspot you rely on. Save printer names and, if possible, the model names or setup files so you can reconnect them faster later. If you use a display layout with multiple monitors, note the orientation, scaling, and which screen is primary.

Accessibility settings are worth preserving too. That includes text size, pointer size, high contrast, color filters, narrator settings, magnifier behavior, and keyboard shortcuts you depend on. If you’ve changed File Explorer preferences, taskbar behavior, default apps, language, time zone, or mouse speed, write those down as well.

You usually won’t export all of these settings in one perfect package, so a simple screenshot set or a plain text note is often enough. The goal is to avoid rebuilding your setup from memory after the reset or move.

Don’t forget licenses, sign-ins, and two-factor recovery codes

Some of the hardest problems after a reset are not missing files, but missing access. Save the details that let you sign back into paid apps and protected accounts.

Keep software license keys, subscription details, and account emails for apps that require activation. If an app uses a sign-in instead of a key, make sure you know the username and have access to the email address or phone number tied to the account.

For accounts with two-factor authentication, save backup codes and recovery codes before you wipe the PC. If your authenticator app is tied to the old device, make sure you have transferred the codes or registered a new device first. Also check whether your browser or password manager is holding logins you may need later.

If you rely on work or school accounts, verify that you can still access them from another device before you reset. Getting locked out after the old PC is gone is much harder to fix than taking a few minutes now to confirm access.

Make one clean backup and verify it before you reset or migrate

Put everything into one backup plan before you touch the old PC. First copy your personal files, then export app data, then save settings notes and account recovery information. Keep the backup in a place that won’t disappear with the computer, such as an external drive plus a cloud copy if you can manage both.

After the backup finishes, open it and check that it contains the folders and exports you expected. Look for your main document folders, a few recent photos, browser exports, any app backups, and the notes you made about Wi‑Fi, printers, and settings. If the backup is compressed or stored in a special format, confirm that you can open or restore it.

Do not wipe the machine until you’ve confirmed the backup is readable and complete enough for your needs. A backup that exists but cannot be opened is not a backup you can trust.

Steps

1. Copy your personal files into a backup folder or drive.

Include the folders that hold your work and personal files, especially Desktop, Downloads, Documents, Pictures, and Videos. When the copy finishes, the files should be available in the backup location, not just on the old PC.

2. Export or sync the data inside your apps.

Save browser bookmarks, reading lists, saved passwords, email archives, notes, game saves, project files, presets, and any other app data you would not want to recreate by hand. If an app offers sync, confirm that it has finished; if it offers export, save the export file where you can find it later.

3. Write down the Windows settings you want to keep.

Record Wi‑Fi passwords, printer setup details, accessibility preferences, display layout, and any File Explorer, taskbar, default app, language, time zone, or mouse settings you’ve changed. A plain text note or screenshots is enough.

4. Save your sign-in and recovery information.

Keep license keys, subscription details, account emails, and two-factor backup or recovery codes. Make sure you can still access the email address or phone number tied to each important account.

5. Open the backup and check that it is usable.

Look for a few known files, a browser export, at least one app backup, and your notes. If you can open or restore the items you saved, you are ready to reset or move.

Do not wipe or repurpose the old PC until you have confirmed that the backup opens and includes the files and exports you need.

What to save first if you only have 10 minutes

If time is tight, save the files that are most likely to be unique and hardest to recreate. Start with the folders that contain your work and your personal memories, then grab the information that gets you back into your accounts.

Your fastest priority list is:

• Documents and project folders
• Photos and videos
• Anything on the desktop
• Downloads with receipts, PDFs, or files you still need
• Browser bookmarks and saved passwords or password vault access
• Email archives, notes, and important app exports
• Recovery codes and license keys

If you only get one chance, copy those items to an external drive or cloud folder before you reset. After that, you can rebuild the rest more calmly.

Completion

You know you’re done when your backup has the files you care about, your app exports are saved, your Wi‑Fi and printer notes are written down, and you can open at least a few items from the backup without errors. At that point, you can move to the new PC or reset the old one with much less risk of losing something important.

Conclusion

Once your backup is done, keep the old PC untouched until you’ve checked that the files open and the exports look right. If you’re moving to a new computer, restore the personal files first, then sign into your apps, then bring back settings and printers. If you’re resetting the current PC, make sure the backup is in at least one place that will still exist after the wipe.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I back up installed apps before a reset?

Usually no. Reinstall the apps from their original installers or app stores. What you need to save is the data inside them, plus any license keys, presets, or exports they do not sync automatically.

Is OneDrive enough on its own?

Sometimes it is for files that are actually synced there, but not always. Check that the folders you care about are included and that the files are available locally or in the cloud before you rely on it.

What files are most often forgotten?

Desktop items, Downloads, browser bookmarks, email archives, note app data, game saves, and project folders stored outside the usual Documents folder are the most common misses.