This post is for anyone with a Windows 11 laptop or desktop who sees the 26H2 update coming and wants a short, concrete list of what to copy first. You do not need special software. In about an hour you can copy the folders that matter, check that the copy opens, and let the update run without worry. The steps work for students, teachers, shop owners and families alike.
What should I back up before Windows 11 26H2?
Short answer: Copy everything you would hate to lose into a second place that is not inside the laptop: Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Pictures and Videos, plus browser bookmarks, mail files and the data folders of any business software. Use an external drive or a cloud account, then open one or two files from the copy to check it works. Do this before the update arrives.
What is 26H2, and why back up for it?
26H2 is the next feature update for Windows 11. Microsoft began releasing it on 29 September 2026 as an enablement package (a small switch that turns on features already delivered to your PC), in a phased rollout. That means your PC may be offered it today or several weeks from now. Home and Pro editions get support for it until 10 October 2028.
There is also a reason for timing. Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro stop getting updates on 13 October 2026, so some people on 24H2 will see an upgrade offer soon. A feature update can be uneventful, but any big change to Windows is a fair moment to make sure your files exist in two places.
One more thing. 26H1 is a different release meant only for new laptops with Snapdragon X2 chips. If you have an ordinary Intel or AMD PC, it is not for you, and you cannot jump from 26H1 to 26H2.
The folder checklist
For Tally or accounting data, copy the whole data folder, not only the exported reports. Our Tally data file recovery guide explains why.
How do I copy the files safely?
- Plug in an external drive and note its drive letter in File Explorer.
- Create a folder on it named with today's date.
- Drag your folders from the list above into that folder and wait until the copy finishes. Large video folders take time.
- Open two or three copied files from the external drive, including one big file such as a video.
- Eject the drive from the taskbar before unplugging it.
If you need to choose a drive, our guide on external SSD versus HDD for laptop backup compares them in plain language.
Do not rely on File History alone
Windows Latest reported on 23 September 2026 that Microsoft confirmed a September update, KB5124008, stopped File History (Windows' built-in file copy feature) from creating or updating backups on Windows 11. Check Microsoft's release health page for whether a fix is out, and look at the date of the latest file in your backup folder. If File History is your only backup, make a manual copy now. This is the reason to open and check a backup rather than trust a green tick.
Broadband, power cuts and free space
Large updates need a steady connection and steady power. If your broadband drops often, let the update download fully before you restart, and avoid mobile hotspots with a small data pack. Voltage dips and power cuts during the restart part of an update are the real hazard, so keep a laptop on its charger, and put a desktop on a UPS (a small battery backup). Also check that the C drive has plenty of free space before the update, since a nearly full drive can make an update fail.
When to get help
- The copy stops partway with a read error or the laptop freezes while copying.
- Folders you remember are missing after an update.
- Windows will not start after the restart and you have no copy.
- The drive makes clicking sounds. Switch it off and do not keep copying, because repeated attempts can make the damage worse.
Our data recovery service begins with a diagnosis. In Hyderabad we offer a doorstep service, and the charge is ₹149 doorstep visit fee, waived when you approve laptop repair with us. Recovery charges are quoted after diagnosis and shared for approval before any work. If you need to know what happens when an update removes files, read how to recover from a Windows update that wiped files.
A note from the LRW Engineer Team
Follow the two-places rule: anything important should exist on the laptop and on a drive kept in a drawer or in your cloud account. Do the copy on a quiet evening, not minutes before an update. Once it is done and you have opened a file from it, you can accept the update calmly, knowing your work is safe.