Earlier today, we covered a new way Microsoft is enrolling older Windows 11 PCs for organizations such that various MDM-related issues can be avoided. The guidance was published under KB5065083.
On the topic of MDM (mobile device management), Microsoft is bringing support for another feature to Intune so that IT admins and system admins can deploy it without much hassle. The company has announced that the Windows Backup for Organizations via Intune will be hitting general availability status next month, as it will start rolling out right around the time when Windows 10 support comes to a halt. The feature is currently in preview.
Microsoft has informed about this update in a new message on the Microsoft 365 (M365) roadmap website. It writes:
Microsoft Intune: Windows Backup for organizations in Intune
Windows Backup for Organizations will be generally available in Intune with controls for backing up and restoring backups in OOBE. Backup and restore experience of user settings, especially for enterprises transitioning to Windows 11.
For those who need a refresher, Microsoft rolled out the Windows Backup for Orgnaizations via the August 2025 C-release update, and that means those who installed the September 2025 Patch will have the same.
The utility offers the data restore option for the backed-up user data during the OOBE (the initial setup) when Windows is finalizing an installation and the OS settings.
To ensure the Backup App is available, Microsoft lists the following requirements that must be met:
- Devices are Microsoft Entra joined or Microsoft Entra hybrid joined.
- Devices are running a supported version of Windows 10, version 22H2 or Windows 11, version 22H2 or later.
- Devices have the August 2025 Windows security update or newer. This update includes the Windows Backup app for backing up Windows settings and the list of Microsoft Store apps.
- The backup policy is enabled via mobile device management (MDM) or Group Policy.
And to restore settings and Microsoft Store apps, users will need to ensure:
- Devices are Microsoft Entra joined.
- Devices are running Windows 11, version 22H2 or later.
- Devices are preprovisioned with at least the August 2025 Windows security update prior to users going through out-of-box experience (OOBE). Otherwise, they should have the following base OS versions when going through OOBE: Windows 11, version 22H2 build 22621.3958 or newer; Windows 11, version 23H2 build 22631.3958 or newer; or Windows 11, version 24H2 build 26100.1301 or newer.
You can find the entry here under ID 501437 on Microsoft"s official M365 roadmap website.