- Windows 11 warns some people to back up their PC with a banner in the Settings app
- This is a way to push Microsoft’s own backup -app using OneDrive
- Not everyone needs to hear about this and some users get frustrated that the banner is repeatedly displayed
If you are using Windows 11, you are undoubtedly used to Microsoft’s attempt to get you to use its various services and there has been another place to push (or push, even) in us regarding OneDrive.
Windows latest picked up on this one and it works on a roundabout kind, which means it’s not a flashing banner that tells you that ‘you need to use OneDrive’ (it’s coming in next month’s update – not really, Ahem, even if you never quite know with Microsoft).
Technical Website tells us that Windows 11 is pushing an ‘action available – backups your PC’ Warning Panel on certain users at the top of the setting app’s home screen. And when I classify it as a warning, it’s because it appears in yellow with an exclamation point to call for action.
According to Windows latest, this warning is regularly presented to them (and others). So what happens if you click the ‘Continue’ button in the banner? Windows 11 launches its built-in backup app, a tool designed to fully back up your PC to the cloud.
But of course, it is specifically tied to Microsoft’s OneDrive Cloud Storage Locker, which is why this is an indirect way to promote this service. The catch is that if you do not have enough storage space on OneDrive – and the free allocation almost certainly will not be enough – you may be tempted to buy more space to back up your PC and then make Microsoft a little extra cash.
Back on the backups, Microsoft – or at least give a choice here
Don’t back up your PC a useful thing to do if you haven’t? Well, yes, very determined, so to be fair, for beginner computer users who have not taken such steps to protect their data (or actual system settings), this can be very useful.
But OneDrive is not the only way forward in this regard, and if you have already used a third-party backup solution of some sort, then you might be non-ja, you will almost certainly non-garden fooled this way on a trip to the setting app.
And nagged that you seem to be, as Windows latest notes that this banner will only appear in Settings for users who have turned off Sky Synchronization and Backup Settings in Windows 11 (as you probably have done if you take care of backup assignments yourself and do not leave it to us). The repeated nature of this warning that emerges also makes it more cumbersome.
Don’t get me wrong, I actually like the idea of the backup app that Microsoft has done some commendable work with in recent times to make it a great way to transfer all your things from an old PC to a new one. It is convenient and practical for less technically knowledgeable people in that regard, certainly, despite some restrictions (especially third-party apps are not included in the backup images, just software from Microsoft Store).
Still, this is still a case of overreaction with ‘recommendations’ from Microsoft (again). Windows latest further observes that there is a good bit of scrap, just like Reddit discussing possible fudges and solutions to turn off this warning, but we shouldn’t have to resort to it.
At least at least there must be a box that needs to be crossed in the direction of ‘Don’t Show This Again’ with the banner, for those who know what it is all about and have their backups well in hand themselves. It’s definitely not too difficult to implement, Microsoft, while still leaving it, pushing for those who can really benefit from it?
