Windows 10 Backup Command Line - How to Backup Files Using (from) Command Prompt in Windows 10

Guide: Robocopy, Xcopy, Notepad cmd are Windows 10 backup command lines that let you backup files using command prompt in Windows 10. If you prefer versatile third-party backup and recovery software for the system (OS), files, folders, disk and partition backup from the command prompt, use Qiling Backup.

Can You Copy Files Using Command Prompt in Windows 10 for Backup?

Windows operating system has a mass of inbuilt backup and recovery programs. For example, File History in Windows 10 for backing up specific files and folders that often change, Backup and Restore in Windows 7 for making a full system image, and System Restore, Fresh Start.

Are there methods available to back up files and folders from the command prompt in Windows 10? Windows Linux Unix users are used to backing up files from command prompt, they keep the habit even after they changed Linux to Windows operating system. Moreover, backup using command prompt in Windows 10 lets us backup data without booting into Windows, particularly when your operating system failed to boot. The most commonly applied command lines are Robocoy, Xcopy, Notepad, and some commercial command-line backup software. Here, the most advanced, fastest, and user-friendly suggestion is Qiling Backup.

4 Ways to Backup Files from Command Prompt in Windows 10, 8 or 7

1. Robocoy command line backup
2. Xcopy command line backup
3. Notepad cmd backup
4. Qiling command line backup

To prevent file loss due to system crash, file corruption, virus infection, etc. on your computer, it is necessary to back up your computer data from time to time. In Windows 10, you can easily copy files and folders from source to destination using the Robocopy, Xcopy and Notepad command. While if you want to back up your partition, disk, or Windows system, you need a developed backup tool to support you, like Qiling Backup here.

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Method 1. Backup Using Robocopy Command Line in Windows 10

Robocopy, short for Robust File Copy, provides more than 80 command-line parameters and switches for users to have an additional file copy for backup. A typical use scenario for this Windows 10 command backup line is copying a large file share. See the following detailed instructions.

Step 1. Type cmd in the search box, or press Windows + R (a run dialog box will be displayed ) and type cmd to open Command Prompt will show up.

Step 2. Type the command Robocopy (or xcopy for Windows 8/7/XP users) in this form: robocopy + space + source path + destination path. You can follow the example and create your own.

Robocopy "D:\test" "F:\test 1" (This is the simplest usage for Robocopy to copy contents of D:\test to F:\test 1)

backup files using command prompt Windows 10

Step 3. Press "Enter" and all your target files and folders will be backed up to your desired location, which can be any drive including an external USB flash drive.

backup files using command prompt Windows 10

Method 2. Backup Xcopy Using Command Prompt in Windows 10

Windows command line allows you to back up files and directories using the xcopy command. Xcopy has different switches using which we can specify the conditions on what files need to be copied. You can use a USB drive or an external hard disk as the backup location. Next, let's start to learn what Xcopy command line we should use to backup files to copy files to an external hard drive.

xcopy source destination /M /E /G /H /Y

Note: /M switch turns off the archive attribute on the files after copying the file to the destination. This attribute will be set only if someone modifies the files afterward.

To back up data using date and time stamps, we need to run the below command:

xcopy source destination /E /G /H /Y /D:mm-dd-yy

Method 3. Backup Files Using Notepad CMD in Windows 10

For those who are not familiar with the command lines that Windows 10 command prompt offers, you can use notepad to launch a graphical user interface that you are used to. If your computer won't boot and you want to copy files for backup, use the installation disc and enter the command prompt.

Step 1. In the Command Prompt, type Notepad.exe and press the Enter key to launch the Notepad application. Once the application is launched, click on File > Save As to launch Save As dialog.

Step 2. Locate the files you want to back up

Step 3. Plugin your USB or external storage

Step 4. Right-click on the files and/or folders you want to back up and select 'send to' your USB drive.

Method 4. Backup Everything Using Command Line Backup Software

The above three methods are only available for backing up files, folders, and directories. If your needs are backing up partition, disks, and systems, the former three commands can't meet the demands. To do so, you can try Qiling command line backup tool that enables you to back up file, folder, partition/disk, and system under the Windows command line directly, only performs the etbcmd command. You can schedule a differential, full, or incremental backup each time as you need.

Apart from the command line backup, Qiling Backup also provides you the graphical interface to clone several partitions to a new disk (HDD/SSD) at a time or clone Windows OS to SSD without re-installation.

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Step 1. Run Command Prompt as administrator and run the command etbcmd to start Qiling Backup.

Step 2. All the command and parameters of this tool will be listed below.

Step 3. Here is an example of creating a backup task. And, you'd better list all partitions and disks on your computer first to confirm which partition you need to backup before creating a job.

Step 4. If you want to back up your system, you could use the parameter "/s system", Qiling backup will choose the system and boot partitions to backup them directly. You can also select partition manually. It should be partition 1 and 3 on the above list.

Step 5. For backing up to network drive, the location could be set as below.

What's the Most Convenient Backup Solution for Windows 10?

This article covers almost every Windows 10 backup command line method for users and administrators to backup files from the command prompt in Windows 10. As a matter of fact, the command line is always the choice of higher-level computer users, and people who're insisting on this method is gradually decreasing since the way of computer backup has become more and more intelligent, easier and faster.

Qiling Backup offers the command line option for computer backup to a local drive, exernal hard disk, USB drive, network drive and even the Cloud storage. However, what customers prefer using it is not because it can backup using the command line but automatic backup options for files, folders, system, disk and partition backup.

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By simply choosing a backup mode, the software will guide you throughout the backup way and complete the backup. No additional computer skills are required in this way. Get more information from this introduction video of Qiling Backup.