- Microsoft is expanding Windows backup for organizations
- This will include restoring on first login as a “second chance.”
- Currently in private preview, the feature will debut in “early 2026.”
A new set of features being released by Microsoft will add new options for administrators with Windows Backup for Organizations expanded to include first login restore as a “second chance” option.
This means that Windows 11 users will be able to restore their Microsoft Store apps and Windows settings on first sign-in. This will help organizations streamline transitions to newer versions of Windows by preserving Windows settings, as well as Start menu pins and the list of installed apps from the Microsoft Store.
The new option will be presented during the first login and the update means that users will have a “second chance” to restore their environment in case they missed the opportunity the first time during the out-of-the-box experience (OOBE).
User preferences are respected
This update will roll out sometime in “early 2026,” but is currently only available in private preview. Microsoft Extra hybrid joined devices, multi-user setups, and Windows 365 Cloud PCs will be included in the update.
Microsoft confirms that if users “deliberately choose to skip the restore opportunity during OOBE, their preference will be honored.”
The update aims to provide broader coverage for organizations to securely restore devices, in addition to providing a user-centric recovery process and the “same seamless experience”, minimizing downtime and accelerating productivity.
“With first sign-in restored, your users get back to work faster, with their preferred settings and list of Microsoft Store apps ready to go,” Microsoft said in its blog update.
Anyone interested in trying out the preview can sign up to do so by joining the private preview; fill out an interest form, which will remain open until February 13, 2026.
‘To be eligible for the preview, you must be part of the Microsoft Management Customer Connection Program and have a signed non-disclosure agreement (NDA). If you are not a current member of the program, register today.
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