Office Settings & Configuration

How to Find the Always Create Backup Copy Setting in Word

Tauseeq Magsi Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to locate the setting to always create a backup copy in Word for Windows, as it is not found in the expected Save options menu.

Find the Always Create Backup Copy Setting in Word for Windows

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Configuring automatic file backup preferences to prevent data loss when saving documents.
Observed behavior: The backup setting is missing from the File > Options > Save menu in certain versions of Word, causing confusion about its actual location.

Before you start

Ensure you are using the desktop version of Word for Windows, as the interface and settings locations differ significantly in Word for Mac and Word for the Web.

Solution 1Recommended

Locate the Backup Setting in Advanced Options

Use this method to easily find and enable the 'Always create backup copy' feature via the Advanced settings menu in Word for Windows.

In many modern versions of Word for Windows, Microsoft moved the backup configuration out of the standard Save menu. You must now access the lower section of the Advanced options to manage it.

Open Word Options

Launch Microsoft Word, click on the 'File' tab in the top-left corner of the ribbon, and select 'Options' at the very bottom of the left-hand menu.

Navigate to Advanced Settings

In the Word Options dialog box that appears, click on 'Advanced' in the left-hand navigation pane.

Find the Save Section

Scroll down towards the lower part of the Advanced settings page until you locate the heading labeled 'Save'.

Enable the Backup Option

Check the box next to 'Always create backup copy' and click the 'OK' button at the bottom of the window to apply your changes.

Mac Users: If you are using Word for Mac, the instructions differ. You will generally find this setting by navigating to Word > Preferences > Save.

Try WPS Writer for Easy Backups

Effortlessly Manage Document Backups with WPS Office

WPS Office provides a highly intuitive interface for document safety, offering an easy-to-locate Auto Backup feature to ensure your work is never lost while remaining fully compatible with Word formats.

1. Open Settings in WPS Writer: Launch WPS Writer, click the 'Menu' button in the top-left corner, and select 'Options' from the drop-down list.
2. Go to Backup Settings: In the Options dialog, click on 'General and Save' from the left-hand panel.
3. Configure Backup Preferences: Under the Document Recovery or Backup section, check your preferred backup options to keep your files secure, then click 'OK'.

Intuitive and easy-to-find backup and recovery settingsSeamless compatibility with Microsoft Word (.docx) filesLightweight design ensuring fast performance on any PCFree built-in cloud synchronization for extra data security

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the backup files saved in Word?

By default, the backup files (which have a .wbk file extension) are saved in the exact same folder as the original document. You will see them appear once you save the file for the second time.

Does 'Always create backup copy' replace AutoRecover?

No, it works alongside AutoRecover. AutoRecover saves temporary copies at regular intervals in case of an unexpected crash, while the backup copy feature creates a permanent previous-version backup (.wbk file) every time you manually save the document.

Why can't I find 'Options' under the File menu?

If your Word window is small or minimized, the 'Options' button might be hidden under a 'More...' button at the bottom of the File menu. Click 'More...' to reveal the Options selection.

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