MC1274349 – ESR management is moving to Windows Backup for Organizations

Product:

Entra, Intune, Windows

Platform:

mobile, Online, Windows Desktop, World tenant

Status:

Change type:

Admin impact

Links:

Details:

Starting May 2026, Enterprise State Roaming (ESR) management will transition to Windows Backup for Organizations. Windows Backup for Organizations is the enterprise‑grade solution for backing up and restoring Windows user settings and Microsoft Store app list. It's designed to support device refresh, replacement, and upgrade scenarios (for example, moving to the latest version of Windows 11). ESR settings remain the same in scope. The only change is in how you manage these settings.

This change aligns ESR‑managed settings with Windows Backup for Organizations policies. You can now manage and synchronize user settings with a policy‑based experience through Microsoft Intune or other mobile device management (MDM) providers.

When will this happen:
This change begins May 2026. You can manage ESR settings through both the Microsoft Entra portal and Windows Backup for Organizations policies for two months, until the end of June 2026. After that point, policies will be the only management option.

Change Category:
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Scope:
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Release Phase:

Created:
2026-04-09

updated:
2026-04-09

Task Type

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Docu to Check

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MS How does it affect me

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MS Preperations

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summary for non-techies**

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Direct effects for Operations**

Loss of User Settings Synchronization
If the transition to Windows Backup for Organizations occurs without preparation, users may experience a loss of their personalized settings and app lists, leading to frustration and decreased productivity.
   - roles: End Users, IT Support
   - references: https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/configuration/windows-backup/?tabs=intune, https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/configuration/windows-backup/faq#what-s-the-difference-between-enterprise-state-roaming-and-windows-backup-for-organizations

Increased Support Tickets
Unprepared organizations may face a surge in support tickets from users encountering issues with their settings not syncing properly, overwhelming IT support teams.
   - roles: IT Support, Help Desk
   - references: https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/configuration/windows-backup/?tabs=intune, https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/configuration/windows-backup/faq#what-s-the-difference-between-enterprise-state-roaming-and-windows-backup-for-organizations

Policy Management Confusion
Without proper training and communication, IT administrators may struggle to manage the new policies effectively, leading to inconsistent user experiences and potential data loss.
   - roles: IT Administrators, System Administrators
   - references: https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/configuration/windows-backup/?tabs=intune, https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/configuration/windows-backup/?tabs=intune#configure-windows-backup-for-organizations " target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/configuration/windows-backup/?tabs=intune#configure-windows-backup-for-organizations

Device Refresh Challenges
Organizations that do not prepare for the transition may face challenges during device refresh scenarios, resulting in longer downtime for users as settings may not restore correctly.
   - roles: End Users, IT Support
   - references: https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/configuration/windows-backup/?tabs=intune, https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/configuration/windows-backup/faq#what-s-the-difference-between-enterprise-state-roaming-and-windows-backup-for-organizations

Compliance Risks
Failure to transition to the new management system may lead to compliance risks if user settings are not backed up or restored according to organizational policies.
   - roles: Compliance Officers, IT Administrators
   - references: https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/configuration/windows-backup/?tabs=intune, https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/configuration/windows-backup/faq#what-s-the-difference-between-enterprise-state-roaming-and-windows-backup-for-organizations

Configutation Options**

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Opportunities**

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Potentional Risks**

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IT Security**

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explanation for non-techies**

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