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:
2026-04-17

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**

User Settings Synchronization
If the transition to Windows Backup for Organizations occurs without preparation, users may experience loss of personalized settings and app configurations, leading to decreased productivity and frustration.
   - roles: End Users, IT Support Staff
   - 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
Without proper preparation, IT administrators may face challenges in managing user settings through the new policy framework, resulting in inconsistent application of settings and potential compliance issues.
   - roles: IT Administrators, Compliance Officers
   - 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 and Replacement
Failure to adapt to the new backup solution may lead to complications during device refresh or replacement, causing downtime and loss of critical user data.
   - roles: End Users, IT Support Staff
   - 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

User Experience
Users may encounter a disjointed experience when transitioning to the new system without adequate training or communication, leading to confusion and dissatisfaction.
   - roles: End Users, Training Coordinators
   - 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

Data Loss Risk
If organizations do not configure the new backup policies in time, there is a risk of data loss as ESR will cease to function after the transition period, impacting user data continuity.
   - roles: End Users, Data Protection Officers
   - 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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