When setting up a new Windows 11 PC or reinstalling the OS, you may notice that Microsoft offers to restore your system from a list of previous backups—often cluttered, sometimes outdated, and occasionally belonging to devices you no longer use. This list appears during the Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE), also referred to as “AutoBox.”
But what if you want to start completely fresh or remove those old backups? Unfortunately, Windows 11 doesn’t offer a clear, built-in tool to manage or delete these system backup references easily. However, with a few steps across both Windows settings and your Microsoft account, you can successfully remove or reset this cluttered list.
Let’s walk through the entire process with detailed steps and additional tips to ensure your setup screen stays clean next time you install Windows 11.
🧭 Why Are These Backups Showing Up During Windows 11 Setup?
Before we start deleting anything, let’s understand why these backups appear in the first place.
When you sign in with a Microsoft account during setup, Windows pulls backup data (like app preferences and settings) stored in the cloud. This data comes from:
- Previously used Windows 10 or 11 devices using the same Microsoft account.
- Devices that had “Remember my apps” and “Remember my preferences” toggled on.
- Settings synced from the cloud using Windows Backup.
This behavior is helpful if you’re moving to a new device and want to restore your apps and settings. However, it becomes annoying if you’ve reset many devices or simply want to start fresh.
🛠️ Step-by-Step Guide: Clear Backup List During Windows 11 Setup
Let’s now go step-by-step and reset the backup list that shows during the AutoBox/OOBE screen.
🔹 Step 1: Turn Off Backup Options on Each Device
First, we want to stop devices from uploading new backups or updates to the cloud.
Here’s how:
- Open Settings on your Windows 11 PC.
- Go to System > Storage.
- Scroll down and click on Advanced storage settings.
- Choose Backup options.
- Under Windows Backup, locate the following two toggle switches:
- Remember my apps
- Remember my preferences
👉 Turn both of these off.
This prevents your current PC from uploading app lists and settings to Microsoft’s servers going forward.
📝 Important Tip:
You need to repeat this step on every Windows device signed in with the same Microsoft account if you don’t want any of them to continue uploading backup data.
🔹 Step 2: Clear Stored Settings from Your Microsoft Account
Now that you’ve stopped the sync, it’s time to actually clear what’s already stored in your Microsoft cloud.
Let’s move to the web for this part.
- Open your browser and go to the Microsoft Devices page:
👉 https://account.microsoft.com/devices - Sign in with your Microsoft account.
- Scroll to the bottom of the page and look for a section titled Cloud sync settings.
- You’ll see an option that says “Clear stored settings”.
- Click the Clear button to delete your synced preferences and app backups.
📌 Note:
The deletion isn’t instant. Microsoft may take some time (usually hours, sometimes days) to remove this data from all systems.
🔹 Step 3: Reboot and Start the Windows 11 Setup Again
After performing the above two steps, your cloud backup reference should be wiped. Now it’s time to test it out.
If you’re reinstalling Windows 11 or setting up a new machine, go through the OOBE process.
Here’s what you’ll observe:
- The “Restore from backup” option will either be missing entirely, or
- The “More options” link will no longer show multiple device names.
Instead, you should see a clean screen prompting you to set up as a new device, giving you a fresh start.
✅ Optional: Re-enable Backup for Future Use (Clean Start Only)
Once you’ve cleared the clutter and finished the Windows setup, you may still want to use Windows Backup moving forward, but only from this newly configured device.
Here’s how to do that:
- Go to Settings > Accounts > Windows Backup.
- Enable the following:
- ✅ Remember my apps
- ✅ Remember my preferences
This ensures that only your new, clean configuration is saved in the cloud—without the bloat of past devices.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Will clearing cloud backup delete any files?
No. This process only clears app settings, layout preferences, and personalization options saved by Windows Backup. It does not delete your files from OneDrive or local disk.
Q2: What if I still see the old backups during setup?
Give it some time. Microsoft may take a few hours or longer to fully remove stored settings. If you want to be 100% sure, sign out of your Microsoft account on old devices and disable syncing on them as well.
Q3: Can I choose which devices to keep backups for?
Not currently. Microsoft’s cloud settings sync is tied to your account and doesn’t let you manage backups per device. That’s why the “Clear stored settings” option wipes everything.
Q4: Does this also affect Office settings or OneDrive?
No. This only impacts Windows device settings. Your Office settings, OneDrive files, and Microsoft account data remain unaffected.
🧹 Final Thoughts: Why This Cleanup Matters
Whether you’re an IT admin resetting multiple machines or a casual user annoyed by ghost backups, keeping your setup process clean makes a real difference.
Clearing out old backups not only speeds up installation but also reduces confusion when restoring from the cloud. It puts you in control of what gets synced and when.
You don’t need to accept Microsoft’s defaults. With a few minutes of setup and a bit of patience, you can ensure that your future installs are minimal, clean, and tailored to your preferences—not old baggage.
Tags:
Windows 11, OOBE, Windows Backup, Microsoft Account, Remove Backups, AutoBox, Clear Cloud Sync, Windows Setup, Device Restore, Fresh Install, Microsoft Device Settings
Hashtags:
#Windows11 #OOBE #MicrosoftBackup #WindowsSetup #ClearBackups #FreshInstall #CloudSettings #AutoBox #WindowsTips #MicrosoftAccount
Disclaimer:
The information in this article is based on Windows 11 features and Microsoft Account settings as of August 2025. Interface layouts or options may change with future updates. Always double-check official documentation or settings pages to confirm steps. This guide does not affect personal files, OneDrive, or other non-Windows services.
