Appcopier Versions Save

Here is a stable release of Appcopier. I have also prepared it as a setup package.

Some of you are now familiar with the Windows Backup feature in the Settings app or the Windows Backup app, whose UI does not allow for the restoration of specific settings and apps. Instead, you can only access your files through OneDrive, and for everything else, you only have the option to restore it during the initial setup. With this release, Appcopier has taken another step forward and can now restore specific apps (internally handled through winget). Additionally, numerous UI corrections and bugs have been fixed. The app now weighs a few more KBs but remains lightweight.

We are slowly approaching the exit from the preview status. Some of you are now familiar with the Windows Backup feature in the Settings app or the Windows Backup app, whose UI does not allow for the restoration of specific settings and apps. Instead, you can only access your files through OneDrive, and for everything else, you only have the option to restore it during the initial setup. With this release, Appcopier has taken another step forward and can now restore specific apps (internally handled through winget). Additionally, numerous UI corrections and bugs have been fixed. The app now weighs a few more KBs but remains lightweight. Please refrain from asking about the source code; it will be released soon with the first stable release as I still have a cleanup operation ahead of me 😸

This small project is still in the making. It allows you to back up and restore your most important Windows 11 preferences and settings offline and locally. The app mimics the new backup app of Windows 11 - which is part of the Windows 11 2023 Update (23H2) - but without the obligation of the cloud. I will certainly expand and enhance it over time. I, for example, don't understand why one cannot uninstall the new (old) Windows backup app and why it is supposed to be a 'system component'. There is any way to opt out, not even via Group Policy configurable. Even on Enterprise devices but its an consumer targeted app!? In my eyes, the entire Windows Backup app is essentially a facade, primarily designed to promote the use of OneDrive. Although the Windows Backup app appears to be merely a front-end for the already 77 existing sync experiences around the OneDrive app. Maybe we can achieve better results with Appcopier.

How does Appcopier works? Quite simple! Only registry entries and/or associated folders and files of the respective area are exported. This process is very quick and lightweight, akin to the weight of a fly. So don't be surprised if the first backups fly through in the nanosecond range. For the future, I could envision an addition of a more dynamic option in the form of scripts/plugins, where even more complex things could be backed up.

Give it a try! This is the first release, and there's more to come.

!Source code needs some refactoring and will be pushed soon!

Adressed in this release

• The app is designed and optimized for Windows 11, but with this release the GUI is 100% functional under Windows 10, and available areas/configurations can be directly checked from the app (three-dot menu > select available).
• Added numerous new backup areas and asynchronous execution.
• Appcopier gets .ico file 😸