Last Updated on February 25, 2024 by Mathew Diekhake

Those who prefer using Microsoft products can use Windows Maps as an alternative to Google Maps. Windows Maps is an app that comes preinstalled on Windows 10, though you can also download it on the Microsoft Store at any time should you happen to remove it.

I don’t see Microsoft cars driving around my streets nearly as often as I see Google cars. So logic suggests that Google Maps may be the better of the two. But Windows Maps comes native and so it has the added element of convenience. Given it comes native on Windows, it certainly could one day become the dominant maps app most people use. It could also benefit from virtual assistants in the future as features like Cortana are further developed.

The following tutorial demonstrates how to back up and restore Windows Maps app settings when using a version of the Windows 10 operating system.

How to Backup and Restore Maps app Settings in Windows 10

You can back up the Settings folder and restore the Settings folder in File Explorer by navigating to/pasting the right folder when you want it. Here is how to do that:

1. Open the File Explorer app.

2. Do step a or b depending on the method you prefer.

a. Using File Explorer’s address bar, copy the following address and paste it in:

%LocalAppData%\Packages\Microsoft.WindowsMaps_8wekyb3d8bbwe

b. Alternatively, you can click through to the same location by navigating to This PC > Users > Your Username > AppData > Local > Packages > Microsoft.WindowsMaps_8wekyb3d8bbwe.

3. When there, you should see the Settings folder. Copy this folder to the location you would like to back it up to.

4. To restore the settings, you would open File Explorer and paste the following address into the address bar instead:

%LocalAppData%\Packages\Microsoft.WindowsMaps_8wekyb3d8bbwe\Settings

This is the same address as the former; however, it navigates one step further to have the Settings folder open, which would restore it.

In conclusion, that is how to backup and restore the Maps app settings folder in Windows 10.