Using File History in Windows 8/10/11

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File History in Windows 8, 10, and 11 is a built-in tool designed to provide an easy way to back up files stored on your PC. It automatically saves copies of files in your libraries, desktop, contacts, and favorites to a specified drive. The steps to use File History and some of its features vary slightly between these versions of Windows.

Setting Up File History

1. Select Backup Drive
   • Connect an external drive to your PC or choose a network location for storing backups.
   • For external drives, ensure it has sufficient space and is formatted properly.
   • Network drives should be reliably accessible from your PC.
2. Enable File History
   • Open the Control Panel on your Windows PC.
   • Navigate to ‘System and Security’, then choose ‘File History’.
   • Select your external drive or network location from the list of available drives.
   • Click on ‘Turn on’ to enable File History for the selected drive.

Customizing Backup Frequency and Size

1. Adjust Backup Frequency
   • Within File History settings, go to ‘Advanced settings’.
   • Choose how often File History should save copies of your files.
   • Options range from every 10 minutes to daily backups.
2. Limit Backup Size
   • Also in ‘Advanced settings’, set a limit on the storage space that File History can use.
   • This helps to prevent the backup drive from filling up too quickly.
3. Exclude Folders
   • From the main File History window, select ‘Exclude folders’.
   • Choose folders that you do not wish to include in the backup.
   • Common exclusions include temporary files, large media files, or files already backed up elsewhere.

Differences in Windows 11

1. Limited Settings Integration
   • In Windows 11, File History is primarily accessed through the Control Panel.
   • It does not integrate with Windows Settings, limiting the ability to add custom folders.
2. Focus on Windows Library Folders
   • File History in Windows 11 is focused on backing up Windows library folders by default.
   • This includes documents, pictures, music, videos, and desktop folders.
3. Potential Phase-Out
   • Microsoft’s design choice suggests a possible shift towards considering File History as a legacy component.
   • There might be a greater focus on cloud solutions like OneDrive sync for future backups.

Restoring Files from File History

1. Accessing File History for Restoration
   • Open the Control Panel and navigate to ‘File History’.
   • Choose the ‘Restore personal files’ option on the left side of the window.
2. Selecting Files for Restoration
   • Use the interface to browse through the different versions of your files and folders.
   • Select the files or folders you wish to restore.
3. Restoring Files
   • Click the ‘Restore’ button to recover the selected files to their original location.
   • Alternatively, you can choose to restore the files to a different location by using the ‘Restore to’ option.

Additional Considerations

• Event Logs: Windows 11 includes an ‘Event logs’ section in File History for checking errors and other events.
• Restoring to Alternate Locations: Besides the default location, Windows 11 allows restoring files to a different location.
• Use Case for File History: It is designed for occasional recovery of files, not as a comprehensive system backup solution.

 

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