Using File History in Windows 8/10/11

Updated November 2024: Stop getting error messages and slow down your system with our optimization tool. Get it now at this link

1. Download and install the repair tool here.
2. Let it scan your computer.
3. The tool will then repair your computer.

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.

 

Expert Tip: This repair tool scans the repositories and replaces corrupt or missing files if none of these methods have worked. It works well in most cases where the problem is due to system corruption. This tool will also optimize your system to maximize performance. It can be downloaded by Clicking Here