In today’s digital age, we store a vast amount of important files on our computers, from precious family photos to crucial work documents. However, with the constant threat of data loss due to hardware failures, cyber attacks, or accidental deletions, it’s essential to have a backup system in place. This is where File History comes in – a built-in feature in Windows that automatically saves copies of your files, allowing you to recover them in case of any mishaps. In this article, we’ll walk you through the process of turning on File History, ensuring your files are safely backed up and easily recoverable.
What Is File History?
Before we dive into the setup process, let’s take a brief look at what File History is and how it works. File History is a backup feature introduced in Windows 8 and continued in later versions, including Windows 10. It allows you to automatically save copies of your files to an external drive, network location, or cloud storage service. This feature is particularly useful for recovering files in case of a system crash, virus attack, or accidental deletion.
File History works by periodically saving snapshots of your files to the designated backup location. By default, it saves copies of your files every hour, but you can adjust the frequency to suit your needs. These snapshots are then stored in a specific folder on the backup drive, allowing you to browse and recover files from a specific point in time.
Preparation Is Key: Choosing A Backup Location
Before enabling File History, you need to decide on a backup location. This can be an external hard drive, a network location, or a cloud storage service like OneDrive or Google Drive. When selecting a backup location, consider the following factors:
- Capacity: Ensure the backup location has sufficient storage space to hold all your files.
- Accessibility: Choose a location that’s easily accessible, so you can quickly recover files in case of an emergency.
- Security: Opt for a location with robust security features, such as encryption and password protection, to safeguard your backed-up files.
External Hard Drive
Using an external hard drive as your backup location is a popular choice. It’s a cost-effective option that provides ample storage space and is easily accessible. Simply connect the drive to your computer, and File History will take care of the rest.
Network Location
If you have a home network or a NAS (Network-Attached Storage) device, you can use it as a backup location. This option is ideal for households with multiple computers, as you can store all your files in a central location.
Cloud Storage Service
Cloud storage services like OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox offer convenient backup solutions. These services often provide a certain amount of free storage space, and you can access your files from anywhere, using any device with an internet connection.
Enabling File History In Windows 10
Now that you’ve chosen your backup location, it’s time to enable File History in Windows 10. Follow these steps:
- Click on the Start button and select Settings.
- Click on Update & Security.
- Click on Backup from the left menu.
- Click on Add a drive under the “Backup” section.
- Select the backup location you’ve chosen (external hard drive, network location, or cloud storage service).
- Click on More options to configure additional settings.
Configuring File History Options
In the “More options” section, you can customize File History to suit your needs. Here, you can:
- Set the backup frequency: Choose how often File History saves snapshots of your files, ranging from every 10 minutes to daily.
- Set the backup duration: Decide how long you want to keep your backed-up files, from 1 month to forever.
- Exclude folders: Select specific folders you don’t want to back up, such as system files or temporary files.
- Choose what to back up: Select the file types you want to back up, such as documents, pictures, or videos.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
While enabling File History is a straightforward process, you may encounter some issues along the way. Here are some common problems and their solutions:
Error: “File History Is Turned Off”
If you see this error, it’s likely because File History is disabled or not configured correctly. Try restarting your computer and then re-enabling File History.
Error: “No Usable Drives Were Found”
This error occurs when File History can’t detect a suitable backup location. Ensure your external hard drive or network location is properly connected and configured.
Error: “File History Failed To Start”
This error might be caused by a system issue or corrupted files. Try restarting your computer and then re-enabling File History. If the issue persists, you may need to perform a System Restore or reset File History to its default settings.
Recovering Files From File History
The whole point of enabling File History is to recover your files in case of an emergency. Here’s how to do it:
- Click on the Start button and select Settings.
- Click on Update & Security.
- Click on Backup from the left menu.
- Click on More options.
- Click on Restore files from a current backup.
Browsing File History
In the “Restore files from a current backup” section, you’ll see a list of available backups, organized by date and time. Browse through these backups to find the files you want to recover.
Selecting Files To Restore
Select the files or folders you want to restore, and click Restore. File History will then restore the selected files to their original location or a location of your choice.
Conclusion
Turning on File History is a simple yet effective way to safeguard your files against data loss. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can ensure your important documents, photos, and videos are safely backed up and easily recoverable. Remember to choose a suitable backup location, configure File History options to suit your needs, and troubleshoot any issues that may arise. With File History, you can rest assured that your files are protected and easily recoverable in case of an emergency.
What Is File History And Why Do I Need It?
File History is a built-in backup feature in Windows that saves copies of your files to an external drive or network location at regular intervals. This means that if you accidentally delete or lose a file, you can easily restore it from the backup. With File History, you can rest assured that your important documents, pictures, and other files are safe from data loss.
By turning on File History, you can protect your files from unexpected events such as hard drive crashes, virus attacks, or accidental deletion. Moreover, File History allows you to access older versions of your files, which can be helpful if you need to revert to a previous version of a document or restore a file that was accidentally overwritten.
What Types Of Files Does File History Backup?
File History backups all your personal files, including documents, pictures, music, videos, and contacts. It also backs up your desktop, libraries, and folders that you specify. This means that you can choose which folders and files you want to include in the backup. By default, File History backs up the following folders: Desktop, Documents, Music, Pictures, Videos, and Contacts.
However, File History does not backup system files, program files, or files from other user accounts on your computer. If you need to backup these types of files, you may need to use a different backup solution. Additionally, File History does not backup files that are stored in cloud storage services such as OneDrive or Google Drive, unless you download them to your computer and include them in the backup.
How Often Does File History Backup My Files?
File History backs up your files at regular intervals, which you can specify in the settings. By default, File History backs up your files every hour, but you can change this to every 10, 15, 20, or 30 minutes, or daily. You can also choose to back up your files when you log off or when your computer goes to sleep. The frequency of backups depends on your needs and preferences.
It’s worth noting that File History only backs up files that have changed since the last backup. This means that if you haven’t made any changes to your files since the last backup, File History won’t create a new backup. This helps to save storage space on your backup drive and reduce the time it takes to complete the backup process.
What Kind Of Storage Device Do I Need For File History?
File History requires an external hard drive or a network location to store the backups. You can use an external USB drive, a network-attached storage (NAS) device, or a network share. The storage device must be formatted as NTFS and have enough free space to store the backups. It’s recommended to use a storage device with at least 500 GB of free space to store several months’ worth of backups.
Make sure to choose a reliable and compatible storage device that is specifically designed for backup purposes. You may also want to consider using a storage device with encryption and password protection to add an extra layer of security to your backups.
Can I Use File History With Multiple Computers?
Yes, you can use File History with multiple computers, but you need to set it up separately on each computer. File History is a per-computer feature, which means that each computer needs its own backup drive or network location. You can’t share a single backup drive or location across multiple computers.
To set up File History on multiple computers, follow the same steps as before, but make sure to use a different backup drive or location for each computer. This will ensure that each computer has its own separate backup history.
How Do I Restore Files From File History?
To restore files from File History, go to the File History settings, click on “Restore your files,” and select the files or folders you want to restore. You can browse through the backup history by date and time to find the version of the file you want to restore. Select the file or folder, and click “Restore” to restore it to its original location.
You can also restore files by right-clicking on a file or folder in File Explorer and selecting “Restore previous versions.” This will open the File History window, where you can select a previous version of the file to restore. Make sure to regularly review your backup history to ensure that your files are being backed up correctly and are restorable in case of data loss.
Does File History Replace Traditional Backup Software?
File History is a built-in backup feature in Windows, but it may not replace traditional backup software entirely. While File History provides a convenient and easy-to-use backup solution, it may not offer all the features and customization options that you need.
If you require advanced backup features such as disk imaging, bootable backups, or cloud storage integration, you may need to use a third-party backup software. Additionally, if you need to backup system files, program files, or files from other user accounts, you may need to use a different backup solution. However, File History can be a useful supplement to your existing backup strategy or a convenient option for casual users who want a simple backup solution.