How to Turn on File History Windows 11
On Windows 11, “File History” is a legacy feature that allows you to create a file backup on an external or network drive to have the means to recover files in case of accidental deletion, modification, or corruption. Show File History backs up your files in the Documents, Pictures, Videos, Music, and Desktop folders, including the OneDrive files locally stored on the device by default. However, on Windows 11, it’s no longer possible to include additional folder locations in the backup. Although you can still use File History to create automated backups of files, on Windows 11, Microsoft is no longer exposing the feature through the Settings app because it wants you to subscribe to OneDrive to keep the files backed up in the cloud. However, if you prefer a local solution, it’s still possible to use the feature through Control Panel. This guide will teach you the steps to set up File History on an external drive or network folder on Windows 11.
Windows 11 File History backup to external USB driveTo enable File History to create a file backup on Windows 11, connect an external drive, and use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, File History will begin saving copies of your files in the external storage. On the “Advanced Settings” page, you will also find the “Event logs” section with an option to open the Event Viewer, where you can check errors and other events generated by File History. If you want to stop File History, you can always click the “Turn off” button. Windows 11 File History backup to network folderTo create a file backup to a network folder with File History, use these steps:
After you complete the steps, the feature will create a backup of your files to the network location. To restore files backed up with File History, use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, the files will be restored to the specified location on Windows 11. It’s important to note that File History has been designed for the occasional recovery of files. This means that this feature is perfect for restoring one or a group of files after accidental deletion or modification. However, the feature is not meant to recover all of your files after performing a clean installation of Windows 11 or restoring all of your files since you will have problems reconfiguring the feature. If you managed to make the feature work, restoration could take a long time if you have a lot of files. Is file history available in Windows 11?To use File History in Windows 11, make sure the drive you want to use as the backup location is connected. Open Control Panel in icon view and select the File History icon (or click the Search icon, type File History, and select the result).
How do I restore file history in Windows 11?Restore your files with File History
If you're missing an important file or folder that you've backed up, here's how to get it back: In the search box on the taskbar, type restore files, and then select Restore your files with File History. Look for the file you need, then use the arrows to see all its versions.
Where is file History backup in Windows 11?To enable Windows 11 File History, open Control Panel > System and Security > File History. Connect the external USB hard drive to your computer. Click the “Turn on” button to create a file backup. To use a network location, open “Select drive” and click the “Add network location” option.
How do I enable Windows history?Select Start , then select Settings > Privacy & security > Activity history.
|