How To Backup Data With File History In Windows 8.1 & Windows 10

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Backup data with file history in windows, restore files from file history, microsoft file history backup

Windows 8.1, Microsoft windows 10 all include File History. File History is feature rich tool and great for restoring your files and documents to it’s older versions. File History is very easy to use and does all the work itself, you just have to setup in the beginning after that will automatically backup your Docs, files and folder’s. So you can say that it’s a pretty useful tool.  It allows for easy automated backups of your data and it works with a number of devices on which data can be stored. prior to setup, you just need an external hard drive or an external USB Drive with atleast 32 GB of memory space. If you want, you can also use 16 GB memory stick, but the good and reliable option is atleast 32 GB of Free memory space. File History in windows 10 and windows 8.1 is very easy to set up and use, because it needs very few resources and it knows how to store multiple versions of your files so that you can easily revert to the version you need, when you need it. Backup data with file history in Windows.

Also See Windows 10 Safe Mode:

File History regularly backs up versions of your files in the Documents, Music, Pictures, Videos, and Desktop folders and the OneDrive files available offline on your PC. Over time, you’ll have a complete history of your files. If the originals are lost, damaged, or deleted, you can restore them. You can also browse and restore different versions of your files. For example, if you want to restore an older version of a file (even if it wasn’t deleted or lost), you can browse through a timeline, select the version you want, and restore it. Backup data with file history in Windows

How To restore your files or folders in windows 8 or 8.1 using File History – restore files from file history

Backup data with file history in Windows and Restore files from file history :

  1. If you are using windows 8.1 Touchscreen PC or Laptop then  – just Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and tap Search or

  2. If you’re using a mouse not touchscreen device, point to the upper-right corner or Lower-right corner of your PC screen, and move the mouse pointer down, and then click Search,

  3. Now in the third step enter restore your files in the search box,

  4. Now tap or click on Restore your files with File History.

  5. Now in the search box, which is on the upper-right side, Enter the name of the file or folder which you’re looking for in the search box, or

  6. You can also use the left and right arrows to browse through different versions of your folders and files.

  7. Now Select what you want to restore to its original location, and

  8. Then tap or click the Restore button.

  9. If you want to restore your files to a different location than the original, press and hold or right-click the Restore button, tap or click Restore To, and then choose a new location.

How To restore your files or folders in windows 10 using File History – restore files from file history

Restore files from file history :

  1. If you are using windows 10  PC or Laptop just press windows key + Q or Windows key + S or just search in the Cortana search box and type restore your files.

  2. Now tap or click on Restore your files with File History.

  3. Now in the search box, which is on the upper-right side, Enter the name of the file or folder which you’re looking for in the search box, or

  4. You can also use the left and right arrows to browse through different versions of your folders and files.

  5. Now Select what you want to restore to its original location, and

  6. Then tap or click the Restore button.

  7. If you want to restore your files to a different location than the original, press and hold or right-click the Restore button, tap or click Restore To, and then choose a new location.

How To open or access File History In Windows 8.1 & Windows 10

Open File History in windows 8.1 :

  1. To open or find File History in windows 8.1 just Go to > Control Panel.
  2. Now Go > to System and Security settings.
  3. Then Go > to File History.
  4. Now just click or tap on file explorer to open it.
  5. You can also search “file history” directly in to the search bar from windows 8.1 startscreen by just pressing windows key + S. 
  6. And then click on file explorer settings to open it up.

Open File History in windows 10  – microsoft file history backup:

  1. In Windows 10, you can use the Cortana Search Bar on the taskbar to find this tool.
  2. To do this, simply type the words “file history” in the search bar and then click or tap on File History.

How To Turn On File History – Backup data with file history in Windows

Microsoft file history backup

No usable drive was found. We recommened that you use an external drive for file history. Connect a drive and refresh this page, or use a network location. Microsoft file history backup.

The above message will show when file history is not turned on your windows 8.1 or windows 10 PC.

Using File History on windows you can copy files from :

  • Libraries,
  • Desktop,
  • Contacts,
  • Favourites, and
  • OneDrive (only files available offline).

To the external drives which are available.

  1. File history is very easy to turn on.
  2. In the first step you just have to plug in an external hard drive or a USB Flash drive at-least 32 GB.
  3. Then, click or tap on the Turn on button of File History.
  4. Now a message will appear “File History is saving copies of your files for the first time.”

Change how long File History keeps files – Backup data with file history in Windows

If your File History drive is full or almost full, but you can free up some space by changing how often File History saves your files and how long it keeps older versions of your files.

To change how long File History keeps files

  1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Search.

  2. Enter Control panel in the search box, and then tap or click Control Panel.

  3. Tap or click Advanced settings.

  4. Under Versions:

    • Next to Save copies of files,

    • tap or click the list, and

    • choose a time interval.

    • Next to Keep saved versions,

    • tap or click the list, and

    • choose a time interval.

  5. Tap or click Save changes.

How to select a new drive and move your files in File History on Windows 10 and 8.1 – Backup data with file history in Windows

  1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Search.

  2. Enter File History in the search box, and then tap or click File History.

  3. Tap or click Select drive.

  4. On the Change your File History drive page, do one of the following:

    • To use a new external drive, connect the drive to your PC,

    • refresh the page, and

    • then tap or click OK.

    • To use a network location,

    • tap or click Add network location,

    • browse to or enter a location,

    • tap or click Select folder, and

    • then tap or click OK.

  5. When you’re asked, tap or click Yes to copy all of the versions of your files to the new drive.

How To Exclude Libraries And Folders From Windows File History Backup – Backup data with file history in Windows

  1. You can easily exclude libraries and folders, from file history backup,
  2. Just simply Go to > Exclude folders Settings which is in the left-side, and add folder to be excluded.
  3. You will see a tab and ADD button, just press it and then select a library or a folder to exclude it from the windows file history backup.
  4. After completing just click or tap on Save changes.
  5. The below image shows that i have added Camera roll folder to excluded folder’s list.

    Backup data with file history in Windows
    How To Exclude Libraries And Folders From Windows File History Backup

 

What Happens When You Disconnect The Backup Drive

Reconnect your drive

If your File History drive has been disconnected for too long, or it doesn’t have enough space to save temporary versions of your files. To continue saving copies of your files, you’ll need to reconnect your File History drive. Plug in your external File History drive or reselect your network. You can start a backup manually or wait for the next scheduled backup.

To manually start a backup

  1. Open File History by swiping in from the right edge of the screen, tapping Search (or if you’re using a mouse, pointing to the upper-right corner of the screen, moving the mouse pointer down, and then clicking Search), entering File History settings in the search box, and then tapping or clicking File History settings.

  2. Tap or click Back up now.

Backup data with file history in windows, restore files from file history, microsoft file history backup

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Also see: ​Windows 10 safe mode

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