Does Windows File History Back Up Everything? Learn More About File History

Not many users are aware that Windows comes with a built-in backup utility called File History. This program was introduced in Windows 8 and has since become the primary backup tool in Windows 10. Once you configure File History and connect an external drive to your Windows computer, it can automatically back up your files to that drive.

File History simplifies backing up your Windows content, but numerous misconceptions surround the feature. For instance, does File History back up everything on Windows? If not, what is the most suitable alternative solution, and so forth?

To dispel all assumptions surrounding File History, this article will guide you through its every aspect. Let's delve into the intricacies of Windows File History.

***What are the available Windows 10 recovery tools? Click the article to find out more.

How to Enable File History on Your Computer?

To back up your important data on Windows 10 using File History, first, connect an external drive to your computer. Then, from the Start menu, choose "Settings" and follow these steps:

Step 1. Choose Update & Security > Backup > Back up using File History.

Step 2. Next, you need to specify where you want Windows 10 to store the backup copies. Typically, Windows automatically detects the backup location. If your PC doesn't recognize the backup location, click on 'More Options' > 'Backup Options' > 'See Advanced Settings.' Here, you can choose the external drive connected to your device and then click the 'Turn On' button.

Step 3. If you've chosen a backup location, turn on the "Automatically Backup My Files" option. Windows will then begin backing up your files to the hard drive.

By default, Windows backs up files every hour, but you can modify this and other settings according to your needs.

Does Windows File History Back Up Everything?

After setting up File History, the main concern is, 'Does Windows File History back up everything?'

Unfortunately, the answer is NO. Windows File History is designed to back up specific files, including Documents, Pictures, Videos, Music, and offline OneDrive files. It does not, however, backup other items on your computer such as programs, the operating system, or settings.

If you only need to back up basic files on Windows 10, File History is the ideal choice for you. After enabling File History on your computer (as mentioned above), you'll need to configure it. Begin by choosing the folders or files you wish to back up and specifying the location.

By default, File History backs up the Desktop, Downloads, Documents, and other folders. Here, you can scroll down to remove certain folders from the backup list. To do this, navigate to the Backup options window and click the Remove button to exclude any specific folder.

You can also specify how long you want to keep backup data and where you want to store the backup files on your hard drive.

Upon configuring the File History settings, simply click on the 'Backup Now' button. This will initiate the backup process of all your chosen files to your specified location within a matter of minutes.

How to Restore File History Backup? Restoring a File History backup is a straightforward process, typically done on Windows operating systems. Here's a step-by-step guide: 1. **Access File History**: First, ensure that your computer has File History enabled and has made at least one backup. To access File History, click the Start button, type "File History" in the search bar, and select the "File History" option. 2. **Connect External Drive**: If you've stored the File History backups on an external drive, connect it to your computer. 3. **Open File History**: Click on the "Restore your files with File History" option that appears. This will open the File History window. 4. **Browse Files**: In the File History window, you'll see a timeline on the left. You can use this to navigate through different backup points. On the right side, you'll see a list of folders. You can click on a folder to view its contents. 5. **Select File(s)**: Find the file or folder you want to restore. You can preview the files by clicking on them. If you find the correct version, click on it. 6. **Restore File**: To restore a single file, click the "Restore" button beneath the file preview. For multiple files, select them first, then click "Restore." The file will be restored to its original location. 7. **Custom Restore Location**: If you want to restore the file to a different location, click the "More options" arrow next to "Restore," then choose "Restore to" and select the desired folder. 8. **Turn Off File History**: After restoring your files, you can choose to turn off File History if you no longer need it. Go back to the File History settings and click "Turn off." Remember, the process might differ slightly depending on your specific Windows version. If you encounter any issues, consult Microsoft's official support resources for further assistance.

Whether you accidentally delete your photos or your files get corrupted, File History can help you restore everything. It lets you browse different file versions, compare them, and restore the correct one.

Here's how you can restore a File History backup in English: 1. Connect the external drive or the network location where your File History backups are stored to your computer. 2. Open File Explorer by pressing the Windows key + E on your keyboard or by clicking the File Explorer icon on your taskbar. 3. In the left pane, click on "This PC" or "Computer." 4. Locate and right-click on the drive or network location containing the File History backups, then select "Restore previous versions." 5. A new window will open showing available backup versions. Click on "More options" at the bottom to view the File History backups. 6. In the File History window, click the "Restore your files with File History" option. 7. The File History window will display all the saved versions of your files in a timeline format. You can browse through the different versions by moving the slider or using the arrows. 8. Find the specific file or folder you want to restore, and click on it to preview its contents. 9. Click the "Restore" button to recover the selected file or folder to its original location. If you want to save it elsewhere, right-click the item and choose "Restore to" followed by the desired location. 10. Wait for the restoration process to complete. Once finished, your file or folder should be restored to its previous state. Remember that File History must have been enabled and set up previously on your computer for this process to work.

Step 1. Click on File Explorer and select the folder that contains the items you wish to restore.

Step 2. Click on the Home tab in the Ribbon menu at the top of your folder, and then click on the History button.

Step 3. Choose the item you want to restore.

Step 4. You can explore the different versions of the item you want to restore.

Step 5. Once you find the correct version, click the Restore button to restore it.

Step 6. If a file name conflict occurs, a window will appear with the following options: Replace the File in the Destination Folder, Skip This File, or Compare Info for Both Files. Choose the appropriate option based on your preference.

Step 7. Now, exit the File History window and navigate to where your file has been restored.

Free Up File History Drive Space

File History continually backs up and safeguards your files, documenting even minor alterations. While this is excellent for comprehensive data backup, it can pose an issue when your disk space runs out. Additionally, the software does not automatically remove older file versions.

So, if your disk space is full, you'd probably like to know how to delete File History backup data. Here are three options you can choose from:

1. Alter Backup Configuration

• Navigate to File History > Advanced Settings.
• Select the dropdown menu and choose 'Until the space is needed,' then save the modifications.

After that, the data will only be saved until your disk has enough space.

2. Delete Older File Versions

1. Navigate to File History > Advanced Settings > Clean up versions. 2. Choose the desired time frame under Delete files, then click on Cleanup.

3. Permanently Delete All Backups

1. Navigate to Settings > Update & Security > Backup, and turn off the toggle under the "Automatically back up my files" option. 2. Open the backup drive and delete the FileBackup folder.

There you have it. You now know how to set up File History and how to backup, restore, and delete files on it. Although File History is a built-in Windows backup tool, we can't overlook the fact that it doesn't back up everything.

That means you need a better and more robust substitute for File History on Windows 10 to back up everything without taking up space on your drive.

Backup More Content Without Running Out of Drive Space

Todo Backup is the best third-party backup solution in this case. This tool can address all the shortcomings of File History, such as:

Supports automatic deletion of old backup versions, eliminating the need for manual removal of unwanted backups. Enables backing up your files on cloud storage, with 1TB of cloud storage included in higher-tier plans. Facilitates backup of programs, system settings, and various other files. Allows scheduling of backups to run as frequently as desired. Offers four interactive backup modes: Full, Incremental, Differential, and Scheduled backup. Provides real-time backup reports to keep you informed about each stage of the backup process and more.

Todo Backup provides far more features than File History. Moreover, backing up and restoring data with Todo Backup is incredibly straightforward. If you're intrigued, follow these steps to download and explore its functionality:

Step 1. To initiate the backup, click on Select backup contents.

Step 2. There are four data backup categories: File, Disk, OS, and Mail.

Step 3. On the left-hand side, you'll see a list of local and network files. Expand the directory to select the files to be backed up.

Step 4. Follow the on-screen instructions and select the location where you want to save the backup.

In the Backup Options, click Options to encrypt the backup with a password, set the backup schedule, and decide whether to initiate the backup at a specific event under the Backup Scheme. Numerous customizable features are available for you to explore, allowing you to tailor the backup process according to your specific needs.

Step 5. Backups can be stored on a local disk, in the tool's cloud service, or on a network-attached storage (NAS) device.

Step 6. Todo Backup enables users to back up their data to a third-party cloud drive or the company's proprietary cloud storage.

If you want to back up your data to a third-party cloud drive, choose Local Drive, scroll down to add Cloud Device, and enter your account information.

You can also use the tool's built-in cloud storage service. Click on "Tools Cloud," create an account using your existing Tools Account, and then log in to your account.

Step 7. To initiate a backup, select Backup Now. Once the backup process is successfully completed, it will be displayed as a card on the left-hand panel. For more detailed management of the backup job, right-click on it.

Sum Up

File History is indeed an excellent tool for backing up your essential files on Windows 10. However, when your backup volume grows significantly or if you wish to back up your applications, File History might not be the most suitable option.

That's why Todo Backup is regarded as the top free alternative to Windows File History due to

• It can backup everything on Windows
• It won't consume space on your drive
• And, offers many additional features

All in all, if File History is no longer sufficient for backing up your data, download Todo Backup right now.