Fixed | Windows 10 Backup Disabled? 3 Methods to Activate Backup

What Are Windows 10 Backup Options? Windows 10 offers several backup options to ensure the safety and security of your important files and system settings. Here's an overview: 1. **File History**: This feature creates automatic backups of your files in a designated folder, such as your Documents, Pictures, Music, and Videos folders. It allows you to restore previous versions of files if needed. 2. **Windows Backup (Control Panel)**: This traditional backup utility allows you to create a full system image or backup specific files and folders. You can choose to back up to an external hard drive or a network location. 3. **OneDrive**: Microsoft's cloud storage service integrates with Windows 10, enabling you to save and synchronize your files across devices. By enabling automatic sync, you effectively create a backup of your files in the cloud. 4. **System Restore**: Although not a full backup solution, System Restore allows you to create restore points that can help you revert your system to a previous state in case of software issues. 5. **Third-Party Backup Software**: There are numerous third-party backup tools available, such as Acronis True Image, tools Todo Backup, and Macrium Reflect, which offer advanced features like incremental or differential backups, encryption, and scheduling. 6. **Windows Settings > Update & Security > Backup**: In the newer versions of Windows 10, you can find backup settings within the 'Update & Security' section. Here, you can enable 'Backup using OneDrive' or connect an external drive to use the 'Backup using File History' option. It's essential to choose a backup strategy that suits your needs, ensuring that your data is protected in case of hardware failure, accidental deletion, or other issues.

Frequently creating Windows 10 backups ensures protection against data loss in the event of errors or hardware failures. Microsoft has developed two backup utilities: File History Windows 10 and Backup & Restore.

These two integrated Microsoft tools provide instant backup solutions; however, unforeseen issues can occasionally cause problems, leading to errors that make users complain about the Windows backup being disabled. When this occurs, individuals attempt to access the provided Microsoft backup utilities but are unsuccessful, encountering empty boxes with no available options.

However, there may be times when your Windows 10 backup doesn't work correctly or is disabled, leaving your data insufficiently protected. This article will outline various methods to check and fix if the Windows backup feature is disabled.

How to Check If Windows 10 Backup Is Disabled?

If you're unsure how to determine whether Windows Backup is disabled, or if you've attempted to check the backup running status but still haven't found any file backups, you need to inspect the File History to see if Windows 10 backup is disabled.

There are two methods to access File History in the Windows system: through Windows Settings and Control Panel. We'll guide you on how to examine and configure File History in both of these settings.

1. Method 1. Find File History in Windows Settings
2. Method 2. Set up Windows 10 Backup using File History from Control Panel

Method 1: Find File History in Windows Settings Step 1: Access Windows Settings Click on the Start button, usually located at the bottom left corner of your screen, and then click on the gear icon to open Windows Settings. Step 2: Navigate to Update & Security In the Windows Settings window, locate and click on the "Update & Security" option. Step 3: Choose Backup On the left side of the Update & Security window, under the "Related settings" section, click on "Backup" or "Backup using File History." Step 4: Access File History If you have previously enabled File History, you should see an option for it here. Click on "More options" or "Restore files from a current backup." Step 5: Explore File History In the File History window, you can browse through the saved versions of your files and restore the one you need. Use the arrows to navigate through different points in time, and select the specific file or folder you want to recover. Note: If File History is not set up, you'll be prompted to configure it before you can access your file history. Follow the on-screen instructions to connect an external drive and turn on File History.

Checking File History status through Windows settings is a straightforward and safe method. Just follow these steps:

Step 1. Click on the "Windows icon" located in the bottom left corner of the taskbar or press the "Windows Key" and choose "Settings" from the menu that appears.

Step 2. In the Settings window, locate the last option labeled "Update & Security" and click on it.

Step 3. On the next screen, scroll through the left panel and select the "Backup" option. You will then see the "Back up using File History" option in the top-right corner.

Step 4. If no folder is selected, click the "plus icon" under "Add a Drive" to choose your preferred backup location.

Method 2: Set up Windows 10 Backup using File History in Control Panel

The Control Panel is an easy way to customize different computer settings. Even with the popularity of search bar shortcuts, the Control Panel stays a handy way to access numerous PC settings. To quickly check your File History using the Control Panel whenever you need, just follow these simple steps:

Step 1. Go to the search bar and type Control Panel.

Step 2. Click to open the Control Panel, and under the Sort by option, select "View by" and then choose "Small icons."

Step 3. Once all the control panel settings appear, choose the "File History" setting.

Step 4. If it's turned on, verify the backup location. If File History is off, turn it on and choose the drive to back up your files.

If you've checked File History using both settings, and even the Windows 10 backup is disabled, you need to fix the errors using any of the methods outlined below.

Three Ways to Activate Windows 10 Backup

1. Method 1. Download Reliable and Free Backup Software - tools Todo Backup
2. Method 2. Enable Windows Search
3. Method 3. Run DISM to Fix Corrupted System Files

We will guide you through three methods to activate the disabled backup feature in your Windows 10. All essential details are provided to assist you effectively. However, if you are unfamiliar with Windows Settings or Command Prompt options, we advise using the first method for a quick and reliable backup process.

Method 1: Download a Reliable and Free Backup Software - Todo Backup

Dealing with various Windows backup issues manually can be frustrating and time-consuming. Hence, we recommend utilizing a free, reliable, and trustworthy backup software. One such top-rated backup software globally is Todo Backup, which offers excellent features for effortlessly backing up files, systems, partitions, external drives, backup drives, and disks. You can learn more about it on the backup software page.

Upon downloading the software, you'll encounter its straightforward user interface. The UI is designed with a focus on user-friendliness, allowing individuals to utilize it without any difficulties. It serves as the premier solution for creating standard backup options when the Windows 10 backup feature is disabled.

You might be questioning whether this backup software provides essential features for free or not. Fortunately, we can confirm that you'll receive all the advanced backup options at no cost, including incremental backup (incremental backup software, encrypted backup, backup frequency, and more. Furthermore, the software includes scheduling functionalities, enabling users to set up backups on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.

With the help of Todo Backup, you can alleviate the concerns associated with manually dealing with Windows 10's built-in backup utilities. This tool not only provides you with similar backup features for free but also grants access to more advanced and efficient options. Therefore, we will guide you through the detailed steps to use Todo Backup:

Step 1. On the main page, click "Select backup contents".

Step 2. Click on the OS category among the four options available.

Step 3. Todo Backup will automatically select your system partition, you just need to choose a backup destination.

Step 4. You can save the backup file to either your Local Drive or NAS.

Step 5. Once the backup process is complete, you can check the backup status, recover, open, or delete the backup by right-clicking on the backup task on the left panel.

Method 2: Enable Windows Search

Windows Search is a convenient feature that enables you to locate Windows backups or any content on your computer easily. It enhances the user experience by allowing you to swiftly find any file using the Windows search bar.

If you're a Windows File History user, make sure the Windows Search feature is already enabled. If it's disabled, you won't be able to access any functions under File History. To turn on Windows Search, follow these steps:

Step 1. Open the C Drive in Windows Explorer, then navigate to the File History folder and delete it. The folder path will be: Users/username/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/FileHistory

Step 2. In the bottom-left corner of your Windows PC, open the search bar or press the "Windows key + S," then type Services and open it.

Step 3. Scroll down and look for Windows Search under the Name column.

Step 4. Double-click it to open the Windows Search Properties.

Step 5. Click the down arrow icon to expand the Startup type drop-down menu.

Step 6. Choose the Automatic (Delayed Start) option, and then click "Apply" to continue.

Step 7: Click the "Start" button, then select "OK".

Save the changes and go back to File History to see if you can access the backed-up data. If not, try the next solution.

Method 3: Run DISM to Repair Corrupted System Files

When you encounter that the backup feature is disabled in Windows 10, it's possible that there are missing or corrupted system files. In this case, you can utilize the DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) tool to diagnose and resolve the issue. Follow these steps to utilize DISM: 1. **Open Command Prompt as Administrator:** - Press `Win + X` keys together on your keyboard. - Click on "Command Prompt (Admin)" or "Windows PowerShell (Admin)" from the menu that appears. If prompted for permission, click "Yes" to continue. 2. **Run the DISM Online Scan:** - In the Command Prompt, type the following command and press Enter: ``` DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth ``` - This command checks the overall health of the Windows image. 3. **Scan for Component Store Integrity:** - Next, enter the following command to check the integrity of the component store and press Enter: ``` DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth ``` - This command will repair any corrupted files by downloading healthy components from Windows Update. 4. **Wait for the Process to Complete:** - Both commands may take some time to complete, so be patient. Do not close the Command Prompt window until the process finishes. 5. **Reboot Your Computer:** - After the DISM scans are completed, restart your computer for the changes to take effect. 6. **Verify Backup Status:** - Once your computer restarts, check if the backup feature in Windows 10 is now enabled. You can access the backup settings by going to Settings > Update & Security > Backup. If the backup is still disabled after running these commands, there might be other underlying issues. In such cases, consider performing a System File Checker (SFC) scan or seeking further assistance from Microsoft support resources.

Step 1. Go to the search bar and type cmd.

Step 2. Right-click on "Command Prompt" and select "Run as administrator."

Step 3. Type the command DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth and press "Enter".

Step 4. Type the following command and press "Enter". Check if it detects any corruption.

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth This is a command in Windows Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) used to check the overall health status of a Windows operating system image. When executed, it verifies the integrity of system files and detects any corruption. The command parameters are: - `/Online` specifies that the operation should be performed on the running operating system. - `/Cleanup-Image` indicates that the operation is related to maintaining or repairing the image. - `/CheckHealth` is a subcommand that checks the health of the Windows image. It looks for any potential issues and reports them without attempting to fix them.

Upon executing the provided commands, you will assess the health of your system and determine whether the files are healthy, repairable, or irreparably damaged.

Step 5. If there are issues with your system, use the following DISM command with the RestoreHealth option: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth, and press "Enter" to scan and repair any common issues.

More Problems Found Due to Disabled Windows 10

If your Windows 10 backup is disabled, it can lead to the following errors in your system.

• Windows 10 backup does not recognize the external hard drive.

This occurs due to incorrect connections or corruption of the drive during the data backup process, resulting in the Windows system failing to recognize the hard drive.

• Windows 10 backup starts and stops.

This error occurs due to an incomplete backup process, incorrect file format, or file corruption that the backup process is unable to save.

• Windows 10 backup unable to select a drive.

File history does not recognize this drive, which might be attributed to Windows 10 issues. A corrupted drive or an incorrect connection could also contribute to this problem.

• Windows 10 backup add folder not functioning.

If the issue is caused by file format or file corruption, a backup process might fail to back up all files.

Frequently Asked Questions about Disabled Windows 10 Backup

In this guide, we have attempted to address various queries related to the issue of Windows 10 backup. If you still have any concerns, hopefully, the provided FAQs will adequately resolve them.

1. How do I activate Windows Backup?

Head to the search box on the taskbar, or press Windows key + S, then type "Control Panel." Once it appears, click on it to open, and navigate to System and Security > Backup and Restore (Windows 7). From there, opt to restore files from another backup, select the location of your storage drive, and proceed to create a backup of all your files.

2. Why isn't my Windows 10 backup functioning properly?

It might be because your Windows backup process unexpectedly fails due to certain errors, which can lead to file corruption. To reactivate the Windows backup function, you need to eliminate the root folder of the Windows backup from the C drive. After removing it, create a new folder, and this should resolve the problem.

3. How do I enable File History backup in Windows 10?

Enabling File History backup in Windows 10 is a wise decision to revive your disabled Windows backup feature. To proceed, follow these steps: 1. Open the Start menu. 2. Navigate to Settings. 3. Within Settings, choose Update & Security. 4. From there, select Backup. 5. Finally, click on Add a drive. By following these instructions, you'll enable the File History backup for your system.

Conclusion

We hope that you now know how to tell if Windows 10 backup is disabled and have mastered 3 quick ways to fix this issue. The best solution is to use the free backup software, Todo Backup.