[Resolved] No Previous Versions Available in Windows 10/8/7

Upon losing or accidentally deleting crucial files or folders, individuals often resort to various methods to attempt retrieving deleted files. One frequently used solution is restoring previous file versions. The "Restore Previous Versions" feature allows you to recover files from File History or system restore points, encompassing backups of Documents, Music, Pictures, Videos, Desktop folders, and other files stored on a local hard drive.

However, many users encounter an issue where, upon right-clicking a folder or file, selecting "Restore previous versions," they receive an error message stating "There are no previous versions available," as depicted in the screenshot below.

No previous versions available

Why Are There No Previous Versions Available in Windows 10?

You might be wondering why there are no previous versions available on Windows 10, even though you've enabled System Protection and created restore points?

The truth is, the "Restore previous version" feature in Windows 10 only functions if File History or the Windows Backup has been enabled beforehand. These previous versions are not generated as part of a system restore point.

In such cases, the deleted or lost files still exist on your hard drive, but you cannot utilize the "Restore previous version" option to retrieve them. To recover lost files, you can either perform a full system restore or employ a third-party data recovery tool like the Data Recovery Wizard.

Upon understanding the reasons behind the "no previous versions available" issue, we can proceed to resolve it. Below are the most effective solutions to fix this problem on Windows 10.

Solution 1: Recover Deleted Files with Data Recovery Software When There Are No Previous Versions Available

When data loss occurs, the first priority should be to cease using the hard drive to prevent further data overwrite. Promptly utilize a data recovery tool to restore the lost information.

Data Recovery Wizard Pro is equipped with the finest data recovery algorithms that enable the retrieval of deleted or lost Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, PPT presentations, PDF files, photographs, videos, audio files, emails, and hundreds of other file types.

Now, download this renowned file recovery tool for free to restore files when no previous versions are available on your computer.

Step 1. Select the exact file location and then click the "Scan" button to proceed.

Step 2. Once the process is complete, select the "Deleted Files" and "Other Lost Files" folders from the left panel. You can then utilize the "Filter" feature or click on the "Search files or folders" button to locate the deleted files.

Step 3. Click the "Recover" button and save the recovered files to a different location理想情况下，这应该与原始文件不同。

Solution 2: Restore Previous Versions Using Shadow Explorer on Windows 10

ShadowExplorer is a free alternative to the "Previous Versions" feature in Windows 10. It allows you to recover lost or corrupted files from Shadow Copies.

Step 1. Download the latest portable version of ShadowExplorer from the website: https://www.shadowexplorer.com/downloads.html.

Step 2. Unzip the ShadowExplorer-0.9-portable.zip file and click the "ShadowExplorerPortable.exe" file to run.

Step 3. Choose a specific restore point based on the date.

Step 4. Locate the folder or file you wish to restore. Right-click on it and select "Export."

Step 5. Next, select a secure location where the restored file/folder will be saved and click "OK". Do not save the recovered files/folders in the same location where you initially lost them.

Step 6. Once the recovery is complete, go to the location to check your files.

Solution 3: Enable File History to Resolve "No Previous Versions Available" Issue

Follow these steps to enable File History to back up your files to another internal or external hard drive. Once you activate this feature, you won't encounter any previous version issues in the future.

Step 1. Click the Start button, then go to "Settings > Update & Security".

Step 2. Click "Backup" on the left panel. Under the "Back up using File History" section, choose "Add a drive". Select the target hard drive where you want to back up your files.

Step 3. Click "More options" to configure File History settings. Here, you can customize the backup frequency according to your preferences.

Step 4. You can also flexibly select or exclude specific folders for backup. Once the setup is complete, Windows will automatically begin backing up your files.

Fix 4: Configure Windows Backup to Resolve the 'No Previous Versions' Issue

To set up Windows Backup on Windows 10, follow these steps:

Step 1. Click on the "Start button > Settings > Update & Security."

Step 2. Click "Backup." Under the "Looking for an older backup" section, click "Go to Backup and Restore."

Step 3. In the "Backup" section, click "Set up backup." Next, choose a hard drive to save the backup. Microsoft advises users to save the backup on an external hard drive. Click the "Next" button.

Step 4. Under the "What do you want to backup?" section, you can select "Let me choose" to back up the specific files or folders you desire.

Step 5. On the following screen, select the items and drives you wish to back up. You can check the box for "Include a system image of drives." After that, click "Next."

Step 6. On the Backup Settings window, click "Change Schedule" to set the backup schedule. Then, click "OK > Save settings and run backup".

Upon completing the steps above, Windows will commence backing up your data, enabling you to later restore deleted files from backup.

In Brief

The most effective way to prevent data loss is by creating backups beforehand, which surpasses any data recovery method. You can follow fixes 3 and 4 to enable File History and set up backups on Windows 10/8/7. Once you've activated Windows backup, you can utilize the Restore Previous Version utility when faced with data loss situations.

If you wish to restore deleted files without having a backup, utilize data recovery software tools to effortlessly retrieve your files. This file recovery utility enables you to recover permanently deleted files on Windows 10/8/7 and macOS computers.