On this article we are going to present you easy methods to Set Up and Use File Historical past on Home windows 11. In Home windows 11, “File Historical past” is an outdated function that means that you can create a file backup on an exterior drive or community drive to have the power to revive information in case of unintended deletion, modification or corruption.

File Historical past backs up your information within the Paperwork, Footage, Movies, Music, and Desktop folders, together with OneDrive information which can be saved domestically on the system by default. Nevertheless, in Home windows 11, it’s not potential to incorporate further folders within the backup. Under we’ve got talked about the steps to Set Up and Use File Historical past on Home windows 11.

Set Up and Use File Historical past on Home windows 11

To arrange the file historical past backup in your system, repeat the next steps:

Step 1: Press Win + R to launch the Run command field. Sort FileHistory within the textual content enter space and press the enter key.

Step 2: File Historical past’s management panel web page will launch. Since you might be organising the function for the primary time, it will likely be inactive by default.

Step 3: Join an exterior USB storage system (Pen Drive or Exterior Laborious Drive) to your system.

Step 4: Now, click on on the Flip On button to allow File Historical past in your Home windows 11 system.

Step 5: File Historical past will start copying information to the exterior storage drive from these places – Libraries, Desktop, Contact, and Favorites.

Step 6: If you wish to create a backup once more, click on on the Run Now possibility.

File Historical past is about up and working in your system. It backs up all information saved within the Libraries, Desktop, Contacts and Favorites folders. As well as, File Historical past additionally backs up the Downloads, Saved Video games and One Drive folders.

How one can Configure the Backup Settings in File Historical past

The file historical past is now prepared to make use of, however you continue to have to make some modifications. Right here’s how.

Step 1: Press Win + R to launch the Run command field. Sort FileHistory within the textual content enter space and press the enter key.

Step 2: Now, navigate to the left-hand aspect part and click on on the Superior Settings possibility.

Step 3: You possibly can change the backup frequency and protect information for so long as you need. Transfer over to the Save copies of information possibility. It is going to be set to Each hour by default. Click on on the drop-down listing to disclose extra choices.

Step 4: Choose the time period possibility match to your backup necessities.

Step 5: Then transfer to the Preserve saved variations possibility. It preserves the backups saved on the exterior drive for so long as you need. It’s set to Ceaselessly by default. Don’t change it.

Step 6: If you wish to delete older backup variations of information and folders, click on on the Clear up variations possibility. It would delete all of the outdated variations besides the newest backup copy.

Step 7: Now, click on on the Save modifications button to save lots of your new settings.

How one can Choose a Drive for File Historical past

When you assign a storage drive to the file historical past, it turns into its default storage. Nevertheless, if you wish to add a bigger storage drive to the file historical past, you are able to do that as properly. Keep in mind that you should utilize just one drive to retailer the contents of the file historical past.

Step 1: Press Win + R to launch the Run command field. Sort FileHistory within the textual content enter space and press the enter key.

Step 2: File Historical past’s management panel web page will launch. Click on on the Choose Drive possibility positioned within the left-hand aspect part.

Step 3: All of the accessible storage drives will present up within the listing. Click on on the USB storage system you wish to use for File Historical past.

Step 4: File Historical past will ask you whether or not you wish to transfer outdated information to the brand new drive. Click on on the Sure button to proceed.

Step 5: Then, click on on the OK button to save lots of your modifications.

How one can Add Folders to File Historical past

The default collection of folders backed up by File Historical past shouldn’t be enough for each consumer. So you should manually add one other folder if you would like File Historical past to again it up. Right here’s easy methods to add a folder to File Historical past in Home windows 11:

Step 1: Open File Explorer on Home windows PC. Now, navigate to the folder location you wish to add to File Historical past. Now we have created a folder named ‘Take a look at’ for demonstration functions.

Step 2: Proper-click on the folder and choose extra choices from the context menu. Then, click on on the Embrace in Library possibility.

Step 3: Choose anybody folder from the listing of obtainable choices. We picked the Paperwork folder.

Step 4: File explorer will add the Take a look at folder to the Paperwork folder within the libraries. Click on on the Doc folder positioned beneath Libraries within the Navigation pane to confirm it.

Step 5: Now, go to the File Historical past function within the management panel and click on on the Run Now choice to create a brand new backup.

Step 6: Browse the USB drive in file explorer and entry the Information folder. The folder you added to the Libraries will seem right here.

Step 7: Now, File Historical past will embrace the contents of the brand new folder you added to it.

How one can Exclude Folders From File Historical past

You might not wish to again up all of the folders with the file historical past. Bigger folders corresponding to short-term downloads and movies can rapidly refill cupboard space whenever you use a USB drive. Due to this fact, it’s best to take away the folders which can be unimportant from a backup perspective.

Right here’s easy methods to take away a folder from File Historical past:

Step 1: Open Management Panel and navigate to the File Historical past function. Then, click on on the Exclude Folders possibility.

Step 2: Click on on the Add button so as to add a folder to the exclusion listing.

Step 3: Browse the File Explorer and click on on the Choose Folder button so as to add it to the listing.

Step 4: Then, click on on the Save Modifications button to save lots of your settings.

Step 5: Shut the app window. File Historical past will exclude the folder when it creates the subsequent backup.

Closing Phrases

We hope you want this text on How one can Set Up and Use File Historical past on Home windows 11. Microsoft has eliminated the File Historical past possibility from the Settings app in Home windows 11. So now you possibly can solely entry it from the Management Panel. But it surely’s a reasonably easy methodology that allows you to all the time create redundant backups. Additionally, you possibly can add or take away folders and alter storage units as wanted.

I hope you perceive this text, How one can Set Up and Use File Historical past on Home windows 11 PC.