How to Enable or Disable File History in Windows

Backing up your recordsdata and folders is an effective behavior. In case your system crashes or the recordsdata turn out to be corrupt or inaccessible, you need to use the backups. The normal means of making backups is by making a system picture. That is not possible each time and desires big house.

Happily, al,l editions of Windows ranging from Windows 8 provide the File Historical past characteristic. This allows you to again up essential recordsdata on an exterior storage gadget. If you’re curious concerning the File Historical past characteristic and wish to use it, this put up will elaborate on how to allow it in your system.

What Is the File Historical past Characteristic in Windows?

Microsoft launched the File Historical past characteristic for Windows 8 and has since improved it through the years. The File Historical past characteristic means that you can create a backup of important recordsdata and folders on an exterior storage gadget. It’s totally different from a system picture or Windows backup as a result of it backs up solely particular recordsdata and folders, fairly than duplicating the whole C: drive.

Often, the File Historical past characteristic backs up Paperwork, Music, Photos, Downloads, Movies, offline OneDrive recordsdata, and Desktop folders. However you may add more folders you wish to again up utilizing File Historical past.

Is Windows File Historical past Any Good?

Sure. The File Historical past characteristic is undoubtedly a much-needed characteristic for Windows customers. Earlier, you might solely depend on handbook backup of folders on an exterior storage drive. Or you might create a Windows backup, however that might be big in dimension.

The File Historical past characteristic permits you to protect the contents of a very powerful folders, the place most apps save their recordsdata. You too can add extra folders, which is a vital characteristic that was lacking when Microsoft launched File Historical past for Windows 8.1.

File Historical past will routinely backup your recordsdata and folder utilizing the default setting, however you can also make adjustments to it. For instance, you may exclude folders you do not wish to backup, change the backup frequency, and even add more folders.

What Occurs When File Historical past Is Turned Off?

File Historical past just isn’t lively by default whenever you set up Windows. You might want to allow the characteristic by accessing the Management Panel or the Settings app. When File Historical past is off, Windows will not robotically again up the information in Paperwork, Music, Photos, Downloads, Movies, offline OneDrive recordsdata, and Desktop folders.

You’ll be able to both create handbook backups of those folders on one other drive or allow File Historical past to do the identical. Nonetheless, do not forget that you’ll have to keep the exterior storage drive related always to make sure scheduled backups.

How to Allow or Disable File Historical past in Windows

You’ll be able to allow File Historical past in Windows utilizing the Settings app, Management Panel, Group Policy Editor, or the registry. Here is the reason of every of those strategies.

1. Utilizing Windows Settings

Windows 8.1 and 10 provide the whole File Historical past choices contained in the settings app. You need to use it to allow the file historical past characteristic, customise the storage gadget and frequency, and add or take away folders.

To allow File Historical past utilizing the settings app, do as follows:

1. Press Win + I to launch the Setting app. Then click on on System > Storage.
2. Scroll down and discover the More Storage settings part. Click on on the View backup choices label.
3. Verify if the toggle Mechanically again up my recordsdata is lively. Whether it is, it means File Historical past is lively in your system.

   

4. If you have not enabled File Historical past, you will note Add a drive choice. Click on on it and choose an acceptable exterior storage drive to again up your recordsdata.
5. Then click on on More choices after which click on the Backup now button. It would create a backup of your recordsdata on the drive. Scroll all the way down to configure more settings associated to the File Historical past characteristic.

   

6. If you wish to disable the characteristic, retrace the primary two steps of this methodology and click on on the toggle to disable File Historical past.

2. Utilizing Management Panel

Windows 11 eliminated the whole File Historical past choice current contained in the settings app. Microsoft shifted many settings in Windows 11, however you may entry File Historical past utilizing the Management Panel. From there, you may allow/disable the characteristic in addition to handle all of the settings.

To allow File Historical past utilizing the Management Panel, do as follows:

1. Press Win + R to launch the Run command field. Then kind Management panel within the textual content field and press the enter key.
2. Management Panel will launch. Click on on the System and Safety choice below Regulate your pc’s settings part.
3. Scroll down and click on on the File Historical past choice.
4. You will note the “File Historical past is off” message. Click on the Activate button to allow File Historical past in your system.

   

5. If an exterior storage drive is current, File Historical past will start backing up your recordsdata on it. The backup creation could take longer if in case you have larger recordsdata within the Libraries folder, like movies or applications.
6. To disable the File Historical past characteristic revisit the choice in Management Panel by retracing steps 1-3. Then click on on the Flip Off button to disable it.

3. Utilizing Group Policy Editor

When you have Windows Professional or Enterprise model can use the Group Policy editor to allow File Historical past in your system. It isn’t obtainable by default on Windows Residence; nevertheless, there’s a workaround to entry the Group Policy Editor in Windows Residence, so you’ll want to do this earlier than persevering with.

1. Press Win + R to launch the Run command field. Then kind gpedit.msc within the textual content field and press the enter key.
2. The Group Policy Editor will launch. Navigate to Laptop Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Parts.
3. Scroll down and find the File Historical past policy below the Windows Parts part.

   

4. Double-click on Flip off File Historical past setting to launch the edit window.
5. This setting disables the File Historical past characteristic in your system. So, whether it is set to Enabled, click on on the Disabled radio button to activate File Historical past in your system.

4. Utilizing the Registry Editor

You need to use a easy registry tweak to activate File Historical past in your system. Nonetheless, you must at all times create a registry backup earlier than making changes. Verify our information on how to again up your registry for more data.

To allow File Historical past utilizing the registry editor, do as follows:

1. Press the Win key and kind Regedit. Proper-click on the primary related search end result for registry editor and choose the Run as administrator choice.
2. Go to the highest handle bar and paste the next path: ComputerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwarePoliciesMicrosoftWindows.
3. Now, right-click on Windows and choose New > key. Identify the brand new key FileHistory (no house in between).
4. Now, click on on the File Historical past key and navigate to the right-hand facet pane.
5. Proper-click on it and choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Worth choice from the context menu.

   

6. Identify the worth Disabled and double-click on it to edit. Set the Worth Knowledge to 0. It would keep the characteristic lively in your system.
7. If you wish to disable File Historical past, set the Worth Knowledge to 1.

Use File Historical past To Backup Vital Recordsdata

These had been the a number of strategies to allow or disable File Historical past on Windows. You’ll be able to strive enabling the characteristic utilizing the Settings app. When you have Windows 11, you may allow it utilizing Management Panel. You too can strive utilizing the Group Policy Editor or Registry Editor to allow or disable File Historical past.