Automatically Backup Using File History and Restore Missing Files: A Step-by-Step Guide

Accidentally losing important files can be a frustrating experience, especially if you have no backup plan in place. Fortunately, Windows 10 comes with a built-in feature called File History that can automatically backup your files and help restore them in case of accidental deletion or system crash. In this article, we will guide you through the process of setting up File History for automatic backup and restoring missing files.

Table of Contents

• What is File History and How Does it Work?
• Enabling File History Backup
• Selecting Folders to Backup
• Configuring Backup Frequency
• Restoring Missing Files from File History Backup
• Conclusion
• FAQs

What is File History and How Does it Work?

File History is a backup feature introduced in Windows 8 that allows users to automatically backup and restore their files. The feature works by creating copies of your files and storing them in a separate location, such as an external hard drive or a network drive. This way, if you accidentally delete a file or your system crashes, you can easily restore the file from the backup.

Enabling File History Backup

To enable File History backup, follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app by pressing Windows key + I.
2. Click on Update & Security.
3. Click on Backup from the left-hand side menu.
4. Click on Add a drive under the Back up using File History section.
5. Select the drive you want to use for backup and click on Turn on.

Selecting Folders to Backup

By default, File History will backup the Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Music, and Videos folders. However, you can add or remove folders to backup by following these steps:

1. Open the Settings app by pressing Windows key + I.
2. Click on Update & Security.
3. Click on Backup from the left-hand side menu.
4. Click on More options.
5. Click on Add a folder under the Back up these folders section.
6. Select the folder you want to backup and click on Choose this folder.

You can also remove a folder from backup by selecting it and clicking on Remove.

Configuring Backup Frequency

By default, File History will backup your files every hour. However, you can change the backup frequency by following these steps:

1. Open the Settings app by pressing Windows key + I.
2. Click on Update & Security.
3. Click on Backup from the left-hand side menu.
4. Click on More options.
5. Under the Back up these folders section, click on the dropdown menu next to Backup my files and select how often you want to backup your files.

You can select from every 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 3 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours, or once a day.

Restoring Missing Files from File History Backup

If you accidentally delete a file or it gets lost due to system failure, you can easily restore it from File History backup by following these steps:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Navigate to the folder that contained the missing file.
3. Click on the History button from the ribbon at the top.
4. Select the file you want to restore and click on the green Restore button.

The file will be restored to its original location.

Conclusion

File History is a powerful backup feature in Windows 10 that can help you avoid the frustration of losing important files. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily set up File History for automatic backup and restore missing files if needed.