Enable File History in Windows 11

❎ File History can be a useful component of a larger backup strategy. I'll show you how to set it up.

❎ Windows 11 File History
Use File History in Control Panel to turn on the feature and begin backing up files to an external disk as they change. There are additional settings available, but turning it on and selecting an external hard disk to use is really all you need.

Chapters
0:00 File History in Windows
0:40 Not a replacement for image backups
1:35 Enabling File History
2:20 Backs up files in user directory
2:40 Exclude folders
3:20 Advanced settings

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[Alwaysbaggyjeans]

I thought this had been removed from Windows 11. Many thanks for the video Leo

[realjoeplummer]

It seems odd that I can't specifically choose files that I'd like to backup. For instance, I have a large "main" folder that I keep on an external SSD drive, but I can't figure out how to add that to the list that File History backs up. I tried adding the "main" folder to my "documents library" (since "libraries" are part of what File History chooses automatically), but it doesn't seem to be working. (Side note: It DID work when I added my "public" folder to my "documents library." That appears to be getting backed up now.)

[MrKLovisa]

I have two drives in my computer. The master drive, C:, is where the OS and program files are located. All data is on the slave drive which have 4 partitions D:, E:, F:, and Z:. I just upgraded to a W11 machine with the same slave drive configuration. My old W10 machine backed up to an external HD with a corresponding folder for each partition. The W11 machine recognizes the entire external drive but File History tells me that "we found errors on your File History drive, and can't save copies of your files. Tap or click to repair . . . ." So I am wondering if File History can backup 4 partitions. TIA

[megapangolin]

Thanks, Leo, I didn't know about FH, I am a Mac man mainly. But now all done on my new Samsung. Much appreciated.

[Jeangrey]

Great explanation, very helpful. Thanks Leo!

[ishrashad]

Was the same in Windows 10, in the CP. (Had to tweak it on a friend's W10 PC today - it had used up 1.24 TB. Reminded me why I steer clear....)

[alejandrodelavega]

When turned on for the first time will FH do an initial back up all files, or only backup files as they are changed? Thank you

[Merichguy]

Why would I need file history turned on if I'm already using backup software, Leo?

[loretoz]

Howdy, thanks for the tutorial, but how do I choose how much memory is going to be used for file history?

[bobbloomgeek]

In Windows 10 it was fairly easy to add or remove folders to be included in the File History backup. Windows 11, not so much. Leo doesn't show which folders are included, but one can infer that from the excluded list. Note that "Desktop" and "Downloads" is *not* included in the file history backup. I'll leave it as a challenge to the reader how to add these two user folders into the file history backup. Again, it was easy in Windows 10. Another reason (of 26, yes I count them) I don't like Windows 11.

[vivianoni]

Isn't FH tuned to work with Windows std folders (gulp)?

[ginajones]

When I save changes it still says my file history is still OFF, help!

[ify]

Can you direct the history to a mapped NAS drive! How about a separate partition on your primary hard drive?

[JCon_]

HEY LEO WHAT FORMAT DOES THE DRIVE NEED TO BE??? EXFAT DOES NOT SEEM TO WORK. IT SAYS "DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE DRIVE"

[hæni-ni]

Helooo, I don't know if you read this, but I would like to know how to delete the <Unknown> file detected by WinDirStat, it weighs almost 20Gb, and despite all the information, no one clarifies how to delete said file. I would like your help with that, thank you !!

[SylvainMenard]

An interesting feature, but pretty limited, as all Microsoft stock applications. Do you know a more capable application, free or paid? Thanks for your videos, Leo, they are always interesting.

[Marwa-vp]

What if I don't have an external drive, can I use a partition on my local disk C for file history?? I need an answer please.

[keiththompson]

How big of a hard drive do I need for file history and system image backup?

[davinp]

File History was removed from the Windows 11 Settings app because this featured has been depreciated

[somebodypeculiar]

I found your explanation disappointing. You do not cover the wonderful fact that File History saves MULTIPLE VERSIONS with a date-time as part of the file name.