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Windows 11 File History: How to Enable, Disable or Set up

File History backs up your user folder libraries

6 min. read

Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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Key notes

File History is a powerful backup feature in Windows 11. To be more precise, it is an automatic backup feature that will back up your user folder libraries to a selected external USB storage device. It also keeps a history of file versions for users.

With File History enabled, you’ll have alternative backup versions of your files available. Then, you can select to restore previous versions of files preserved by the File History feature.

Although you’ll probably rarely need to restore backup versions of files, it’s a good idea to keep backup copies for them with File History, just in case.

You can enable and disable File History with the methods outlined below.

Is File History a new Windows 11 feature, and where can I find it?

File History isn’t something new in Windows 11. Microsoft originally introduced File History in Windows 8 as an alternative to Backup and Restore. It’s a better utility for backing up user folders than Backup and Restore.

However, some users have been confused by the absence of File History options in Windows 11’s redesignedSettingsapp. Windows 10 includes options for enabling and configuring File History viaSettings, which isn’t available in 11.

The only backup options you can configure in Windows 11’sSettingsapp are for OneDrive. You can set up the OneDrive folder syncing viaAccounts, thenWindows backupin Settings. That cloud sync feature backs up folders and files to OneDrive.

Don’t worry, File History still exists in Windows 11! However, you’ll need to activate that legacy feature via theControl Panelnow. Alternatively, you can enable and disable it with the two other methods below.

How can I turn on Network Discovery for File History?

Keep in mind that you’ll need to have Network Discovery enabled to utilize File History in Windows 11.

If it’s not enabled, File History’sTurn onbutton will be grayed out in the Control Panel. This is how you can turn on Network Discovery in Windows 11:

How can I turn on and off File History in Windows 11?

1. Use the Control Panel

1. Open Windows 11’s search box by pressing themagnifying glass taskbarbutton on your desktop. Alternatively, you can press theWindows keyon your keyboard.

2.Type the wordFile Historywithin the search box.

SelectFile Historyfrom the resultsto open theControl Panelapplet.

4.Next, click theTurn onbutton shown directly below.

5.You can later disableFile Historyby clicking theTurn offbutton there.

6.To select an external drive to back up files on, insert a USB storage device in your PC.

7.ClickSelect driveto bring up the options and choose a storage drive listed there.

Press theOKbutton to confirm your chosen storage device.

File History can be very easily managed via the built-in Control Panel. From there, you can toggle File History on and off in a simple click.

2. Use the Group Policy Editor

3. Edit the registry

What can I do if File History doesn’t work?

If File History still doesn’t work with Network Discovery enabled, make sure thatNetwork Discovery stays onas it should.

Even more, the service for that feature might be disabled. Thus, the solution might be to enable the File History Service. You can check that service as follows:

How can I restore my files with File History?

When File History has preserved some backup copies, you can restore previous file versions any time you fancy. To do so, open theFile History Control Panelapplet as outlined within the first three steps of the first resolution for activating the backup feature.

Although there are plenty of third-party backup utilities for Windows, File History is sufficient for preserving user file copies. It’s a convenient feature that automatically backs up user folders at specified intervals.

Don’t think you won’t ever need backup file copies. There are many ways user files can become corrupted or accidentally deleted. So, it might be better to be safe than sorry by enabling and utilizing File History in Windows 11.

And if you can’t decide on which backup solution to go for, we have acomprehensive File History vs Windows Backup articleto help you make a choice.

You can also take advantage of the Backup and Restore utility to create a system image copy. Ourguide on how to create a system imageprovides details on how you can enjoy that utility in Windows 11.

Follow the steps above and let us know which method worked for you in the comments below.

Windows 11 File History: How to Enable, Disable or Set up#

Is File History a new Windows 11 feature, and where can I find it?#

How can I turn on Network Discovery for File History?#

How can I turn on and off File History in Windows 11?#

1. Use the Control Panel#

2. Use the Group Policy Editor#

3. Edit the registry#

What can I do if File History doesn’t work?#

How can I restore my files with File History?#