Backing up your data regularly is crucial to avoid losing important files and information in case of hardware failure, accidental deletion, ransomware, or other data loss scenarios. Windows 11 comes with a built-in and easy to use backup utility called File History that can automatically back up your files to an external drive.
What Is File History?
File History is the main backup tool in Windows 11 that provides automated and continuous backups of your personal files to a secondary drive. It allows you to restore previous versions of your files from a dedicated backup location in case of accidental changes or deletions.
File History continuously monitors changes to files in your personal folders like Documents, Pictures, Videos, Desktop, etc. and backs them up to another drive. It does not back up system files, applications, or drives. The backup runs automatically in the background when File History is turned on.
Benefits Of File History
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Automatic and continuous backup – Once enabled, File History will automatically back up your files periodically without needing manual intervention.
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Restore previous file versions – You can restore older copies of files from any point in time. Useful for recovering from accidental changes.
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Dedicated backup drive – File History needs a secondary external drive for storing backups. This maintains backup integrity.
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Space efficient – Only one copy of identical files is stored. Hard links are used to save space.
Getting Started With File History
Follow these steps to set up automatic file backup to an external drive using File History in Windows 11:
1. Connect An External Drive
First, you need to connect a secondary external drive like a USB hard drive or SSD to store your backups. This drive must have sufficient storage capacity for holding backups.
It is recommended to use a drive exclusively for backups. The entire drive will be formatted for File History use. Do not use a drive containing your only copy of important data.
2. Turn On File History
Go to Settings > Update & Security > Backup and click on “Add a drive” under Backup using File History.
Select the external drive you want to use for backup. Windows will recommend using the entire disk. Click “Okay” to format and use it.
3. Configure Backup Settings
Under Back up these folders, select which folders containing your personal files you want to backup. The default selection is fine for most users.
You can also configure these settings:
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Back up my files – Frequency of automated backups. Default is every hour.
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Keep my backups – How long to retain backup history. Default is forever.
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Back up this PC – Enable backing up system image along with files. Requires more space.
Once done, turn “On” File History. The initial full backup to the drive will start. Subsequent backups will be incremental.
Restoring Files From Backup
To restore your files from a previous backup:
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Go to Settings > Update & Security > Backup and click on “More options” under File History.
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The File History window will open. Navigate to the backup snapshot from which you want to restore files.
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Select the file or folder you want to restore and click the “Restore” button.
This will retrieve the previous version of those files from the backup and save it back to its original location.
Tips For Effective Backups
Here are some tips to ensure your file backups are working effectively:
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Use a high-quality external drive with ample storage for backups. SSDs provide fast backup/restore.
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Back up regularly and keep multiple backup snapshots by configuring File History appropriately.
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Store backup drives safely – e.g. fireproof safe, another location. Backups are useless if damaged along with original files.
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Test restoring files periodically to verify backups are working.
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Consider supplementing File History with cloud storage for offsite backups.
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You can pause File History temporarily if you need to disconnect the backup drive.
Automated backup gives peace of mind against data loss. File History provides a quick and easy way to do this. Just plug in an external drive and configure it once to start safeguarding your important files.
