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 in the text 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 a little confused by the absence of File History options in Windows 11’s redesigned Settings app. Windows 10 includes options for enabling and configuring File History via Settings, which isn’t available in 11. The only backup options you can configure in Windows 11’s Settings app are for OneDrive. You can set up the OneDrive folder syncing via Accounts, then Windows backup in 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 the Control Panel now. Alternatively, you can also 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 in order to utilize File History in Windows 11. If it’s not enabled, File History’s Turn on button 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 the magnifying glass taskbar button on your desktop. Alternatively, you can press the Windows key on your keyboard. 2. Type the word File History within the search box.

  1. Select File History from the results to open the Control Panel applet.

  2. Next, click the Turn on button shown directly below. SPONSORED

  3. You can later disable File History by clicking the Turn off button there.

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

  5. Click Select drive to bring up the options and choose a storage drive listed there.

  6. Press the OK button 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 that Network Discovery stays on as 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 the File History Control Panel applet 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 perfectly sufficient for preserving copies of user files. It’s a convenient feature that will automatically back up your user folders at specified intervals. Don’t think you won’t ever need backup file copies. There are all sorts of ways user files can become corrupted or get accidentally deleted. So, it might be better to be safe than sorry by enabling and utilizing File History in Windows 11. You can also take advantage of the Backup and Restore utility to create a system image copy. Our guide on how to create a system image provides details on how you can enjoy that utility in Windows 11. Follow the above steps and let us know which method worked for you in the comments area below.

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