How to Enable File History on Windows 11

Learn how to enable File History in Windows 11 to automatically back up your documents, photos, and desktop files to an external drive.

  1. Connect your external storage device. Plug your external hard drive or SSD into an available USB port on your PC. Ensure the drive is formatted with the NTFS file system for compatibility with File History requirements.
  2. Open the Control Panel. Press the Windows key on your keyboard, type Control Panel, and press Enter. Click on the System and Security category to locate the File History options.
  3. Access File History settings. Click on File History within the System and Security menu. If your connected drive is detected, the system will display the drive name and current status. If no drive is detected, click Select drive to manually designate your storage device.
  4. Activate the service. Click the Turn on button to begin the automated backup process. File History will now initiate the first backup of your libraries, desktop, favorites, and contacts.
  5. Adjust advanced settings. Click Advanced settings in the left navigation pane to define the backup frequency and retention period. Select how often to save copies and how long to keep the saved versions before they are deleted.

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