How To Enable Windows 8 File History

Introduction

In this article we explain how to enable Windows 8 file history. By default the file history feature is disabled in Windows 8, so this article explains how to enable this important layer of data protection. File history scans your system every hour for personal file changes and when we delete files and folders then it includes and detects file history and backs up files regularly. If we use a server or Network Attached Storage (NAS) device then it's easy to back up to it. If we don't want to include an extra internal or external drive attached then this is an easy process to use.

Procedure to enable file history in Windows 8

Step 1

First we press the "Win + W" shortcut key to bring up the "Settings" search and type "file history" and click the "File History icon" under the search results.

 

Step 2

When we plug an external drive into our system, click the "Auto-play" message that pops up.

 

Step 3

After the process completes we'll select "Configure this Drive for Backup File History".

 

Step 4

File History is off by default, but we'll see your backup drive listed. Click "Turn On".

 

Step 5

It will run a backup of all of your important data right away and will do that every hour by default. Or we can go back in and click "Run Now".

 

Step 6

Under "Advanced Settings" we can control how often it scans your system for changes. We can select from every 20 minutes to everyday.

 

Step 7

To add a network drive, click "Select Drive". Then click Add Network Location and browse to the directory we want to back up to.