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.
 
file-history-setting-search-in-windows8.jpg 
 
Step 2
 
When we plug an external drive into our system, click the "Auto-play" message that pops up.
 
autoplay-window-in-windows8.jpg 
 
Step 3
 
After the process completes we'll select "Configure this Drive for Backup File History".
 
choose-file-history-in-windows8.jpg 
 
Step 4
 
File History is off by default, but we'll see your backup drive listed. Click "Turn On".
 
click-file-history-turn on-in-windows8.jpg 
 
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".
 
click-run-now-in-windows8.jpg 
 
Step 6
 
Under "Advanced Settings" we can control how often it scans your system for changes. We can select from every 20 minutes to every day.
 
advance-setting-window-in-windows8.jpg 
 
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.
 
add-network-location-in-windows8.jpg
 

Summary

 
In this article, we learned about How To Enable Windows 8 File History.  


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