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[Windows 10] How to back up using file history

How to back up using the Win10 file history

Table of contents
Description
Method of operation
How to enable the file history
How to change the settings of the file history
How to add a specific folder on the target file history
How to exclude a specific folder from the subject of the file history
How to set the frequency and retention period for backup

Description

  • File History is an automated feature of your Win OS that routinely backs up your file history, library, address book, internet favorites, and other folders.

 

  • When you enable the file history, your folders are regularly scanned and backed up when the computer detects a change in one of your files.  Because the backup data is not overwritten when the new data is stored, you can restore your data to whatever point you want to.  The frequency of scans and the retention period of the backups can be changed by the user.

 

  • If you have set up multiple user accounts, each user needs to enable the file history.

 

  • Content that is protected by copyright, such as digital broadcasting and music data cannot be successfully backed up in the operation of this.   You must perform a separate backup for those kinds of files.  For more information, please reference the help file of each application.

 

  •   The following drives are available to be destination for your backup data:

-An NTFS formatted external hard drive or USB flash memory (recommended)
-A folder on the network

  • Data that will automatically be backed up in the file history includes your library, Windows address book, Internet Explorer favorites, and files saved on the desktop.  File History can back up additional files if you add them.

 

Method of operation

  • How to enable the File History

Follow the following steps to enable file history for the first time.
1. Click the Start button.

2. When the start menu is displayed, select Settings.
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3. When the Settings screen appears, select Update and Security.
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4. When the Updates and Security screen is displayed, select “Backup” and then select “Add Drive”.
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5. When the Drive Selection screen is displayed, you can select the drive where you want to save the backup.
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Reference information
If you want to use a folder on the network as your destination, you can select “all” and choose the location in the network.

6. When you return to the Backup screen, you can select other options.
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7. When the Backup Options screen is displayed, select Backup Now and the initial backup will start automatically.
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This completes the operation above.
After the first backup is completed, your folders will be regularly scanned.

How to change the settings of the File History

How to add a specific folder on the File History

To add a specific folder to the File History, follow the following steps.

1. Start Button> Settings> Update and Security> Select “Backup” and then “More Options”.
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2. When the “Backup Options” screen is displayed, select “Add a folder” under the Backed Up Folder section.
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3. Select the folder you want to be backed up and then choose “Select this Folder”.
This completes the operation above. It will be added to the list “folders to be backed up.”

How to exclude a specific folder from the subject of the file history

If you want to exclude a folder from the target of the file history to complete the following steps.

1. Start Button> Settings> Update and Security> Select “Backup” and then “Other Options”.
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2. When the “Backup Options” screen is displayed, select “add folder” under the Exclude Folder section.
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3. Select the folder you do not want to be backed up, and then choose “Select this Folder”.

This completes the operation above.

The excluded folder will be removed from the list.

Reference information
If you want to exclude folders that are displayed in the “folders to be backed up” list from the backup, you can also simply select the appropriate folder and select Delete.

How to set the frequency and retention period for backup

If you want to change the frequency and retention period of the backups, follow the steps below.

1. Start Button> Settings> Update and Security> Select “Backup” and then “Other Options”.
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2. When the Backup Options screen is displayed, choose the options you want from the pull down menus
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  • The frequency relates to how often the computers scans your folders.  You can choose as frequently as once every 10 minutes or as infrequently as once a day.  The default state is once an hour.
  • The period to hold the backup relates to how long the backup data is kept. The data will be kept until there is no longer enough space or you can choose as short as once month and as long as indefinitely.  The default state is indefinitely.

 
Reference information
To delete a set of backup data, follow the next steps

1. Start Button> Settings> Update and Security> Select “Backup” and then “Other Options”.

2. When the “Backup Options” screen is displayed, select “Show Advanced Settings” on the bottom of the screen.
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3. When the File History screen of the control panel is displayed, select Advanced Settings on the left side of the menu.
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4. When the Advanced screen is displayed, choose the old version of the clean-up.
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5. When the “Clean-up of the File History” screen is displayed, select the time period that you want to delete from the pull-down list and select “Cleanup”.
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This completes the operation above.