How to change File History drive Windows 10
File History is a convenient and easy-to-use feature of Windows 10. Its automatic backup and ability to keep older versions of files makes it a great set up and forget backup option. If you aren’t familiar with File History, I recommend reading Lee Grant’s article on this very website to understand more about it. Show I’m familiar with File History, so what’s the problem?While I sing its praises, I do have two issues with File History – the first being that Microsoft hid it away in the depths of Windows 10’s settings. It may be set and forget, but it is also a sensible idea to check your backup from time to time to ensure all is working. Having to go through several layers of options to get there is frustrating. The second niggle I have with File History is in changing the backup drive. It may not be something you often do, but if you have a faulty drive or need to increase your backup storage, you will have to go down that road – and it isn’t as straightforward as you may think. Okay, so what do I need to do?To replace the backup drive in File History, you need to do the following:
One last step?You can now use your new drive to back up. But be aware, Windows will have reset the backup options to its default settings. If you changed your previous backup options, you will have to re-select them. These are available in the back-up options section and include:
It’s a wrapFile History is a great backup system. However, if you ever need to change your backup drive, it isn’t simply a case of plug in and go. You will need to tell Windows to stop using your old drive, select the new one, and re-configure any backup options you may have changed. READ NEXT: What is Cloud Download and how can I use it to reinstall Windows 10? What is my file history drive in Windows 10?File History is a Windows file recovery tool that backs up versions of your files to an external hard drive. It regularly scans your system and saves any changes to the files on your external drive. By doing so, it minimizes the risk of losing all of your data if the system crashes.
Does file history need a dedicated drive?Before you can use File History, you'll need to configure your PC to make sure it's enabled and working properly. You'll need a dedicated external drive to keep the file snapshots for File History in a safe place.
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