In today’s digital age, data loss can be a catastrophic event for individuals and businesses alike. That’s why Microsoft introduced the File History feature in Windows 8, allowing users to automatically back up their files to an external drive or network location. But have you ever wondered how long these backups are retained by default? In this article, we’ll delve into the world of File History backups and explore the retention period, as well as provide tips on how to manage and customize your backups.
Understanding File History Backups
File History is a backup feature in Windows that allows users to automatically save copies of their files to an external drive or network location. This feature is designed to protect users from data loss due to hardware failure, software corruption, or accidental deletion. File History backups are stored in a separate location, such as an external hard drive or a network share, and can be easily restored in case of data loss.
How File History Backups Work
File History backups work by creating a copy of your files at regular intervals. By default, File History backups are created every hour, but this interval can be adjusted to suit your needs. When a backup is created, File History saves a copy of your files to the designated backup location. This process is automatic, and you don’t need to intervene unless you want to restore a file or change the backup settings.
What Files Are Backed Up by File History?
File History backups include files from the following locations:
- Desktop
- Documents
- Music
- Pictures
- Videos
- Contacts
- Favorites
These files are backed up by default, but you can also add other folders or files to the backup list.
How Long Are File History Backups Retained by Default?
By default, File History backups are retained for a period of 5 years. This means that if you have a file that was backed up 5 years ago, it will be deleted from the backup location after that period. However, you can adjust the retention period to suit your needs.
Customizing the Retention Period
To customize the retention period, follow these steps:
- Go to the Control Panel and click on “File History.”
- Click on “Advanced settings” on the left side of the window.
- Under “Save copies of files,” click on the dropdown menu next to “Keep saved versions.”
- Select the desired retention period from the list.
You can choose from the following retention periods:
- Until space is needed
- 1 month
- 3 months
- 6 months
- 9 months
- 1 year
- 2 years
- 5 years
- Forever
Keep in mind that the longer you retain your backups, the more space they will occupy on your backup location.
What Happens When the Retention Period Expires?
When the retention period expires, the oldest backups are deleted from the backup location. This means that if you have a file that was backed up 5 years ago, it will be deleted from the backup location after that period. However, you can still restore files from previous backups if you need to.
Managing and Customizing Your Backups
While File History backups are automatic, you can still manage and customize your backups to suit your needs. Here are some tips:
- Use an external hard drive or network location: Make sure to use an external hard drive or network location to store your backups. This will ensure that your backups are safe in case your computer crashes or is stolen.
- Adjust the backup interval: You can adjust the backup interval to suit your needs. If you work on important projects, you may want to set the backup interval to every 15 minutes.
- Add folders or files to the backup list: You can add folders or files to the backup list by going to the File History settings and clicking on “Add a folder.”
- Exclude folders or files from the backup list: You can exclude folders or files from the backup list by going to the File History settings and clicking on “Exclude a folder.”
Restoring Files from Backups
Restoring files from backups is a straightforward process. Here’s how to do it:
- Go to the Control Panel and click on “File History.”
- Click on “Restore personal files” on the left side of the window.
- Select the file or folder you want to restore.
- Click on the “Restore” button.
You can also restore files from previous backups by clicking on the “Previous versions” tab.
Troubleshooting File History Backups
If you encounter any issues with File History backups, here are some troubleshooting tips:
- Check the backup location: Make sure that the backup location has enough space to store your backups.
- Check the backup interval: Make sure that the backup interval is set correctly.
- Check for errors: Check the Event Viewer for any errors related to File History backups.
By following these tips, you can ensure that your File History backups are working correctly and that your files are safe.
Conclusion
File History backups are an essential feature in Windows that can help protect you from data loss. By understanding how File History backups work and how long they are retained by default, you can customize your backups to suit your needs. Remember to use an external hard drive or network location, adjust the backup interval, and add folders or files to the backup list. With these tips, you can ensure that your files are safe and that you can restore them in case of data loss.
What is File History and how does it work?
File History is a feature in Windows that automatically backs up files in the Documents, Music, Pictures, Videos, and Desktop folders, as well as the OneDrive files available offline on your PC. It saves copies of your files to an external drive or network location, allowing you to restore them in case they are lost, damaged, or deleted.
File History works by creating a backup of your files at regular intervals, which can be set to every 10 minutes, every hour, every 3 hours, every 12 hours, or daily. You can also set the backup to run continuously, which means that File History will back up your files as soon as they change. This ensures that your files are always up to date and can be easily restored if needed.
How long are File History backups retained by default?
By default, File History backups are retained forever, or until the backup drive runs out of space. This means that File History will continue to back up your files and save them to the backup drive until the drive is full. Once the drive is full, File History will start to delete the oldest backups to make room for new ones.
However, you can change the retention period for File History backups if you want to. You can set the retention period to 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 1 year, or 2 years. This means that File History will only keep backups for the specified period of time, and then delete them.
Can I change the retention period for File History backups?
Yes, you can change the retention period for File History backups. To do this, go to the File History settings in the Control Panel, click on the “Advanced settings” link, and then click on the “Clean up versions” button. From here, you can select the retention period you want to use, and File History will start to delete backups that are older than the specified period.
It’s worth noting that changing the retention period will only affect new backups, not existing ones. If you want to delete existing backups, you will need to do so manually. Additionally, if you set the retention period to a shorter time frame, you may lose access to older backups.
What happens when the backup drive runs out of space?
When the backup drive runs out of space, File History will start to delete the oldest backups to make room for new ones. This ensures that your most recent files are always backed up, even if the backup drive is full. However, this also means that you may lose access to older backups if the drive is full and you haven’t changed the retention period.
If you want to avoid losing access to older backups, you can consider using a larger backup drive or setting the retention period to a shorter time frame. You can also consider using a different backup solution, such as an external hard drive or cloud storage, to store your files.
Can I use File History with multiple backup drives?
Yes, you can use File History with multiple backup drives. To do this, go to the File History settings in the Control Panel, click on the “Select drive” link, and then select the drives you want to use for backup. File History will then back up your files to all of the selected drives.
Using multiple backup drives can provide an extra layer of protection for your files, as you will have multiple copies of your backups in case one of the drives fails or is lost. However, keep in mind that you will need to make sure that all of the drives are connected to your PC and turned on in order for File History to work.
Can I use File History with cloud storage?
No, File History does not support cloud storage. File History is designed to work with external drives or network locations, and it does not have the ability to back up files to cloud storage services such as OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox.
If you want to use cloud storage to back up your files, you will need to use a different backup solution, such as the cloud storage service’s built-in backup tool or a third-party backup program. However, you can use File History in conjunction with cloud storage to create a hybrid backup solution that includes both local and cloud-based backups.
How do I restore files from a File History backup?
To restore files from a File History backup, go to the File History settings in the Control Panel, click on the “Restore personal files” link, and then select the files you want to restore. You can browse through the backups by date, and select the files you want to restore.
Once you have selected the files you want to restore, click the “Restore” button to restore them to their original location. You can also choose to restore the files to a different location, such as a folder on your desktop. File History will then restore the files from the backup, and you will be able to access them as if they were never lost or deleted.