Windows 10 provides a built-in backup feature that allows users to back up their data and restore it in case of an unexpected data loss. In this article, we will guide you on using the Windows Backup File History feature in Windows 10 to back up user data.
Step 1: Connect an External Hard Drive
The first step is to connect an external hard drive to your Windows 10 computer. This external hard drive will be used to store your backup data.
Step 2: Open File History
To open the File History tool, go to the backup utility Windows Settings app by clicking on the search icon in the Windows 10/11 toolbar in the bottom left-hand corner. Type “Backups Settings” into the search bar and hit enter.
Step 3: Set Up Backup
Once you have opened the File History tool, click on the "Add a drive" button to begin the backup process.
Step 4: Select the External Hard Drive
In the "Select a drive" section, select the external hard drive you connected in Step 1.
Step 5: Choose What to Back Up (More Options)
In the "Back up these folders" section, you can choose to back up specific folders or let Windows choose what to back up for you. If you choose the latter option, Windows will back up your user data and files, including documents, pictures, music, and videos.
Step 6: Schedule Backup
In the "Back up my files" section, you can choose how often you want Windows to back up your data. You can choose to back up your data daily, weekly, or monthly. You can also set a specific time for the backup to take place.
Step 7: Review Backup Settings
In the "Advanced settings" section, you can review your backup settings and configure additional options, such as how long to keep the backup and whether to back up files that have been changed since the last backup.
Step 8: Monitor Backup Progress
Once the backup process has started, you can monitor its progress by clicking on the "More options" button and then looking under “Overview.” This will tell you the size of the backup, the total space on the hard drive, and when the last backup was performed.
Step 9: Restore Backup
To restore your data from the backup, go to the File History tool and click on the "Restore files from a current backup" button. You can then choose the backup that you want to restore and select the files and folders that you want to restore.
Conclusion
The Windows Backup File History feature in Windows 10 is an easy way to back up your user data and files. Following the steps outlined in this article, you can ensure that your data is safe and secure in case of an unexpected data loss.