So I’m speculating here, but I could imagine Microsoft adding that capability to the Windows shell. This can and should be added to OneDrive as well.) (Also missing is the ability to access previous versions of more file types. You have to use OneDrive on the web to access those previous versions-via a feature called version history-today. And from other OneDrive clients, for that matter. What’s missing is an easy way to access those previous versions from Windows. We already have half of that functionality today: As it turns out, OneDrive also creates previous versions of the documents (and only the documents) you store in the cloud service. And that functionality needs to be accessible from any PC or device, with previous versions not locked to an individual PC. For File History to work efficiently, to work correctly, it needs to be a feature of OneDrive, not Windows 10. By which I mean, if you have two PCs, both using File History to backup the same files in OneDrive, then you will have two different versions of File History backups, stored locally on two different PCs.Īnd that, I think, is the problem Microsoft is trying to solve by killing File History. But these previous versions are device-specific and will be re-created on any PC for which you’ve enabled File History. Today, File History can work hand-in-hand with OneDrive to create previous versions of files you replicate to the cloud. This is particularly problematic on modern portable PCs, which tend to have only a single disk and often have limited storage regardless. It’s not enabled by default, for starters, because doing so kills free disk space. That is absolutely useful.īut File History has disadvantages, too. And of them that does not.ĭoes it make sense to kill File History? After all, this feature retains previous versions of your documents and other personal files, letting you “go back in time” to recover a previous version if you screw something up. One of the connects to the cloud, which enables cross-device sync and accessibility. Microsoft basically has two different ways of helping you keep your most important personal files safe. Interestingly, two of these-OneDrive and File History-have a bit of overlap in that they both address personal files.Īnd that is the key issue here, I think. In the Windows 10 Field Guide, I discuss some of the backup strategies that a Windows 10 user might consider: OneDrive for file replication to the cloud, Reset This PC and Refresh Windows (now called Fresh Start), legacy system image backups, File History, and so on. And it can now be configured almost completely from the Settings app, bypassing the need to access the legacy control panel interface, as was previously required. In Windows 10 specifically, File History was updated so that it backs up more locations automatically. But it’s better than a basic backup: File History also lets you retrieve earlier versions of a file, so that if you make a change to a document or other file, you can “go back in time” and return to any earlier versions. It can be configured to automatically backup your most important files to a separate hard drive or network location. I think I know why this happening.įile History is one part of a broader set of backup and recovery features that have been built into Windows for years. Select an option from the list below for restoring a previous version of a file or folder and turning on the File History feature in Windows.The recently-leaked Windows 10 Insider Preview build 16212 includes a dire warning for File History users: This feature is no longer supported. By default, the File History feature is turned off in Windows and must be turned on to begin storing file and folder history independent of restore points. Additionally, Windows 8, Windows 10, and Windows 11 include a File History feature that allows users to restore a previous version of a file or folder without creating restore points. Windows restore points allow users to restore a file or folder from a previous restore point. However, users don't always need to roll back all their settings, but only the state of one file or folder. This feature is important as it allows users to correct problems with the operating system and its installed software. You can think of it as a snapshot of all your files and settings at a specific date and time. Windows supports the ability to roll back to a previously saved version of the operating system.
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