File History is the Windows built-in utility that helps users save different versions of files so that you can restore them to any backup point when necessary. Sometimes there can be problems that occur with File History that it can not work properly. In this article, we will collect all the File History not working problems and tell you how to troubleshoot them.
File History is a built-in utility for Windows users to back up different versions of files in folders such as Libraries, Desktop, Documents, and Contacts. Every created backup will be saved to a selected backup drive. And once set up, File History will start to save copies of selected content on a regular time base.
Although it is a Windows-designed feature, File History is not perfect. Some users report that they have received error messages while using the File History. In this article, we will collect several of the very common File History not working problems and show you how to fix them with stepwise guides.
Before going into the solutions, let's check what kinds of File History problems you may encounter. You might see one of the following error messages or notifications:
When you see any of the error messages or notifications above, it means that File History is not working properly on your computer. And you will have to troubleshoot the problem to get File History back to normal.
In this part, we will give solutions to the corresponding issues. You could check and try the one that suits your situation.
This solution can fix most of the hardware issues. If your backup drive works fine and has sufficient storage space, you could try this method to reboot File History.
Step 1. Open the Start Menu and type "services.msc" into the search box.
Step 2. Find the "File History Service" in the list of services and right-click on it and select "Restart".
Step 3. Restart your computer, and go to File History to see if it can run normally.
This solution is suited for the situation where your File History backup drive is full.
Step 1. Go to Disk Management or File Explorer, and check how many used spaces are there in your File History drive.
Step 2. If there isn't enough space, stop using the current drive as the backup drive.
Step 3. Connect a new backup drive to your computer, and reset the File History backup.
You could also delete old File History backups. After clicking "Stop using drive", go to your backup drive and delete the "FileHistory" Folder.
This solution works in the case that users didn't find any backup version of the covered folders in Libraries. It seems that File History is not backing up all files they added in.
There are a few workarounds for this problem.
Sometimes File History not working is because your PC is protected by Bitlocker Drive Encryption, but your file History drive is not. To solve this problem, you have to turn off BitLocker for your computer.
Step 1. Go Start > Control Panel > System and Security > Bitlocker Drive Encryption.
Step 2. Find the drive you want to decrypt, and click the Turn off Bitlocker option.
Step 3. Input your password to unlock this drive or use a smart card to unlock it.
If all the solutions are not working, it's time that you seek help from its alternative, EaseUS Todo Backup for Free. It is a free backup tool that allows you to save files to numerous destinations such as external hard drives, cloud services, NAS, and so on. You won't have to worry about the tool not working because it has a simple operation and superior technical support.
Furthermore, it guarantees that disks/partitions are backed up and create a system image, allowing you to restore your device to its former condition if your computer crashes or the hard drive fails.
Another appealing feature of EaseUS Todo Backup is its variety of backup types, such as compressed backup, differential backup and incremental backup, which File History lacks. You may create a more customized backup strategy and save more storage space by employing them.
Action speaks louder than words. Download and give it a shot, and you won't be disappointed.
Here is a brief review of EaseUS Todo Backup features.
Check: Best free backup software of 2022 from Techradar.com
Check: [2022] Top 5 Best Free Windows Backup Software on YouTube
The reasons for File History not working can be various. Either a connection problem or backup drive space insufficient can be the culprit of File History not working. Here we will list several common reasons for File History not working problem. You could check whether it is the reason why you can't use File History.
First of all, a bad connection can represent a variety of situations. First, your computer cannot recognize the connected backup disk. Second, your computer can recognize the backup disk but you cannot write to it. Third, the backup disk is damaged or not connected. Either situation can be called a bad connection, and you need to find out which one is the cause.
Secondly, File History would save different copies of content on a regular base. If the backup frequency you set is too high or the backup content is too large, and the File History backup file is not set to be deleted regularly, after a long period of use, your backup disk may have insufficient space to store any one of the new back-ups.
The last reason is not your fault, nor the File History's. Quite a few users have reported that after updating the Windows system, File History cannot be used normally. This is just a bug brought by the Windows update, you don't have to worry about it. Maybe this issue could be solved after another update. But we're responsible to tell you a truth: Microsoft has gradually led its users to third-party Windows backup and recovery software for backups of not only files but also the operating system. As one of all the possbile solutions on this page, we'll cover the best File History alternative's benefits for you, as the last fixing method.
What Is the Best Free Backup Software in 2022
Choosing the best backup software is not an easy task, you should not only consider the backup quality but also take the interface and the convenience of restoring a backup file into account...
This is all about how to fix File History not working properly. There are 5 available ways for you to try to solve the problem. You can try them one by one until you find the File History is back to normal. Due to the limits of File History could help you protect your computer, never hesitate to give EaseUS free backup software a try!
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