Windows 11 Is Not Letting Me Add Files for File History

HairyChickens on 18/12/2021 - 21:46
Last edited 20/12/2021 - 00:58

Hi everyone, I am a frequent user of Windows File History for backing up small files like word docs etc to my network drive in case I lose them. I am aware that file history is a little dodgy but I have been able to work through it and it has been very useful.

My friend recently was interested in setting up File History however I can only enable File History through control panel and not Settings like in Windows 10. The problem is, in control panel you can only exclude files and not add like in Windows 10. This leaves the issue of specific files in the Documents folder not being backed up while the files in the desktop are.

Is there anyway to fix this or should I finally look into third-party software? (Any suggestions?)

Thanks

Edit:
I was able to get it working again by editing the two Config files for File History located in Appdata and adding the required folders that needed to be backed up.

Computing Microsoft Operating System

Comments

  • kusama on 18/12/2021 - 21:57

    I don't know much about this feature (and Microsoft probably want to kill it), but it looks like it backs up libraries.

    So try this. Right click the missing folder > Show more Options > Include in Library

    • HairyChickens on 18/12/2021 - 22:42

      Yeh I think file history is cooked on win 11 might find a good third party then

    • HairyChickens on 20/12/2021 - 01:00

      Was able to get it working again after realising that I can edit the Config files. The same thing happens in Windows 10 just more user-friendly in the Settings app.

      File History lives on for now.

  • vinnychase on 18/12/2021 - 22:03

    Microsoft probably finds this feature to be a threat to their Onedrive service and thus will probably try to handicap it as much as possible going forward

  • MS Paint on 18/12/2021 - 22:48
    +1

    Save everything you want to back up into a Hairychickens folder (and then appropriate subfolders) and then just occasionally backup hairychickens.

    Eg.

    -> Hairychickens
    —> docs
    —> excel
    —> spankbank
    —> cctv_step-sister

    Seems easier to me than hunting down random files from file history.

    Or am I not reading your requirements correctly?

    • foxmulder on 19/12/2021 - 09:10

      Step-sister :) This - for the backup for the entire folder. I use MS Sync Toy to sync folder from one folder to a portable hard drive.i believe you can do the same for network folder and not sure for Win11 as I only knows it for Win10 and Win7

  • stephendt on 19/12/2021 - 12:09

    File History was trash 5 years ago, I'm sure it's still trash now.

    Use a proper backup system - I recommend Veeam Agent for Windows. There is a free community version and it will do proper system imaging to an external or network drive. Combine this with cloud storage (eg. Google Drive / OneDrive) and you have a solid setup. If you are the paranoid type then Syncthing has a file history system as well.

    • HairyChickens on 19/12/2021 - 12:16

      Hmm, might try it out. They did give me free t-shirts after all ;)

      Also, I wonder if the Acronis Software that came with my NVMe SSD I bought can do backups. Maybe even multiple devices??

    • HairyChickens on 20/12/2021 - 01:00

      Was able to get it working again after editing the config files :)

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