Here's how to back up your files with Windows 10's built-in feature, File History.
By Ian Paul
Windows 10’s File History is an easy way to get started with backing up your personal files since it comes built-in to your system.
File History takes snapshots of your files as you go and stores them on an external hard drive either connected over USB or your home network.
Over time, File History builds up a library of past versions of your documents that you can recover if need be. Say, for example, you really liked a paragraph from the first draft of an essay, but you deleted it long ago and are now battling regret. You can dip into File History, retrieve the right version of your document, and copy the paragraph.
Windows 10’s File History is an essential part of any PC backup strategy, but it’s only
one part. Ideally, you’d have your files in three places: the working copy on your internal hard drive, a local backup that you can access straight away, and a remote backup that keeps your files safe offsite. That way, if anything ever happens to your house such as a fire, flood, or tornado, the third copy is still safely tucked away in the remote location.
The easiest way to take care of the remote backup is to use an online backup service. We’ve got a separate article dedicated to reviews and purchasing advice for online backup. While you’re at it, check out our look at the best external drives for backup, storage, and portability to get a quality drive for your local File History backups.
To get started with File History in the latest version of Windows 10, open the Settings app and go to Update & Security > Backup.