Windows 10 File History Not Working? Get Solutions Here

Windows 10 File History Not Working

Window 10 File History is a backup utility for you to backup personal files in libraries, Desktop, Contacts, and Favorites folder to external hard drive, or network location on a regular basis (saved every hour by default). If you would like to backup other files, you may need to move these files to these folders to backup.

However, many users complained about file history Windows 10 not working error, as the following errors:

• Error 1: File History doesn’t recognize this drive. Select another drive

• Error 2: No usable drive was found, we recommend that you use an external drive for File History. Connect a drive and refresh this page, or use a network location.

• Error 3: Your PC is protected by Bitlocker Drive Encryption, but your file History drive is not.

• Error 4: File history has found files that are encrypted with Encrypting File System, on a network location, or on a drive that doesn’t use the NTFS file system, these files won’t be backed up.

How to fix file history not working in Windows 10 easily? Don’t worry, we will help you to fix these errors one by one in the following words. Also, you can directly use one more powerful file backup software to acheive the same effect.

I strongly recommend you using AOMEI Backupper Standard, it not only allows you to backup user files, but also other files. And it has more flexible backup frequencies and helps you save much disk space by backing up only changes or reducing its image size.

Solutions to File History Not working in Windows 10

Find corresponding solutions to File History Windows 10 not working errors in this part:

☝Solutions to Error 1 and 2

☝Solution to Error 3: Decrypt Bitlocker Drive Encryption

☝Solutions to Error 4: Decrypt EFS Files or Remove Network Paths

Solutions to Error 1 and 2

If you got File History doesn’t recognize this drive or no usable drive was found error, and your files will not be backed up automatically. And two solutions listed below to make things right:

Solution 1: Turn on File History

Sometimes, you will get this error when the file history was turned off unintentional or manually delete the file history drive. Now, please turn on the file history first:

1. Input File History in Windows Search box, and select the File History to open it.

2. Click Turn on button to restart File history to backup your personal files.

Or you could go Start -> Settings -> Update & Security -> Backup -> turn on automatically back up my files in Back up using File History section.

Now, check if the error solved. How do you check if the file history is working? You could click Advanced settings. Click Open File History event logs to view recent events or errors (Event Viewer) in Event logs section.

 And you will see all specific details about what happened in File History.

Besides, it is apparently running with File History is saving copies of your files message.

Solution 2: Reconnect Your File History Drive or Select Another Drive

To reconnect your file history drive to Windows 10, or select another hard drive to fix File History doesn’t recognize this drive and save the Windows 10 file history backup, refer to the guide:

1. Connect your hard drive and Choose Select Drive at the left panel in File History.

2. Tap the original file history drive or another hard drive, and click Next. If you would like to backup to network drive, click Add network location.

Then the file history stopped working error should be solved. 

Solution to Error 3: Decrypt Bitlocker Drive Encryption

For Error 3, you have to turn off BitLocker for your computer.

1. Go Start -> Control Panel -> System and Security -> Bitlocker Drive Encryption.

2. Find the drive you want to decrypt, and click Turn off Bitlocker option.

3. Input your password to unlock this drive or use a smart card to unlock.

Then the error should be fixed.

Solutions to Error 4: Decrypt EFS Files or Remove Network Paths

As we know, File History could not backup encrypted file system (efs) files. If you get these files won’t be backed up (File history has found files that are encrypted with Encrypting File System) error, make sure there is no encrypted files (use cipher to decrypt these files), or mapped drives. To decrypted file or folders:

• Find the file or folder in Windows Explorer,

• Right-click it and choose Properties -> General tab, and then click Advanced.

• Uncheck the Encrypt contents to secure data option, and then click OK.

And you may need to do the below steps for all those folders (Libraries, Contacts, Desktop, Favorites, etc.) to check network paths, take Libraries for example to remove all network paths for each library:

• Open This PC.

• Right-click in the left panel area and choose Show Libraries.

• Right-click each library and select Properties.

• Choose any network paths, and click Remove in Library locations.

Besides, you may find Windows 10 file history keeps stopping while backing up, it’s so frustrating. Although, you could use Windows Backup and Restore to backup your files and folders, please note that create a system image not working for USB drive in Windows 10/8/7.

How to backup files in Windows 10 while File History not working

If you cannot fix Windows 10 File History not working issue, it's a wise choice to try other Windows 10 backup software. AOMEI Backupper Standard is an excellent option due to the following advantages:

• It not only supports backing up files, but also executes it automatically. system, disk or partition backup are available as well.  
• By default, it backup only changed files with Incremental Backup.
• And you are able to backup files to external hard drives, internal hard drives, NAS, USB/DVD/CD, etc.
• Besides, it still supports other useful features, such as, Create Bootable Media. It helps you boot computer when it fails. 

And all the operations are based on the intuitive interface, so you can easily backup files and folders with this software. Please download and install it on your computer. 

(PS: This software only applies to Windows 11/10/8/7/XP/Vista. For server users, try AOMEI Backupper Server.)

1. Run AOMEI Backupper Standard and select Backup -> File Backup.

2. Click Add Folder or Add File to add the files that you would like to backup.

3. Select a destination path to save the image file, external hard drive, or network drive is recommended. Afterward,  press Start Backup button to create Windows 10 file backup.

Wait until the process completes, you will have a copy of file at the moment you back it up. If you change some of the files later, it will not be included. 

To keep all the changes, you need to set Schedule Backup and backup files automatically. You can choose among Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Event trigger, and USB plug in. The last two premium features are available on the professional version.

By default this software will create one full backup and 6 incremental backups if you set a scheduled backup task. This may result in backup disk full issue, in the long run, thus it's suggested to enable Backup Scheme and delete backup file automatically. You have 3 options, By quantity,  By time, By daily/weekly/monthly. You need to upgrade now (5% off for one computer) before using it. 

And the incremental backup has a high requirement for recovery while the differential backup is much easier. For differences between them, learn my previous article: Incremental or Differential Backup.

Besides, you still can enable email notification to confirm if the task is complete or not. Comment, split, compress the backup image, or select a backup mode, etc. 

Besides, you could perform file sync to keep its original structure or partition clone to clone all your personal files. 

★ How to backup files to AOMEI Cloud

There is a growing trend to backup files to cloud storage. You can backup files to AOMEI Cloud if you have an AOMEI account. You'll get 1TB free storage for 15 days after you sign up for an AOMEI account.

Wrapping up

This article tells you how to resolve Windows 10 file history not working problem in different situations, just try methods available for you. Also, it's a wise choice to use free file backup software - AOMEI Backupper Standard to backup files. The backup frequencies are more flexible, and you can choose to backup only changes with Incremental Backup, reduce the backup image size by Normal or High compression level, etc. 

In advanced edition, you can still enjoy rich backup features, such as, Differential Backup, Automatic Backup Cleanup, Event trigger, USB plug in, etc. And you can clone Windows 10 to NVMe, migrate MBR HDD to GPT SSD, clone SSD to larger SSD, etc. Its Technician or TechPlus edition supports up to unlimited PCs or servers. Check the edition comparison page for details.