how to move file history to a new drive

Daniel Parker

3 min read

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16-01-2025

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Meta Description: Learn how to effortlessly move your Windows File History backup to a new drive, freeing up space and ensuring data safety. This comprehensive guide provides step-by-step instructions for relocating your File History backup, covering troubleshooting and best practices. Optimize your storage and protect your precious files – follow our easy guide today!

Why Move Your File History?

File History, a built-in Windows feature, automatically backs up your important files. Over time, this backup can consume significant hard drive space. Moving File History to a new drive—like a larger hard drive or an external drive—offers several key advantages:

• Free Up Space: Relocating your backup frees up valuable space on your primary drive, improving system performance.
• Increased Storage: A larger drive ensures you have enough space for future backups, preventing data loss.
• Data Redundancy: Storing backups on a separate drive adds an extra layer of protection against hard drive failure.
• Improved Backup Speed: Using a faster drive (e.g., an SSD) can dramatically speed up your backup process.

How to Move File History to a New Drive (Step-by-Step)

Here's how to seamlessly transfer your File History backup:

Step 1: Connect the New Drive

Connect your new drive to your computer. Ensure it's properly detected in File Explorer. If it's an external drive, make sure it's powered on and connected securely.

Step 2: Stop File History

Before moving the backup, you must stop the File History service. This prevents accidental data loss during the transfer:

1. Open the Control Panel. (Search for "Control Panel" in the Windows search bar.)
2. Go to System and Security, then click on File History.
3. Click Pause. This will stop the ongoing backup process.

Step 3: Locate the Current File History Backup

File History typically stores backups in a hidden folder. To locate it:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Type %systemdrive%\FileHistory into the address bar and press Enter. (Replace %systemdrive% with C: if your main drive is C.)
3. This will open the folder containing your File History backup.

Step 4: Copy the File History Folder

You'll now copy this folder to your new drive. This is a large folder; it may take some time.

1. Select the entire FileHistory folder.
2. Right-click and select Copy.
3. Navigate to the desired location on your new drive.
4. Right-click and select Paste.

Step 5: Configure File History to Use the New Drive

Once the copying is complete, you need to tell File History to use the new location:

1. Open Control Panel > System and Security > File History.
2. Click Select a drive.
3. Choose your new drive from the list of available drives.
4. Click OK.

Step 6: Resume File History

Now you can resume File History backups to the new drive:

1. In the File History window, click Resume.

Step 7: Verify the Backup

After a short while, check that new backups are being stored on the new drive. Open File Explorer and navigate to the new File History location. You should see new backup files being created.

Important Note: Do not delete the old File History folder until you've verified that File History is successfully backing up to the new drive. Once you're sure everything is working correctly, you can safely delete the old folder to reclaim the space.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

• Insufficient Permissions: Ensure you have the necessary permissions to access and modify folders on both drives.
• Drive Space: Verify the new drive has enough free space to accommodate your existing and future backups.
• File History Not Starting: If File History doesn't start, restart your computer. If the problem persists, check the File History service settings in the Services app (search for "Services" in the Windows search bar).

Best Practices for File History

• Regularly Check Backup Status: Ensure your File History is running smoothly and backing up regularly.
• Choose a Reliable Drive: Use a high-quality drive known for its reliability and data retention.
• Consider External Hard Drives: External drives offer an extra layer of data security.

By following these steps, you can easily move your File History to a new drive, ensuring your valuable files are safe and you have ample storage space. Remember to always test and verify your backups after making any changes.