File History is a built-in Windows backup tool that automatically saves older versions of your libraries and Desktop to an external drive or network folder. BackupOnShutdown lets you choose folders directly and start a local backup yourself, with the option to shut down afterward. Windows Backup is a third option: it syncs selected standard folders to OneDrive and remembers apps and settings for a new PC.
What does File History save?
File History is still available in Windows 10 and Windows 11. Microsoft has deprecated the separate System Image Backup feature in Backup and Restore (Windows 7) — that does not mean File History has been removed.
To enable File History, connect your backup drive, open Control Panel, go to System and Security, and choose Save backup copies of your files with File History, then Turn on. It saves regular copies of your libraries and Desktop to the selected drive or network location. To include another folder, add it to a library.
To recover a file, right-click its containing folder in File Explorer and choose Restore previous versions. Select the version you need, then restore it. Restoring to the original location replaces current files; choose Restore to… from the restore menu if you want to keep both copies. Microsoft's File History guide walks through the options.
If your libraries cover everything you need, File History is a useful free choice that runs automatically.
What should you check if File History will not turn on?
If File History doesn't recognize the drive or asks you to reconnect it, start with these checks:
- Make sure the external drive is connected or the network folder is accessible.
- Open File History in Control Panel and check the selected drive; use Select drive to choose it again if necessary.
- If a particular folder is missing from the backup, check that it belongs to a library.
These checks won't solve every Windows error, but they help distinguish a connection or folder-selection problem from a problem with File History itself. If you switch tools, keep your existing File History copies until you've tested restoring from the new backup.
How is Windows Backup different?
Windows Backup uses a personal Microsoft account; work or school accounts aren't supported by the app. It syncs the standard folders you select — Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Videos, and Music — to OneDrive. It also remembers supported apps and settings to help you set up a new PC, rather than saving an image of their installed files. Microsoft's Windows Backup guide explains the setup.
OneDrive also has file version history, so the cloud copy isn't limited to the latest version. Check how much OneDrive storage your files need; additional space may cost extra.
This is a convenient choice if you want files available on another computer through your Microsoft account. For a separate drive you can unplug and store elsewhere, choose a local backup tool.
When does BackupOnShutdown fit?
BackupOnShutdown runs on 64-bit Windows 10 and 11, and also on macOS 13 or later with Apple Silicon. You choose the folders to save, including folders outside Windows libraries, and one or more backup locations: an external drive, a USB stick, or a network folder your PC can already access.
Its restic engine stores changed data and reuses data already saved, so later backups don't need another full copy of every file. The global Keep old versions setting controls which saved versions remain; it defaults to 1 year. It keeps a selection of versions, not every backup made during that year.
Use Back up & shut down at the end of the day after saving your work in other programs. Windows will close those programs during shutdown. If the backup fails, is cancelled, or skips unreadable files, the PC stays on. Shutting down from the Start menu doesn't start a backup, and the app has no scheduler.
BackupOnShutdown saves files and folders, rather than a disk image for reinstalling Windows on an empty machine. It includes open files only when started as administrator. A NAS can be a backup location, but backups of UNC network source folders cannot currently be restored in the app.
Password protection is optional and off by default. Without it, anyone with the drive can open the backup; if you enable it, keep the password somewhere safe because it cannot be recovered.
For practical setup details, see backup locations, keeping old versions, and backing up before shutdown.
Which backup approach suits you?
| File History | Windows Backup | BackupOnShutdown | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Files covered | Libraries and Desktop | Selected standard folders | The folders you choose |
| Where files go | External drive or network folder | OneDrive | One or more drives or accessible network folders |
| When it runs | Automatically after setup | Through OneDrive sync | When you use the app's button or optional desktop shortcut |
| Older versions | File History versions | OneDrive version history | Selected versions under your retention setting |
| Account needed | No | Personal Microsoft account | No account in the app |
| Whole-system disk image | No | No | No |
Whichever local tool you choose, use a separate drive and keep a copy away from the PC if you need protection against theft or fire. A backup drive doesn't have to be disconnected to survive a PC failure, but it must survive the same incident.
BackupOnShutdown is a one-time purchase: as of October 2026, a license costs 39 EUR, 34 GBP, or 39 CHF, including VAT where applicable. The backup without a subscription guide explains the license and compares free alternatives.
Download BackupOnShutdown to try it free for 14 days, with no credit card. The pricing page shows the price in your currency.
File History, Windows Backup, and OneDrive are trademarks of their respective owners. BackupOnShutdown is not affiliated with or endorsed by them.