How to remove folders from File History


  1. ALN
    Posts : 71
    Windows10 Pro
       #1

    How to remove folders from File History


    Running out of space on my external drive where I keep File History. So I want to delete a very large folder (Pictures) from History since I have it backed up another way. I removed the folder from File History Backup Options (Settings>Update & Security>Backup>More Options>Backup these folders), and then ran File Cleanup (Control Panel>File History>Advanced Settings>Clean up versions).

    As I understand it, that should remove all versions older than the selected time frame AND all folders no longer in the noted in the File History Backup Options (where I removed my Pictures folder). But the Pictures Folder is still in File History.

    What is the best/easiest way to delete it from File History?
      My Computers


  2. Posts : 68,652
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #2

    Hello ALN, :)

    You could exclude the folder from File History to no longer have it included on the backup.

    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/55245-file-history-exclude-folders-windows-10-a.html

    That's correct, you can use File History Cleanup to select to "delete all but the latest one".

    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/5...dows-10-a.html
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  3. ALN
    Posts : 71
    Windows10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Brink said:
    Hello ALN, :)

    You could exclude the folder from File History to no longer have it included on the backup.

    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/55245-file-history-exclude-folders-windows-10-a.html

    That's correct, you can use File History Cleanup to select to "delete all but the latest one".

    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/5...dows-10-a.html
    Thanks Brink for the quick reply! I had no problem removing the folder from the list of items to be backed up in the the Backup Settings. However, the folder was already backed up and now resides in the backup files on my external drive - that is where I am trying to delete them.
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 68,652
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #4

    After excluding the folder, you could manually create a new File History backup, then use File History Cleanup to select to "delete all but the latest one" to no longer have the folder in a backup.

    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/5...dows-10-a.html
      My Computers


  5. ALN
    Posts : 71
    Windows10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Brink said:
    After excluding the folder, you could manually create a new File History backup, then use File History Cleanup to select to "delete all but the latest one" to no longer have the folder in a backup.

    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/5...dows-10-a.html
    OK, I did that, but the Pictures folder is still in the backup on the external drive. First, I deleted the Pictures folder from the list of folders to be backed up, and then did a manual backup, and then did the File History Cleanup and selected "delete all but the latest one." Pictures folder was still there in the back up. I then checked the list of folders to be backed up, and noticed that the Pictures folder was included again - even thought I deleted it prior to the manual backup. I then deleted it again, closed Settings and re-opened Settings and, sure enough, the Pictures folder re-appeared in the list of folders to be backed up. Seems like Windows will not let me delete it from the list, even though it appears to do so. So next, I added the Pictures folder to the Exclude list and did the manual backup/History Clean up routine - same results: still have the folder in my back up. Any other ideas?
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 68,652
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #6

    Under "Back up these folders" in Settings, you should be able to click on the Pictures folder, and click on Remove like below to prevent it from being included in future backups.

    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/5...a.html#option2

    How to remove folders from File History-folders.png
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 1
    10
       #7

    Remove folders from File History


    • I had the same problem, and I solved in this way:
      Control Panel -> System and Security-> File History -> Turn off
      Settings -> Update & Security -> Backup -> More options -> Stop using this drive
      Delete the File History folder in your external drive.
      Start using File History again.
      After performing these steps, I can easily add folders to "Excluded Folders" and they remain excluded. I checked in the actual files and folders saved on the external disk, and it works.
      I did not modify the default settings about how often and how long backup is saved, File History is working ok now. So I guess it is important to click "Stop using this drive" in order to reset File History.
      Hope this will be helpful
      My Computer


  8. ALN
    Posts : 71
    Windows10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Brink said:
    Under "Back up these folders" in Settings, you should be able to click on the Pictures folder, and click on Remove like below to prevent it from being included in future backups.

    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/5...a.html#option2

    How to remove folders from File History-folders.png
    That does not work. Even though I do the delete from the "Back up these folders" from the list, it still backs it up - and when I close out of Settings and then go back in, the folder re-appears in the list.

    However, Mila's suggestion worked. Is it possible that folders in my Library cannot be removed from the "Back up these folders" list?
      My Computers


  9. ALN
    Posts : 71
    Windows10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #9

    mila parker said:
    • I had the same problem, and I solved in this way:
      Control Panel -> System and Security-> File History -> Turn off
      Settings -> Update & Security -> Backup -> More options -> Stop using this drive
      Delete the File History folder in your external drive.
      Start using File History again.
      After performing these steps, I can easily add folders to "Excluded Folders" and they remain excluded. I checked in the actual files and folders saved on the external disk, and it works.
      I did not modify the default settings about how often and how long backup is saved, File History is working ok now. So I guess it is important to click "Stop using this drive" in order to reset File History.
      Hope this will be helpful
    That did it - Thank you Mila!
      My Computers


 

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