Fixed | Windows 10 Backup Is Disabled? 3 Tricks for Activating Backup

Jean updated on Feb 26, 2024 to Backup and Recovery | How-to Articles

Backup becomes meaningless when Windows 10 backup is disabled. Try some fixing methods here to enable the Windows backup program to work again. If tuning on File History still failed, it is time to change your default backup plan with a third-party Windows backup software.

What Are Windows 10 Backup Options? 

Regularly creating Windows 10 backup means preventing your system from data loss in case of any error or hardware failure. Microsoft has designed two backup tools: File History Windows 10 and Backup & Restore.

These two integrated tools by Microsoft offer immediate backup solutions, but sometimes things can go wrong unexpectedly due to unwanted issues. Certain errors may lead people to complain that the Windows backup is disabled. When this happens, people try to access the given Microsoft backup tools but fail. It gives them nothing but blank boxes with no option.

You can, however, experience such instances when Windows 10 backup does not function properly or is disabled, and your data is not sufficiently protected. This article will explain all the potential methods to check and fix if the windows backup is disabled. 

How to Tell If Windows 10 Backup Is Disabled? 

If you are confused about how to find if the windows backup is disabled or if you have tried to check the backup running status and still there is no file backup? You need to check the File History to know if Windows 10 backup is disabled.

There are two ways to find the File History in the Windows system: Windows Settings and Control Panel. We will introduce you to how to check and set up File History in these settings.

  1. Method 1. Find File History in Windows Settings
  2. Method 2. Set up Windows 10 Backup from File History in Control Panel

Method 1. Find File History in Windows Settings

Checking File History status using window settings is a straightforward and safe method. You need to explore just a few following options: 

Step 1. Click on the "Windows icon" in the bottom left corner of the taskbar or Press "Windows Key" and select "Settings".

Step 2. Under the Settings Window, find the last "Update & Security" option and click on it. 

Step 3. On the next screen, navigate the "Backup" option in the left panel. Now, you will find the Back up using File History at the top right area.

Step 4. If no folder is selected, click the "plus icon" under "Add a Drive" to choose your desired backup destination. 

Method 2. Set up Windows 10 Backup from File History in Control Panel

Control Panel is an easy method to customize any computer setting. However, people quickly search through the search bar feature while the control panel is still convenient to find most of the computer settings. Follow these quick steps to check the File History anytime through the control panel. 

Step 1. Go to the search bar and type Control Panel

Step 2. Click to open the control panel, and under the sort by option, select "View by" and then choose "small icons".

Step 3. Once all the control panel settings appear, choose the "File History" setting. 

Step 4. If it is turned on, check the backup location and if the File History is off, Turn it on and then select the drive to back up files. 

If you have checked the File history using both settings and even the Windows 10 backup is disabled, you need to fix the errors using any of the methods mentioned below. 

Three Methods for Activating Windows 10 Backup

  1. Method 1. Download Fail-proof and Free Backup Software - EaseUS Todo Backup
  2. Method 2. Turn on Windows Search
  3. Method 3. Run DISM to Repair Corrupted System Files

We will introduce you to three methods for activating the disabled backup in your Windows 10. We have mentioned all the essential details to help you in any way. However, if you have not used the windows settings or Command Prompt options, we recommend you use the first method to get quick and reliable backup results. 

Method 1. Download Fail-proof and Free Backup Software - EaseUS Todo Backup

Manually fixing all types of Windows backup issues can be annoying and time-consuming. Therefore, we suggest using free, reliable, and trustworthy back software. EaseUS Todo Backup is one of the top listed backup software worldwide because it offers top-notch features to back up files, systems, partitions, external drives, backup drives, and disks with ease.

When you download the software, you will encounter its simple user interface. Its UI is dedicated to maintaining usability, and people can use it without any hassle. It is the top solution to creating standard backup solutions if the Windows 10 backup is disabled. 

You might be wondering if this backup software is offering essential functionality for free or not. Well, we are happy to say that you will get all the advanced backup options for free such as incremental backup (incremental backup software), encrypted backup, backup frequency, etc. Additionally, the software offers scheduling capabilities, allowing users to schedule backups daily, weekly, or monthly.

Using EaseUS Todo Backup, you need not worry about the hassle of manually fixing the in-build backup utilities of your Windows 10. This tool not only offers you all the similar backup standards for free but also provides you access to more advanced and quick options.  So, we will provide you with the detailed steps you can follow to use EaseUS Todo Backup:

Step 1. On the main page, click "Select backup contents".

Step 2. Among the four available categories, click OS.

Step 3. EaseUS Todo Backup will automatically select your system partition, you only need to select the backup destination.

Step 4. Both Local Drive and NAS are available for you to save the backup file.

Step 5. After finishing the backup process, you can check the backup status, recover, open, or delete the backup by right-clicking the backup task on the left.

Method 2. Turn on Windows Search

Windows Search is a convenient feature to look for Windows backup or any content on your computer. This feature makes it very helpful to find any file through the Windows search box. 

If you are a file history Windows user, ensure that the Windows search option is already enabled. You will not be able to navigate any function under the File History in case, it is disabled. Follow these steps to turn on Windows Search.

Step 1. Open the C Drive in Windows Explorer, then go to the File History folder and delete it. The folder will be:users/username/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/FileHistory

Step 2. In the lower-left corner of your Windows PC open the search bar or press the "Windows key + S", then type Services and open it.

Step 3. Scroll down and look for Windows Search, in the Name column. 

Step 4. Double click it to open the Windows Search Properties.

Step 5. Expand the Startup type drop menu, by clicking the down arrow icon.

Step 6. Choose the option of Automatic (Delayed Start), and then click "Apply" to proceed.

Step 7: Click the "Start" button and then select "OK". 

Save changes and return the File History to check if you get the backed-up data. If you still cannot get it, try the next solution. 

Method 3. Run DISM to Repair Corrupted System Files

When you notice that the backup is disabled in Windows 10, check if it has missing or corrupted files in the system. Here we will show you how to figure out and fix the disabled Windows backup using DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management). Please walk through these steps to use DISM:

Step 1. Go to the search bar and type cmd

Step 2. Right-click on the "Command Prompt" to select "Run" as administrator. 

Step 3. Type the command DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth and press "Enter". 

Notice:
It will check corrupted system files on your computer.

Step 4. Type the following command and press "Enter". See if it has detected any corruption.

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth

After you run the given commands, you will encounter the health of your system and find if the files are healthy, repairable, or irreparable.

Step 5. If there are issues with your system, use the following DISM with the RestoreHealth command DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and press "Enter" to scan and repair those common issues.

Tip:
Please do not turn off or restart the computer until the process is complete. It may take ten to twenty minutes. It will repair the corrupted files.

More Problems Found Because Windows 10 Is Disabled

If your Windows 10 backup is disabled, it can be the cause following errors in your system.

  • Windows 10 backup does not recognize the external hard drive.

It happens due to inappropriate connections, or drive corruption while backing up the data, so the Windows system does not recognize the hard drive.

  • Windows 10 backup starts and stops.

This error is caused by the incomplete backup process, file format, or file corruption that the backup process fails to save. 

  • Windows 10 backup cannot select a drive.

File history does not recognize this drive, which may also be due to Windows 10. A corrupt drive or an improper connection could also be the cause.

  • Windows 10 backup add folder not working.

A backup process may fail to back up all files if the file format or file corruption is the cause. 

Disabled Windows 10 Backup FAQs

We have tried to resolve your different queries related to the problem of Windows 10 backup here in this guide. If you still have some, hopefully, the given FAQs will solve those perfectly.

1. How do I enable Windows backup?

Go to the search box on the taskbar, or press Windows + s and type Control Panel. Now, click on it to open and choose System and Security > Backup and Restore (Windows 7). Choose another backup to restore files from, select the destination of your storage drive, and create the backup of all your files.

2. Why is my Windows 10 backup not working?

It may be because your windows backup process fails unexpectedly due to certain errors, and it may cause file corruption. To enable the windows backup, you need to remove the root folder of windows backup from the c drive. Once removed, add a new folder, and it will solve the issue.

3. How to enable File History backup in Windows 10?

Enabling the File History backup in Windows 10 is a beneficial choice to start your disabled windows backup feature. To do so, open start menu and then Settings>a Update & Security > Backup > Add a drive.

Conclusion

We have high hopes that you have known how to tell if Windows 10 backup is disabled and grasped 3 quicks to fix this problem. The best solution is to use the free backup software,  EaseUS Todo Backup.