How to enable Previous Versions to recover files on Windows 11

On Windows 11, the “Previous Versions” feature allows you to recover files from File Explorer, and in this guide, you will learn how.

The “Previous Versions” feature works by creating copies of files (and folders) automatically every time a shadow copy is created manually or automatically, which happens every time a restore point or a File History copy is created.

If you want to be able to recover lost or accidentally deleted files, you can enable the feature by setting up File History, System Restore, or Shadow copies.

This guide will teach you the ways to enable Previous Versions to undelete and restore previous revisions of files stored on your device running Windows 11.

Enable Previous Versions from File History
Enable Previous Versions from Restore Point
Enable Previous Versions from Shadow copies
Recover previous versions of files on Windows 11

Enable Previous Versions from File History

To enable Previous Versions from File History on Windows 11, connect an external drive to the computer, and use these steps:

Open Start on Windows 11.
Search Control Panel and select the top result to open the app.
Click on System and Security.
Click on File History.
Click the “Turn on” button if the backup drive already shows in the list.

Once you complete the steps, every backup revision that File History crates on Windows 11 will become available to restore files using “Previous Versions” in File Explorer.

Enable Previous Versions from System Restore

To enable System Restore to recover files on Windows 11, use these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on System.
Under the “Device specifications” section, click the System protection option.
Under the “Protection Settings” section, select the system drive (C) and click the Configure button.
Select the “Turn on system protection” option.
Click the Apply button.
Click the OK button.
Click the Create button.
Specify a description for the restore point. For example, Restore Point “date” and “time.”
Click the Create button.
Click the Close button.

Click the OK button.

After you complete the steps, you can use the restore points to restore previous versions of files. However, unless you create new restore points manually, the number of previous versions will be limited on your computer.

Enable Previous Versions from Shadow copies

It’s also possible to use the “Volume Shadow Copy” feature with Task Scheduler to create copies of the data on the drive to recover files.

To configure Volume Shadow Copy to enable Previous Versions on Windows 11, use these steps:

Open Start.
Right-click the Task Scheduler Library folder and select the New Folder option.
Type any name for the folder (for example, MyTasks) and click the OK button.
Right-click the recently created folder and select the Create Task option.
Confirm a name for the task in the “Name” box.
Under the “General” tab, under the “Security options” section, select the “Run whether user is logged on or not” option under the “Security options” section.
Clear the “Do not store password” option.
Click on the “Triggers” tab.
Click the New button.
Select the “On a schedule” option in the “Begin the task” drop-down menu.
Under the “Settings” section, select when to run the task, such as “Daily.” (Whatever option you select, specify the “Start” settings on the right side.)
Click the OK button.
Click the “Actions” tab and click the New Button.
Select the “Start a program” option from the “Actions” drop-down menu.
Type the following command in the “Program/script” box:
```
wmic
```
Type the following command in the “Add arguments” box:
```
shadowcopy call create Volume=C:
```
Quick note: Update the command with the correct drive letter if you want to make copies of files located on another driver.
Click the OK button.
Click the “Settings” tab.
Check the “Allow task to be run on demand,” “Run task as soon as possible after a scheduled start is missed,” and “If the task fails, restart every” option.
Confirm your admin username and password (if applicable).
Click the OK button.

Once you complete the steps, the task will run on the schedule to create volume shadow copies, which you can then use to restore files using Previous Versions of Windows 11.

Recover previous versions of files on Windows 11

To restore previous versions of a file on Windows 11, use these steps:

Open File Explorer.
Right-click the parent folder with the file to restore and select the Properties option.
Click the Previous Versions tab.
Under the “File versions” section, select the file version to recover and click the arrow button next to the Restore button.
Select the Restore To option.
Select the location to restore the file (or folder).
Click the Select folder button to restore the files.

After you complete the steps, the file will be restored to the specified location on Windows 11.