How to Reset the File History on Windows 11

The File History feature lets you create backups of important files and folders on an external storage device. Generally, this feature works well, but sometimes technical glitches or a corrupt database can cause disruptions.

To address such situations, the most effective approach is to reset the File History. So, let’s check out some quick ways to reset the File History on Windows 11.

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How to Reset File History Using File Explorer

The Windows File Explorer is usually used to access files and folders stored on your computer. But if you know the right approach, you can also use it to reset the File History. Here are the steps to do that:

1. Press the Win + E key to open the File Explorer. If this method doesn't work, check out other ways to open File Explorer on Windows.
2. Click the View option at the top, hover the cursor to Show and choose the Hidden items option.
3. Paste the following location in the address bar of the File Explorer and press Enter. %UserProfile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows
4. Press the Ctrl + A to select all the content inside the File History folder, and then press the Shift + Del hotkey to permanently delete them.

How to Reset File History Using Command Prompt

Command Prompt is an important Windows utility you can use to fix corrupt files, perform administrative tasks, clear file history, and much more. Here’s how to use this tool to reset File History on Windows 11:

1. Press the Win key to open the Start menu, type Command Prompt in the search bar and choose the Run as administrator option from the right pane.
2. Type the following command in the Command Prompt window, and press Enter. if exist "%UserProfile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\FileHistory" RD /S /Q "%UserProfile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\FileHistory"

Reset the File History to Its Defaults on Windows

These were all the methods to reset File History on Windows 11. While each method is useful, we recommend the first one for users who are new to the OS as it does not involve command-line utilities like Command Prompt, which might be complicated for beginners.

Meanwhile, you might be interested to know how to enable or disable File History in Windows.