My file history program has stopped functioning. I tried searching the internet for some of these error messages and I have not found anything that has a solution that works. I tried deleting the backup on my backup drive, and also deleting the file history data/configuration folders so it would "start fresh" and I still keep getting errors. Here are some of the errors: Also have gotten a bunch of different errors for "reparse points". This is one example. I tried to exclude some of these folders from the backup but it didn't seem to help. But how do I find and eliminate a "reparse point" so it doesn't cause the file history to fail? And why doesn't file history just ignore those folders and go on and back up everything else?

Same symptoms. The last files I see on my external drive under File History are from 7/14/26, so it's pretty obvious that it's related to KB5101650 or KB5100998. It is still staging files on C:, and I've wasted enough time trying to fix this. I'm hoping the next cumulative addresses it.

File History has recently stopped working for me. I have tried numerous fixes, including those mentioned by several of the other contributors. Nothing worked. This is very frustrating.

Whelp, I gave up and downloaded a free backup program. So that's the only advice I can give...... it works well! Microsoft won't let me post the name of it here lol BUT...... today my wife ran the latest updates on her computer and guess what? File history doesn't work for HER anymore either!!!! It keeps saying "files will be backed up to your computer until you connect your backup drive", even though it says right on the screen it is connected. so i reselected the drive and file history turned it self off, and now the "turn on" button does nothing. Certainly seems the process has been corrupted and won't work anymore. Honestly wondering if microsoft killed it on purpose because they want to sell cloud storage to people.

File History Fixed! - Sort of...Windows Account: Using Local AccountOneDrive: Disabled and all folders deletedBackup Hard Drives: WD My Passport Ultra (3 TB, USB) or USB thumb drivesSo I've had this problem recently, I don't know when it actually started because I haven't used it lately, but the symptoms are the same as the above posts. File History seemed to work but no files saved in the Data folder. I've spent 2 days trying every fix I can find and I finally got it to work by uninstalling Microsoft KB101650 Security Update. I guess I could try re-installing it, but I hate to take a chance on it. Good Luck to All!Update: After opening Windows Update these 2 Security updates were there to be installed:KB101650 and KB100998I saw no way to opt-out of either of these as Windows Update said they would be installed in the next restart, so I went ahead with the restart and installed them. File History did work OK after the install. So, was there something wrong with KB101650 or was it just a bad install? I'm sure I'll never know.Update: Problem came back when I tried to switch to a different drive for the Backup. I un-installed KB101650 again which has fixed the problem for now. I've delayed any Windows Updates so that it does not get re-installed. If this problem keeps coming back then I'll just use some other backup method of which there are many to choose from.

I have a similar problem. But in addition, although File History appears to be ready to run, it in fact does not. I click on "run now," and it starts to run, but stops right away. It is set up for the default of every hour (which I'll change if I ever get it to run), The data folder is empty and the "date modified" has not changed since it was set up. Nor does it appear in the task manager. Sure would like to get this working. Thanks.

File History has stopped functioning | Microsoft Community Hub

34 Replies

andre5007
Copper Contributor
Sep 10, 2026
Using a network share (win11 to win11) totally busted (can't attach share and turn on File History). Worked OK before 9/8/2026 updates.
PhilsFileHistory
Brass Contributor
Sep 09, 2026
OK, I'm going to stop beating my head against the MS wall. I believe since I signed out of OneDrive (which I refuse to use), the FileHistory utility will no longer work. At least that's what I suspect is going on.
Takket
Brass Contributor
Sep 09, 2026
Whelp, I gave up and downloaded a free backup program. So that's the only advice I can give...... it works well! Microsoft won't let me post the name of it here lol

BUT...... today my wife ran the latest updates on her computer and guess what? File history doesn't work for HER anymore either!!!! It keeps saying "files will be backed up to your computer until you connect your backup drive", even though it says right on the screen it is connected. so i reselected the drive and file history turned it self off, and now the "turn on" button does nothing. Certainly seems the process has been corrupted and won't work anymore.

Honestly wondering if microsoft killed it on purpose because they want to sell cloud storage to people.
- cjthelder
  Tin Contributor
  Sep 11, 2026
  I gave up relying on filehistory long ago. I, too, have an online backup service -- Carbonite -- which includes Webroot, IMO, an excellent antivirus. I check filehistory once in a while, just to see how it's doing: although it may have some important files saved, I don't think it would be sufficiently comprehensive in an emergency. FWIW.
- sheraton
  Iron Contributor
  Sep 09, 2026
  Takket
  We ask questions through the opinion response center.
sheraton
Iron Contributor
Sep 08, 2026
I am one of the victims, and I am furious with Microsoft for corrupting File History. Since the KB5101684/KB5120249 update, files can still be backed up to the D: drive normally. However, the "Last Backup" time in File History is not updating correctly. Newly created or saved Word documents, images, videos, etc., still show "No previous version available" in "Content → Previous Versions". No folders are corrected; their dates are automatically updated. File History was forcibly disabled after KB5124008/KB5120249, resulting in an "InconsistentState" entry in C:\Users\User\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\FileHistory\Configuration.
This is no longer a simple matter of "the time on the screen not updating."
This makes me reasonably suspect that the File History settings, indexing, or internal state management mechanism may be malfunctioning after Windows updates.
If files are indeed backed up, but Windows cannot correctly track, display, and restore versions, then this is a very serious backup reliability issue for users.
Microsoft, please stop being silent. Please answer Windows 10/11 users directly: Did KB5101684, KB5120249, and subsequent updates cause File History regression? If not, please provide technical evidence to explain the true cause.
If so, please acknowledge, investigate, and fix it as soon as possible. What we need is a formal answer and a real fix, not one temporary workaround after another. Please, Microsoft technical teams, take this issue seriously.
- MikeAnnandale
  Copper Contributor
  Sep 09, 2026
  Makes me want to switch to Apple. If it was 30 years ago I could make a batch file as a primitive and sloppy substitute but I don't even understand DOS anymore . . .
LarryM11
Copper Contributor
Sep 07, 2026
No more troubleshooters for this sort of thing anymore, eh?
Aguy
Copper Contributor
Sep 06, 2026
i be able to fix it but new problem keep showing up
first- i found out the File History stop updating the file's newer version, latest backup in File History is around 1-2 months ago

- I go to delete File History's files to set it up anew > but File History not accepting my drive > i find solution in the internet of deleting File History's cache, fixed > but File history now won't run, clicking "turn on" does nothing, seem to run but then stop, won't turning on > find solution in this site by putting code in CMD as administrator, fixed

BUT NOW, it duplicates files even if the file changes nothing, and as because it keep duplicating, the File Restore menu of File History won't show anything; it keeps saying that "File History is running for the first time..." > i continues to try, but I'm stuck here, files keep duplicating in File History's folders and won't allow me to open its menu to restore file, also there is no version of the file that is already has its backup in File History's folders

So yeah 😅 darkness on all sides, it working but can't use it to restore anything now, even if it keep duplicating the file, so i guess i can only manually pick the file's backup now
sheraton
Iron Contributor
Aug 31, 2026
What angered me the most was that when I asked customer service for the process record of our encountered files, they actually told me to reinstall the system. I was furious; their attitude was very passive.
shift7solutions
Copper Contributor
Aug 27, 2026
My last Successful FileHistory backup was 20July. This was the same time as KB101650 installed.

There are no files written to external drive.
```
Get-HotFix -Id KB5101650,KB5121003 -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Format-Table HotFixID,InstalledOn,Description

HotFixID InstalledOn Description
-------- ----------- -----------
KB5101650 20/07/2026 12:00:00 AM Security Update

fhmanagew.exe -backupnow does nothing.
I have reviewed all configurations. There is nothing remarkable in the eventlogs.
- sheraton
  Iron Contributor
  Aug 29, 2026
  shift7solutions
  My situation is slightly different from yours. My last backup was on July 28th, and the problem arose after I updated KB5101684:
  Files can still be backed up to the D: drive normally.
  The Last Backup time in the File History is not updating correctly.
  Newly created or saved Word documents, images, videos, etc., still show No previous version available in Content → Previous Versions.
sheraton
Iron Contributor
Aug 25, 2026
https://feedbackportal.microsoft.com/feedback/
sheraton
Iron Contributor
Aug 24, 2026
Even after updating KB5121003, the archive history wasn't fixed. Has Microsoft taken this issue seriously?

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File History has stopped functioning