Forum Discussion

Takket's avatar
Takket
Brass Contributor
Apr 11, 2026

File History has stopped functioning

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 bac...
configuration
sheraton's avatar
sheraton
Iron Contributor
Sep 15, 2026

I have just installed the most recent update available, newly available today, 2026-09 Security Update (KB5129195) (26200.9457) and the external hard drive back-up inability problem still persists. As this was a second Security Update within a month, (only a week since the last one), I assume there must have been lots of bugs in last week's one.

Many of us want to backup to an external hard drive.

Get a grip Microsoft!

Please give us a fully functioning back-up ability

Javen's avatar
Javen
Copper Contributor
Sep 16, 2026

I’m also experiencing this on Windows 11 25H2, build 26200.9457.

File History reports “Reconnect your drive” despite my Toshiba 2 TB USB drive being connected and readable. After reselecting it, File History shows as off, and clicking “Turn on” does nothing visibly, even after restarting.

Checks so far:

  • The drive is NTFS with roughly 1.7 TB free.
  • The File History service is running.
  • Both local and external backup catalogues were last modified on 4 September.
  • The local Configuration folder contains a zero-byte InconsistentState file dated 16 September.
  • The latest BackupLog entries are from 9 September, concerning excessive path lengths in Unity cache files. There are no newer errors for the failed activation attempts.

I haven’t confirmed whether a Windows update caused this. Is there a confirmed fix, or a way to collect useful diagnostics without deleting the existing backup?