Windows File History / Backup and Restore

Windows File History (and the legacy Backup and Restore (Windows 7) tool) are the built-in, free backup utilities included with modern Windows operating systems. File History provides continuous, versioned backup of user files (Documents, Pictures, etc.) to an external drive or network location, offering a simple way to recover previous versions of files. The older Backup and Restore tool can create full system image backups. Their primary advantage is zero cost and deep integration with Windows.

They are ideal for home users who need a basic, no-fuss solution for protecting personal documents against accidental deletion or corruption. However, they lack features like cloud backup targets, strong encryption management, centralized administration, and advanced recovery options. Compared to any third-party software, they are extremely limited but serve as a critical first step for users who would otherwise have no backup at all.