How to Create a "File History" Shortcut in Windows 8 and 8.1
InformationThis tutorial will show how to create or download a shortcut that will open directly to File History in PC settings or Control Panel in Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, and Windows RT 8.1.
EXAMPLE: File History in Windows 8 and 8.1
OPTION ONE
To Download a "File History" Shortcut
1. Do step 2 and/or 3 below for which File History shortcut you want.
2. File History in Control Panel Shortcut
A) Click on the Download button below to download the ZIP file below, and go to step 4 below.
File_History_Control_Panel_Shortcut.zip
3. File History in PC settings Shortcut
A) Click on the Download button below to download the ZIP file below, and go to step 4 below.
File_History_PC-settings_Shortcut.zip
4. Save the .zip file to the desktop.
5. Open the .zip file and extract (drag and drop) the File History shortcut to the desktop.
6. For the first time that you run the shortcut, uncheck the Always ask before opening this file box, and click on Open to unblock the shortcut.
7. If you like, you can Pin to Taskbar on desktop, Pin to Start screen, add to Quick Launch, assign a keyboard shortcut to it, or move this shortcut to where you like for easy use.
8. When done, you can delete the downloaded .zip file on the desktop if you like, or save it to use again.
OPTION TWO
To Manually Create a "File History" Shortcut
1. Right click or press and hold on an empty area on desktop, and click/tap on New and Shortcut.
2. Copy and paste either command below into the location area, and click/tap on the Next button. (see screenshot below)
(File History in Control Panel)
%WinDir%\explorer.exe shell:::{F6B6E965-E9B2-444B-9286-10C9152EDBC5}
(File History in PC settings)
NoteIf you are not have a US English Windows 8.1 installed, then you will need to change the en-US folder name in the command below for the folder name with your language instead for this to work.
Code:
%windir%\explorer.exe %localappdata%\Packages\windows.immersivecontrolpanel_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState\Indexed\Settings\[B][COLOR="#FF0000"]en-US[/COLOR][/B]\AAA_SettingsPageRestoreFileHistory.settingcontent-ms
3. Type File History for the name, and click/tap on the Finish button. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: You can name this shortcut anything you would like though.
4. Right click or press and hold on the new File History shortcut, and click/tap on Properties.
5. Click/tap on the Shortcut tab, then click/tap on the Change Icon button. (see screenshot below)
6. In the line under "Look for icons in this file", copy and paste the location below, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
%SystemRoot%\System32\FileHistory.exe
7. Select the icon highlighted in blue above, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot above)
NOTE: You can use any icon that you would like instead though.
8. Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below step 5)
9. If you like, you can Pin to Taskbar on desktop, Pin to Start screen, add to Quick Launch, assign a keyboard shortcut to it, or move this shortcut to where you like for easy use.
That's it,
Shawn
Related Tutorials
- How to Set up and Use File History in Windows 8 and 8.1
- How to Restore Previous Versions of your Files with File History in Windows 8 and 8.1
- How to Create a "File History Home" Shortcut in Windows 8 and 8.1
- How to Use File History Cleanup to Delete Older Versions of Files in Windows 8 and 8.1
- How to Recommend your File History Drive to Homegroup in Windows 8 and 8.1
- How to Enable or Disable File History in Windows 8 and 8.1
- How to Reset File History to Default in Windows 8 and 8.1
Attachments
Last edited by a moderator:
