Solved | Reconnect Your File History Drive Windows 10

Introduction

The "Reconnect your File History Drive" message on Windows 10 can be frustrating, especially when you're relying on File History for seamless backups. File History is an excellent tool that automatically saves copies of your files and allows you to restore previous versions if necessary.

However, if you're encountering the error "Reconnect your File History Drive", it means there’s a disruption in the connection between your PC and the external drive or network location used for backing up files. This issue can occur for various reasons, including connectivity problems, drive letter conflicts, or issues with the backup drive itself.

Why am I Receiving "Reconnect Your File History Drive" Message?

If you’re unable to reconnect your drive, there's a chance that your recent backups might not be accessible, and some critical data could be at risk. Let’s explore why this message appears and how to fix it. The error "Reconnect your File History Drive" can occur for several reasons. Here are some of the most common causes:

💢Loose or Disconnected Cable: If you are using an external hard drive or USB device for File History backups, a loose or unplugged cable could trigger the error message.

💢Network Issues: If your File History drive is located on a network share, any interruption in the network connection could cause the system to lose access to the backup drive.

💢Drive Letter Conflicts: Windows assigns drive letters automatically. If the external drive’s letter changes unexpectedly, File History may no longer recognize the backup location.

💢Sleep or Hibernation Settings: Windows’ sleep or hibernation modes can cause external drives to disconnect, leading to the error message.

💢File System Errors: Errors on the backup drive, such as disk corruption, can also disrupt the connection between your PC and the backup drive.

How to Reconnect Your File History Drive on Windows 10

Now that you understand the causes of the File History "Reconnection your drive" error, you may have come up with a few solutions. There are several methods you can try to resolve the issue.

Check the Connection

When this error occurs, it indicates that your File History drive has been disconnected for too long. First, ensure that the File History drive is properly connected to your PC. If you're using an external drive, make sure the USB or power cable is securely plugged into both your computer and the drive. Or try connecting the hard drive to another computer to rule out drive-related issues. If you’re using a network location, check the Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection.

Check Network Locations and Credentials

If your File History drive is on a network, make sure that the network location is accessible. Check the network connection and ensure that your credentials (username and password) for accessing the network drive are correct. Sometimes, you may need to re-enter these credentials to regain access.

Change Drive Letter

Rather than recognizing your backup drive via its unique serial number or volume name, File History remembers it by the originally assigned drive letter. A change to the drive letter will cause File History to regard the backup drive as disconnected or missing, triggering File History "Reconnect your drive" error.

Step 1. Press "Win" + "X" and choose "Disk Management" to open it.

Step 2. Locate the hard drive and right click on it, and select "Change Drive Letter and Paths".

Step 3. Assign the original drive letter used by File History and click "OK" to save the change.

Run CHKDSK Command

Corruption or errors on the File History drive can also cause disconnection. The CHKDSK command is a built-in tool in Windows that can fix issues related to file systems and bad sectors. Running the CHKDSK command can help resolve these issues:

Step 1. Open Command Prompt and run it as administrator.

Step 2. Type the following command "chkdsk G: f/ r" and hit "Enter" key. Replace the drive letter "G" with your actual drive letter.

Then, the command will automatically scan the drive and repair any detected errors.

Change to a New External Drive

If the drive itself is damaged or malfunctioning, you may need to change to a new File History external hard drive. Follow these steps:

Step 1. Disconnect the old drive and connect a new external hard drive to your computer.

Step 2. Navigate to "Control Panel" > "System and Security" > "File History" and clcik "Select drive".

Step 3. Choose the new drive as the backup drive and click "OK" to save the change.

Reset File History

If none of the above methods work, incompatible or incorrect File History configurations may also prevent access to the drive. You can resolve the "Reconnect your File History drive" error by resetting File History.

Step 1. Navigate to "Control Panel" > "Save backup copies of your files with File History".

Step 2. Click "Turn off" to disable File History. Wait just a minute, then click "Turn on" to restart File History. This will reset your backup settings and usually fix small corruption issues easily.

How to Recover Lost Data Without Backup

If you’ve lost data due to File History errors or the File History drive being disconnected, MyRecover is an excellent solution for recovering lost files. Whether the files were accidentally deleted, formatted, or you can no longer access your drive, MyRecover can scan your system and storage devices for lost files. It covers 500+ data loss scenarios like data recovery from formatted drive, deleted partition, emptied Recycle Bin, crashed system.

Step 1. Download and install MyRecover on your computer from Microsoft Store, avoid installing it on the drive with lost files.

Step 2. Launch the program and select the drive including deleted files to scan, then click "Scan".

Step 3. After the scan is complete, choose the files you wish to recover from the recoverable lists and click "Recover".

Step 4. Save the recovered files to a secure location (not the original one).

Once the process is finished, the message "Files have been recovered successfully" will pop up. You can verify the recovered files by clicking on the destination folder path or "Browse" button.

Conclusion

In a short, the "Reconnect your File History Drive" error on Windows is a common issue that can disrupt your backup process. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you should be able to resolve the issue and restore access to your File History drive. If you need to recover lost files when no backup is available, MyRecover offers a powerful solution for recovering lost data, ensuring your important documents and photos are always safe.

If you're dealing with a large amount of lost files, MyRecover's Professional version provides unlimited recovery and file previews, and the ability to restore data from unbootable systems, ensuring your data is always within reach.