Help, How can I view my saved backups on my PC?

1. Check the Type of Backup You Used

First, determine how your backup was created. The most common types are:

File History

Windows Backup and Restore (Windows 7)

System Image

Manual Backup (copying files to an external drive or cloud)

2. View Backups Using File History

If you used File History (common in Windows 10 and 11):

Click the Start menu and open Settings.

Go to Update & Security > Backup.

If File History is enabled, click More options under “Back up using File History.”

Select Restore files from a current backup.

A File History window will appear showing all backed-up folders.

Browse through previous versions of your files by clicking the arrows at the bottom.

3. View Backups Using Windows Backup and Restore (Windows 7)

Even on newer Windows versions, this older backup tool is still supported:

Open the Control Panel.

Go to System and Security > Backup and Restore (Windows 7).

Under “Restore,” click Select another backup to restore files from.

Choose the backup you want to explore.

Use the restore wizard to browse or restore individual files.

4. View System Image Backups

System images are full copies of your hard drive, not meant for browsing individual files easily. However, you can still mount them:

Find the backup location (often on an external drive or a folder named WindowsImageBackup).

Right-click the .vhd or .vhdx file in the backup folder (usually found in the Backup directory).

Select Mount.

This opens the image as a virtual drive in File Explorer.

You can now browse the contents like any other drive.

Note: Make sure to unmount the drive when you're done by right-clicking the drive in File Explorer and selecting “Eject.”

5. View Manual or Cloud Backups

If you manually backed up files (drag-and-drop) or used a cloud service like OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox:

Manual Backups: Open File Explorer, then navigate to the drive or folder where you saved the files.

Cloud Backups: Open the associated app or web portal (like onedrive.live.com) and sign in to access your files.

6. Search for Backup Files

If you’re not sure where your backups are stored:

Open File Explorer.

Use the search bar to look for common backup file types:

*.bak (generic backup files)

*.vhd, *.vhdx (system image files)

*.wbcat (Windows Backup Catalog files)

7. Use Third-Party Backup Software (if applicable)

If you used third-party tools like Macrium Reflect, Acronis, or EaseUS:

Open the respective application.

Navigate to the backup browser or restore section.

These tools often show a timeline or list of backups for you to explore or restore from.

Conclusion

To view backups on your PC, identify how the backup was created, then use the appropriate method—File History, Backup and Restore, system images, or third-party tools. Always verify the backup location, especially if it's on an external or network drive. Knowing the tool and method used is key to finding and accessing your backup data safely.