How to Create System Restore Point in Windows 11/10

Published by Nyau Wai Hoe - Updated on

System Restore is a useful feature in Windows 11/10 that can help you recover from system errors, malware infections, and other issues. In this article, we’ll show you how to enable System Restore and create restore points manually.

Note: Enabling system restore now will only start saving restore points from this moment on. If you perform a system restore after that, your Windows will be restored to the most recent saved point. Creating a system restore point now, after a disastrous event, will not help you recover to a state before the event. It will only restore your Windows to the point where the disastrous event already occurred. If you don’t have a system restore point, your best bet would be to reset Windows 11/10 to factory default.

Enable System Restore in Windows 11/10

System restore is enabled by default in Windows 11/10. However, in some cases, it may be disabled, and you may not know why. Therefore, it’s essential to check if system restore is turned on in your Windows PC, and if not, enable it now to safeguard against future issues.

  1. Go to the Start menu.
  2. Search for System and open it. (In Windows 11, directly search for “Advanced system settings” via Start and skip step 3.)
  3. Click Advanced system settings in the left panel.advanced system settings
  4. Select the System Protection tab.
  5. If you don’t have any system restore points, the System Restore button will be greyed out.
  6. Select your system drive, usually the C: drive.
  7. Click Configure.System Properties Configure
  8. Select Turn on system protection.Enable system restore in Windows 10/11
  9. Under Disk Space Usage, adjust the max usage to your preferred level. This is the amount of space that will be allocated for System Restore to create restore points. Set a comfortable amount of space that you can afford to spare. The more space you allow, the more restore points can be created.
  10. Click Apply, then OK.

When System Restore is enabled, it will immediately create its first restore point. Additional restore points will be created over time. When the number of restore points exceeds the allowed disk space, older restore points will be replaced.

Create system restore point manually

To create a system restore point manually, follow the steps above until step 7. Instead of clicking Configure, click Create. When prompted to name the restore point, enter any name you want and click Create to create a system restore point of the current state of your system.

Create system restore point Windows 11/10

Additional tip: If you run out of space and want to free up some space on your hard drive, deleting restore points can significantly help. However, doing this will risk not being able to restore your Windows when needed. Delete restore points only when you think you won’t need them. If you have enabled System Restore in Windows 11/10, it will continue to create newer restore points even if you remove all existing ones. To delete restore points, follow the steps above to step 7, then click the Delete button that reads delete all restore points for this drive.

To restore Windows 11/10 to a previous date, read: How to system restore Windows 11/10.

How can System Restore help?

System Restore is a valuable tool for safeguarding your Windows computer. It offers several benefits, including:

  1. Reversing problematic updates: Occasionally, Windows updates or software installations can cause conflicts or issues with your system. System Restore allows you to roll back to a previous restore point, undoing the changes and resolving any conflicts.
  2. Recovering from malware infections: If your computer becomes infected with malware, System Restore can help you revert to a restore point before the infection occurred, effectively removing the malware from your system.
  3. Fixing system configuration issues: In some cases, incorrect configuration settings can cause system instability or performance issues. System Restore allows you to return to a previous state, which can help you troubleshoot and fix the problem.
  4. Restoring accidentally deleted files: If you accidentally delete a crucial file, System Restore “may” help you recover it if a restore point was created before the deletion.
  5. Minimizing downtime: By using System Restore to address issues, you can minimize the downtime associated with troubleshooting and fixing problems manually.

Common scenarios for using the feature

  1. After installing new software or drivers: If you’ve recently installed new software or drivers and notice system instability, using System Restore to roll back to a previous state can help identify and resolve the issue.
  2. System crashes or freezes: If your computer is experiencing frequent crashes or freezing, rolling back to a previous restore point may resolve the problem.
  3. After a failed update: If a Windows update fails or causes issues, you can use System Restore to revert your system to a previous state and try the update again.
  4. Following a malware attack: In case of a malware infection, you can use System Restore to roll back your system to a point before the malware was introduced.

Remember, System Restore is not a substitute for a comprehensive backup solution. It’s essential to back up your important files and data regularly to protect against data loss in the event of hardware failure or other issues.

By enabling System Restore and understanding how it can benefit your Windows 11/10 PC, you’ll be better equipped to handle various system issues and keep your computer running smoothly.


Nyau Wai Hoe
Nyau Wai Hoe is the Founder and Chief Editor of WindowsDigitals.com. With a degree in software engineering and over 12 years of experience in the tech support industry, Nyau has established himself as an expert in the field, with a primary focus on the Microsoft Windows operating system. As a tech enthusiast, he loves exploring new technologies and leveraging them to solve real-life problems.

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