The restore point feature in Windows 11 is one of the many recovery options at your disposal. Whether you want to make changes to your registry entries, install new Windows updates, or just want an easy way to fix issues with your PC, a restore point can help when things go awry.

However, to use a restore point in the future, you must first create one now. And to create one, you must first configure your PC for restore points. Here we show you how to enable, create and use a restore point in Windows 11.

Should You Create a Restore Point in Windows 11?

The Windows operating system can save a working backup image of your system on a given date and time, which are known as restore points. If something goes wrong, you can use a restore point to undo any changes and revert your system to its last working state.

A restore point comprises Windows system files, installed programs, registry settings, and system drivers. It does not back up your personal files and folders.

Once configured, Windows OS automatically creates a new restore point before making any important changes to your system such as installing or uninstalling a Windows update.

By default, Windows creates a new restore point on a weekly basis and replaces it with the oldest one to manage storage space. However, you can also manually create new restore points as frequently as you want.

Having multiple restore points is useful for troubleshooting system-related issues. For example, if a bad driver update causes your system to malfunction and uninstalling it does not help, you can use the system restore to restore your PC to an earlier point in time where the problem did not exist.

Does a System Restore Affect My Personal Files and Programs?

As discussed earlier, the restore point does not affect your personal files. However, all the apps, hardware drivers, and system updates installed after the restore point date will be uninstalled. This also applies to any modifications you made at the system level, including system settings and other advanced modifications.

Similarly, it will restore any uninstalled app after creating the restore point. However, some programs may require reinstallation to work correctly.

How to Enable Restore Points in Windows 11

turn on system restore windows 11

For most users, Windows OS by default enables System Restore on your boot drive. This is more than likely your C:\ drive, but it can differ depending on how your PC is set up.

Since the restore point feature is an excellent way to diagnose and fix issues, your PC likely came with them enabled since day one. However, you can also enable System Restore manually in System Protection, too.

To enable System Restore:

  1. Press Win + S to open the Windows search.
  2. Type restore point and click on Create a restore point from the search results.
  3. In the System Properties window, open the System Protection tab.
  4. Make sure Protection is set to On under the Protection Settings section.
    enable system restore Windows 11
  5. If it is set to Off, then click the Configure button.
  6. Select Turn on system protection.
  7. Next, drag the slider to adjust the storage size you want to allocate to save restore points.
  8. Click Apply and OK to save the changes.

Repeat the steps to enable System Restore for other available drives on your system. This is recommended if you install apps on different drivers than C:\ drive.

How to Create a Restore Point in Windows 11

create restore=point windows 11

As discussed earlier, Windows OS automatically creates a new restore point before a major system event such as Windows update installation. You can also create restore points manually before making any changes to your PC or just as a routine backup chore.

Related: How to Create Daily System Restore Points in Windows

To create a restore point:

  1. Open the System Protection tab in the System Properties window.
  2. Click on the Create button.
  3. Type a description or name for the restore point. Including an event name along with the date is a recommended practice.
  4. Click Create. System Protection will start creating the restore point and display a success message if successful. It may take a few seconds, so wait till it is complete.
    restore point successfully created windows 11
  5. Click Close.

Related: How to Fix System Restore Is Disabled by Your System Administrator Error

How to Use Restore Point to Restore Your Windows 11 System

System restore Windows 11

You can perform a System Restore to undo system changes by revering your computer to a previous restore point. That said, don’t use a restore point at the drop of a hat. It is a capable but time-consuming process. As such, only use it as a last resort to troubleshoot major system issues in Windows.

To use a restore point via System Restore:

  1. Open the System Protection tab in the System Properties window.
  2. Here, click the System Restore button.
  3. In the System Restore window, click the Next button.
  4. You can see all the available restore points and their type (manual/automatic) on the next page.
  5. Select the Show more restore points box to view all the hidden restore points if available.
    select restore point windows 11
  6. Click on Scan for affected programs. System Restore will now scan for affected programs and drivers and show a list. This list comprises the programs and drivers that will be deleted and restored during the process.
  7. Click Close and click Next to proceed.
  8. In the confirmation screen, read the description to understand the nature of the restore and the drivers affected.
  9. Click the Finish button to confirm the action.
  10. System Restore will show an alert that says Once started, System Restore cannot be interrupted. Click Yes to confirm and proceed.

Windows will first create a restore point for the current state and then will restart your PC to initiate the restore process.

Related: System Restore Not Working on Windows? Here's What You Can Do

This process can take a while, so wait till your PC shows the logon screen. Once you log in, it will show a success message if the restore was successful. If unsuccessful, you can try the same or another restore point available.

Creating and Using a Restore Point in Windows 11

System Restore is a handy utility for Windows users. It is more convenient than other recovery options involving reset, upgrade or reinstall. If you end up with too many restore points and low disk issues, you can use the Disk Cleanup tool or manually delete the restore points from your PC.