Windows 11 Restore Point: complete guide

5 January 2026

Table of contents

What is a restore point and what is it for
Where restore points are stored in Windows 11
How to create a restore point in Windows 11
How to use a restore point to fix problems
Automatic creation of restore points
Back up your files before restoring

The Windows 11 restore point is one of the most useful tools for keeping your computer stable and secure. Thanks to this feature, you can restore your operating system to a previous state in case of errors, crashes, or failed installations of programs and drivers. You don’t need to be an IT expert to use it: the procedure is simple and, if done correctly, it can save you from many critical situations without losing your personal files.

In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn how to create a restore point in Windows 11, where restore points are stored, how to manage them, and how to use them when needed. We’ll go step by step through all the available methods from the Control Panel to the Command Prompt and explain how to restore the system using advanced troubleshooting options.

What is a restore point and what is it for

A Windows 11 restore point is essentially a “snapshot” of your operating system at a specific moment in time. It includes details about system files, Windows Registry settings, installed applications, and device drivers.

Example
When something goes wrong such as a failed update or malware infection you can roll back to that working configuration.

Importantly, the restore process does not affect your personal documents, photos, or videos, but it may remove software or drivers installed after the point was created. In short, a restore point acts like a system backup, but not a user file backup.

Where restore points are stored in Windows 11

Many users wonder where restore points are stored in Windows 11. They’re saved in a hidden folder on the system drive, specifically in:

C:\System Volume Information

This is a protected location that can’t be opened with a simple double-click only Windows has access. Inside this folder, Windows stores configuration files, copies of the system registry, and previous versions of system files created during system restore.

The storage size allocated for restore points is set automatically but can be manually adjusted. Typically, Windows keeps several restore points until this limit is reached, then automatically deletes the oldest ones to make room for new ones.

How to create a restore point in Windows 11

Creating a restore point is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. Here’s how to do it step by step.

Method 1: Using the Control Panel

Press the Windows key and type “Create a restore point”.
Click the matching result to open the System Properties window.
In the System Protection tab, ensure that protection is turned on for your system drive (usually “C:”).
If it’s off, select the drive and click Configure, then check the box “Turn on system protection”.
Click Create, assign a name (for example, “Before GPU driver installation”), and click Create again.
Wait for the restore point creation to finish. Once you see the confirmation message, you can close the window.

You can repeat this operation anytime especially before changing settings or installing new software.

Method 2: Using the Command Prompt

You can also create restore points from the Command Prompt. Here’s how:

Press the Windows key, type “cmd”, and click Run as administrator.
In the command window, type the following command and press Enter:

wmic.exe /Namespace:\\root\default Path SystemRestore Call CreateRestorePoint "Manual Point", 100, 7

After a few seconds, Windows will confirm that the restore point has been created.

This method is ideal if you want to automate restore point creation or include it in maintenance scripts.

How to use a restore point to fix problems

If your computer starts behaving incorrectly after an update or installation, you can restore Windows using a previously created point.

Press the Windows key and type “Recovery”.
Select Open System Restore.
Click Next, then choose a restore point from the list (you can see the affected programs by clicking “Scan for affected programs”).
Select the desired point, click Next, then Finish.
The system will restart automatically and restore the settings to the selected point.

During this process, personal files remain untouched, but system files and drivers revert to their earlier versions. It’s an excellent way to troubleshoot problems without reinstalling the entire system.

Automatic creation of restore points

By default, Windows 11 automatically creates restore points whenever important updates or system drivers are installed. However, it’s still a good idea to create them manually before smaller changes, such as uninstalling complex software or editing the registry.

To check if automatic restore points are enabled:

Open the Control Panel → System and Security → System.
Click System Protection → select drive C: → Configure.
Ensure that Turn on system protection is selected.

You can also modify the amount of disk space reserved for system files used in restore operations.

Back up your files before restoring

Although restore points do not delete your documents, it’s always best to perform a full backup before restoring or rolling back your system.
You can use: