Backup and Restore Use System Restore in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to use System Restore to go back to a restore point in Windows 11.

Turning on system protection for a drive allows System Restore to include the drive when restore points are created so you can undo undesired system changes by reverting to a previous point in time.

System Restore monitors system changes and saves the system state as a restore point. If a system problem develops as a result of a system change, the user can return the system to a previous state using the data from a restore point.

Restore points are created to let users select a previous system state. Each restore point contains the required information to restore the system to the selected state. Restore points are created before key changes are made to the system.

System Restore automatically manages the disk space that is allocated for restore points. It purges the oldest restore points to make room for new ones. System Restore allocates space based on the size of the hard disk and the version of Windows that the computer runs, as shown in the following table. You can adjust the maximum disk space per drive used for system protection.

Use System restore to make restore points when you install a new app, driver, or Windows update, and when you create a restore point manually. System Restore does not restore user data or documents, so it will not cause users to lose their files, e-mail, browsing history, or favorites. Restoring will remove apps, drivers, and updates installed after the restore point was made. System Restore is also made available to users in the Windows Recovery Environment or safe mode, making it easier for them to restore their computers to a state before problems occurred.

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When you do a System Restore, system protection will automatically create a restore point before proceeding, so you can undo the changes made by the System Restore if needed.

You cannot undo a system restore if used while in safe mode or from Advanced Startup (option 1).

1 Boot to Advanced Startup.

2 Click/tap on Troubleshoot. (see screenshot below)


3 Click/tap on Advanced options. (see screenshot below)


4 Click/tap on System Restore. (see screenshot below)


5 If this is the first time using System Restore, click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)


6 If you had previously done a System Restore, perform an available step below you want: (see screenshots below)

• Select (dot) Choose a different restore point, click/tap on Next, and go to step 7.
• Select (dot) Recommended restore, click/tap on Next, and go to step 10.
• Select (dot) Undo System Restore, click/tap on Next, and go to step 10.

7 Check Show more restore points (if available), select the restore point you want to go back to, and click/tap on Scan for affected programs. (see screenshot below)


8 Preview what will be affected by the selected restore point. When finished, click/tap on Close. (see screenshots below)


9 When ready to use a selected restore point, click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)


10 Click/tap on Finish to confirm. (see screenshot below)


11 Click/tap on Yes when ready to start System Restore. (see screenshot below)


12 When System Restore has finished, click/tap on Restart. (see screenshot below)


13 Sign in to Windows 11 after the restart.

14 Click/tap on Close. (see screenshot below)

If you are in safe mode, run rstrui.exe, and go to step 5 below.

1 Open Settings (Win+I).

2 Click/tap on System on the left side, and click/tap on About on the right side. (see screenshot below)

Open About settings


3 Click/tap on the System protection (SystemPropertiesProtection.exe) link on the left side. You can now close Settings if you like. (see screenshot below)


4 Click/tap on the System Restore button. (see screenshot below)


5 If this is the first time using System Restore, click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)


6 If you had previously done a System Restore, perform an available step below you want: (see screenshots below)

• Select (dot) Choose a different restore point, click/tap on Next, and go to step 7.
• Select (dot) Recommended restore, click/tap on Next, and go to step 10.
• Select (dot) Undo System Restore, click/tap on Next, and go to step 10.

7 Check Show more restore points (if available), select the restore point you want to go back to, and click/tap on Scan for affected programs. (see screenshot below)


8 Preview what will be affected by the selected restore point. When finished, click/tap on Close. (see screenshots below)


9 When ready to use a selected restore point, click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)


10 Click/tap on Finish to confirm. (see screenshot below)


11 Click/tap on Yes when ready to start System Restore. (see screenshot below)


12 Your PC will now restart and perform a System Restore. (see screenshot below)


13 When System Restore has finished, sign in to Windows 11.

14 Click/tap on Close. (see screenshot below)







1 Open Windows Terminal (Admin), and select Windows PowerShell.

2 Copy and paste the command below into Windows Terminal (Admin), and press Enter to see a list of all available restore points. (see screenshot below step 3)


3 Make note of the SequenceNumber (ex: "1") of the restore point you want to use. (see screenshot below)


4 Type the command below into Windows Terminal (Admin), and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

Substitute <SequenceNumber> in the command above with the actual SequenceNumber (ex: "1") of the restore point you want to use from step 3.

For example:Restore-Computer -RestorePoint 1

5 After a moment, your PC will automatically restart and perform a System Restore. (see screenshot below)


6 When System Restore has finished, sign in to Windows 11.

7 Click/tap on Close. (see screenshot below)



That's it,
Shawn Brink