HOW TO USE SYSTEM RESTORE ON WINDOWS: EASY Guide

How to Use System Restore on Windows 10 and 11
Photo Credit: Android Authority

Open the Start Menu, type “Restore” into the search bar, then choose “Create a Restore Point” to use System Restore on Windows. Create a restore point after making sure that the C: drive has Restore Points enabled. Select a restore point by clicking “System Restore” above “Protection Settings” to use one. Windows has a feature called System Restore that may be used to resolve some crashes and other technical issues. Here are the steps for setting up System Restore, using it to repair PC issues on Windows 10 and Windows 11, and understanding how it functions. You can restore the installation if your computer has problems booting up properly by using the System Restore function of the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). 

How to Use System Restore on Windows 

One of the more beneficial tools in Windows is the System Restore feature, which is typically a great place to start when attempting to resolve a significant issue with Windows. Every week and whenever a significant event, such as the installation of a new driver or application, occurs, System Restore automatically creates restore points. Additionally, you are always able to make a restore point on your own.

Create a restore point by clicking Start, typing “restore,” and then pressing Enter. Simply click the “System Protection” tab and choose “Create.” After describing your restore point that will aid in keeping it in mind, click “Create.” The process of making a restore point can take around 30 seconds, and System Restore will notify you when it is finished. select “Close” It typically takes between 10 and 30 minutes to use the System Restore tool to undo/reverse changes in Windows, at the very least in most circumstances.

The feature is by default turned off in Windows 11. It requires manual activation. Additionally, manual creation of restore points may occasionally fail. The creation of manual restore points regularly is therefore always advised.

How to Use System Restore on Windows 10 

Your list of restore points should be your first port of call if you are experiencing performance issues with Windows 10. If one of these times corresponds to when Windows started acting up, you can use the System Restore tool to bring back the settings and software that were in use at that moment.

By clicking Start (or pressing Windows key + I to open Settings), you can create a restore point in the search field.

Choose Configure > Turn on system protection after clicking the matching result, which is typically the system drive, to select the drive you want to use to store your restore point. This action activates the system’s ability to recover functionality. The maximum disk usage allotted for disk space usage must also be specified. Choose how much space to allot by dragging the slider. To verify, press OK. You can now create a restore point by clicking Create, giving it a name, and selecting OK.

You can later go back to that restore point by clicking the System Restore button after the system protection software has created it.

Utilize the Run Command to Launch System Restore

Holding down the Windows key and the R key will launch the Run command. Enter after you type “rstrui.” Observe System Restore’s user interface, then adhere to the directions.

Open System Restore using Command Prompt

  • Type “cmd” and select the Command Prompt from the search box on the taskbar.
  • Press Enter after typing rstrui.exe. Instantaneously, a window for System Restore will appear. Observe System Restore’s user interface, then adhere to the directions.

Run System Restore from the Task Manager

  • To launch Task Management, press the Ctrl, shift, and Esc keys at the same time.
  • Run a new task can be selected by clicking the “File” tab. 
  • Press Enter after typing rstrui into the “Create new task” window. 
  • It would then display the System Restore interface. 
  • Then proceed as directed.

Access it from Windows Recovery Mode

  • On the desktop, select the Settings icon by clicking the Start button. To access advanced startup options, take the path indicated: Restart now by selecting Update & Security > Recovery.
  • Select each of the following items in the “advanced startup option” interface by clicking it once each: Troubleshoot > Advanced options > System Restore
  • Enter the password for the administrator-level account you have chosen. 
  • Next, press the Continue button.
  • Wait a few seconds, and the System Restore interface will appear. 
  • To finish restoring the system, adhere to the instructions.

Initiate it through Safe Mode with Command Prompt

You can use this method to fix your computer if a system problem prevents it from accessing Windows sessions.

  • If you want to access advanced startup options after your computer restarts, follow the directions below: Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings
  • To restart, select Restart from the “Startup Settings” interface’s menu.
  • Press F6 or the number key 6 to launch Safe Mode with Command Prompt.  
  • Use an administrator-level account to access the computer. Hit Enter after typing rstrui.exe in the Command Prompt window.
  • Right away, the command will launch the System Restore wizard. 
  • Pick a restore point by following the directions and restarting your computer. 

Windows 11 System Restore From Boot 

A system restore point, which is where this option returns your computer, is earlier. Restore points are created both automatically and when you install new software or drivers. Your files will not be impacted by restoring, but it will get rid of any software, drivers, or updates that were added after the restore point was created. You can still perform a system restore using the advanced boot menu if your computer is not starting up on the desktop.

  • Use the taskbar’s search box to enter “control panel” and then choose it from the list of results to get to it.
  • In the search box of the Control Panel, enter recovery.
  • Choose Recovery > Start a System Restore.
  • Choose Next in the box labeled Restore system files and settings.
  • Then click Scan for affected programs after choosing the desired restore point from the list of results.
  • There will be a list of things deleted if you remove this restore point.
  •  If you are satisfied with the deletions, click Close > Next, > Finish.

To boot Windows 11 in System Restore mode, first, start the computer in WinRE, then select Advanced Startup > Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > System Restore, click “Next,” choose the restore point to restore the system, and finally click Finish.

How Does It Work?

System Restore can automatically create a “restore point” copy of the system state in some circumstances, such as during system and driver updates, to safeguard the data on the hard drive. System Restore is strangely never turned on by default, but when it is, it can do this. However, manual restore points are always an option.

If there is a problem, you can use System Restore to go back to one of the available restore points and get Windows 11 working again. Although you can access this function through the system settings, if your computer is having trouble booting, you can boot into WinRE to access System Restore, which allows you to reverse changes and return your Windows 11 installation to its original state. To recover your Windows 11 installation from the boot, adhere to these steps and create a restore point.

  • Press the power button
  • Press the power button once more to shut down as soon as the Power-On Self-Test (POST) is complete and the blue Windows logo appears. 

1 and 2 should be repeated twice. When Windows 11 restarts for the third time, it should launch the Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE), where several diagnostic tests are run to identify and address any booting problems.

  • On your computer, select Advanced Options.
  • Select Troubleshoot.
  • Choose System Restore by clicking it.
  • Select “Next” from the menu.
  • For installation recovery, choose the restore point.
  • Select “Scan for affected programs” from the menu.
  • Verify the applications you might have to reinstall after using the restore point.
  • Click the Close button.
  • Click the Finish button.

The restore point will take effect once you have finished the steps, which will solve the issue on Windows 11.

How to Create in Windows 11

  • On Windows 11, click Start.
  • To launch the app, perform a search for “Create a restore point,” then click the first result.
  • The system drive (C) should be selected, and then the Configure button should be clicked under the “Protection Settings” section. 
  • Activate that option by selecting it from the “System protection” menu.
  • Select “Apply” from the menu.
  • Select “OK” from the menu.
  • To make a restore point in Windows 11 simply click the Create button.
  • Set the restore point’s name
  • Select “Create” from the menu.
  • Select Close from the menu.

As soon as you have finished the procedures, the system will produce a restore point that contains all of your system files, installed programs, system settings, and a backup of your Registry.

What Is System Restore? 

It can be difficult to fix problems on your system brought on by bad software, such as apps you installed or drivers that broke crucial components. You can return your Windows installation to its last functional state using System Restore. It accomplishes this by periodically producing “restore points.” Restore points are copies of the hardware drivers, registry settings, and Windows system files that a specific program requires. Although Windows automatically creates restore points once per week, you can also create them whenever you like. Additionally, it establishes a restore point just before a significant system event, such as installing a new device driver, an application, or running Windows updates.

If something goes wrong, you can then launch System Restore and direct it to a recent restore point. It will restore those system preferences, files, and drivers, restoring the earlier state of your underlying Windows system.

Windows Restore is a great tool for undoing the damage caused by a problematic app or Windows update. Even after an app has been removed, damage caused by updates and other apps sometimes affects other apps as well as system components. However, the issue can be resolved by going back to a time before the app was installed.

How to Enable System Restore in Windows 10/11

After learning about System Restore in general, you may be curious about how to use it in Windows 11 or 10. Only the primary system drive (C:) of your computer has System Restore protection turned on by default. This feature may not be enabled for some drives.

To use it, you must make sure System Restore is activated. Therefore, how do I open it in Windows 11 or 10? Do these steps below:

Step 1: Open the Windows search and type “restore” to begin creating a restore point.

In Step 2’s System Protection tab, choose a drive, then click the Configure button.

Step 3: Select the “Turn on system protection” checkbox in the new pop-up window, then click “OK” to save the change.

How Does Using System Restore Affect My Apps?

All applications installed after that point will be removed when you restore your PC to a previous restore point. Applications that were installed at the time that restore point was made will still be accessible. After creating that restore point, you can reinstall apps, but there is a very big catch. Since System Restore can only restore specific file types, it is common for restored programs to not function properly or at all until their installers are re-run.

When Should I Use Windows Restore? 

When installing a new program, driver, or Windows update, create restore points using System Restore. You can also manually create restore points. Restoring will not affect your files, but it will remove any programs, drivers, or updates that were installed after the restore point was made. Your computer can be restored to an earlier time when everything was working properly if something has gone wrong with it.

Is It a Good Idea to Do a System Restore? 

Your computer will only be restored to the most recent settings that you believed to be stable using System Restore. It has a drawback, though: any new user accounts and program keys you make after the restore point will be permanently deleted. Making a backup of your crucial data is preferable before performing a system restore.

Does System Restore Recover Everything? 

System Restore is not a complete backup. Only drivers, registry entries, system files, and installed programs are restored to their original forms and configurations. You do not have to worry about losing your private files, emails, photos, browsing history, etc. because it does not restore user data or documents.

With the help of System Restore, a helpful feature included with Windows, you can return your computer to a specific moment when the backup was made. You should not depend on it for this reason because it cannot recover your personal deleted files. In Windows 10, System Restore will not bring back deleted files.

How Long Can a System Restore Take? 

Now that you are aware of the two methods for performing a system restore on Windows 11/10. You might discover that the Windows 10/Windows 11 System Restore is taking a very long time after the process has begun. To undo or reverse changes, you will typically need to use the Windows System Restore tool for at least 10 to 30 minutes. In Windows 11, the feature is by default turned off.

Depending on the computer, the time can vary, and the speed of the disk can also have an impact. The restoration procedure typically takes 20 to 45 minutes to finish. Naturally, if the machine is operating slowly, it could take as long as an hour. 

What Is the Difference Between System Restore and Reset? 

Windows Reset will delete your files and settings by performing a fresh installation of Windows. Likewise, System Restore allows you to return to a previous time when everything was in order by using backup copies of files from specific points in time.

System Restore restores your system to its previous working state by undoing all modifications. By sending your computer “back in time” to a time before the error, this tool seeks to fix issues. Windows Reset, on the other hand, eliminates all the customized settings and resets everything to its original settings. This is a good way to ensure that you are once again starting from scratch. It is frequently the “nuclear option” for problems that do not seem to be getting better.

Does Windows Restore Remove Programs? 

If you use Windows 11/Windows 10 System Restore to take the computer back to a very earlier restore point, installed programs at that time will still be there, but apps installed after that time point will be uninstalled. 

The installed programs on a Windows PC will be impacted. You will be able to uninstall any applications you installed following the creation of the restoration point. Additionally, the applications you had uninstalled following the creation of the restoration point will be reinstalled. 

Does a Windows Restore Get Rid of Viruses?

Please be aware that using System Restore to remove malware or viruses from an infected PC is not recommended. This is so that all components of the malware can be removed. Malware and viruses can hide in many different places on a computer system. The removal of rootkit software is more challenging than the removal of straightforward restore points for common infections. Instead of having to go through restoration points, it would be simpler to simply scan the system for malware that needs to be removed.

Conclusion 

System Restore is a built-in tool that can be used to create restore points from before changes were made to crucial components of Windows. You can use a system restore to restore your computer to a working condition if something goes wrong. System Restore continuously monitors system activity and generates restore points automatically whenever specific events take place, such as software installations and the installation or updating of hardware drivers. Additionally, you can always make restore points manually. System Restore is a useful tool for rolling back system changes by returning your PC to a previous restore point. Your private files will not be restored by System Restore, as was already mentioned. Therefore, do not rely on it to serve as a backup.

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