System Restore is a Windows feature that can help fix certain types of crashes and other computer problems. Here’s how it works, how to set it up, and how to use it when things go awry.
We’re going to be using Windows 10 in this article, but System Restore has been around a long time–and works pretty much the same way in each version of Windows. The instructions here are good for Windows 7, 8, and 10, and you’ll encounter only minor differences throughout the process.
When something goes wrong on your system as a result of a bad piece of software–maybe an app you installed, or a driver that broke something important–it can be hard to fix. System Restore lets you restore your Windows installation back to its last working state.
It does this by creating “restore points” every so often. Restore points are snapshots of your Windows system files, certain program files, registry settings, and hardware drivers. You can create a restore point at any time, though Windows automatically creates a restore point once per week. It also creates a restore point right before a major system event, like installing a new device driver, app, or running Windows update.
Then, if something goes wrong, you can run System Restore and point it to a recent restore point. It will reinstate those system settings, files, and drivers, returning your underlying Windows system to that earlier state.
This can be really useful when troubleshooting certain types of problems. For example, if you install a device driver that makes your computer unstable, you’ll want to uninstall that driver. However, in some cases, the driver may not uninstall properly, or it may damage system files when you uninstall it. If you use System Restore and select a restore point that was created before you installed the driver, this can restore your system files to the previous state before any problem occurred.
Windows Restore can also be really useful for undoing the damage caused by a misbehaving app or Windows update. Sometimes, apps and updates can cause problems with other apps or even system components and simply uninstalling the app might not reverse the damage. Restoring to a point before the app was installed, however, can often clear up the problem.
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System Restore is different than making backups–it specifically works on the underlying Windows system, rather than everything on your hard drive. As such, System Restore does not save old copies of your personal files as part of its snapshot. It also will not delete or replace any of your personal files when you perform a restoration. So don’t count on System Restore as working like a backup. That isn’t what it’s intended for. You should always have a good backup procedure in place for all your personal files.
When you restore your PC to an earlier restore point, any apps you installed after that point will get uninstalled. Apps that were installed when that restore point was created will still be in place. Apps that you uninstalled after making that restore point will get restored, but with a very big caveat. Since System Restore only restores certain types of files, programs that get restored often won’t work–or at least, work properly until you re-run their installers.
Windows does let you see exactly what programs will be affected when you go through the process, but it’s a good idea to restore to the most recent restore point possible to minimize problems with apps. It’s also a good idea to create manual restore points before you undertake big installations or settings changes so that you know you can revert to a very recent restore point if you need to.
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System Restore is not a good solution for removing viruses or other malware. Since malicious software is typically buried within all kinds of places on a system, you can’t rely on System Restore being able to root out all parts of the malware. Instead, you should rely on a quality virus scanner that you keep up to date.
For many people, System Restore protection is turned on by default for your main system drive (C:) and not other drives on your PC. For others, System Restore is not enabled by default for any drives. Right now, there’s no consensus for why this happens. It does not appear related to whether Windows was installed fresh or upgraded, how much disk space you have available, what type of drives you have, or anything else we can figure out.
If you want to be protected by System Restore, you should absolutely turn it on for at least your system drive. In most cases, that’s all you need, since all the things System Restore protects tend to be located on the system drive anyway. If you want to turn on System Restore protection for other drives–say, for example, you install some programs to a different drive–you can do that too.
To make sure System Restore is turned on–and to enable it for specific drives–hit Start, type “restore,” and then click “Create a restore point.” Don’t worry. This doesn’t actually create a restore point; it just opens the dialog where you can get to all the System Restore options.
On the “System Protection” tab, in the “Protection Settings” section, you’ll see the available drives on your PC and whether protection is enabled for each drive. To turn on protection, select a drive on the list and click the “Configure” button.
(In our case, System Restore was already enabled for our C: drive. If it isn’t on your system, that’s the first drive you’ll probably want to enable it for.)
In the “System Protection” dialog that opens, click the “Turn on system protection” option, adjust the “Max Usage” slider to the amount of hard drive space you want System Restore to be able to use, and then click “OK.”
You can then click “OK” again to exit the System Properties dialog. Just be aware that when Windows creates a restore point (or you create one manually), System Restore will create a restore point on all the drives that have system protection enabled.
As we mentioned earlier, System Restore automatically creates restore points on a week, and whenever a major event like an application or driver installation happens. You can also create a restore point yourself whenever you want. Hit Start, type “restore,” and then click “Create a restore point.” On the “System Protection” tab, click the “Create” button.
Type a description for your restore point that will help you remember why you created it and then click “Create.”
It can take 30 seconds or so to create a restore point, and System Restore will let you know when it’s done. Click “Close.”
Okay, so you have System Restore enabled, and you’ve been diligent about creating restore points whenever you mess with your system. Then, one fateful day, the inevitable happens–something goes wonky with your system, and you want to restore to an earlier restore point.
You’ll start the restore process from the same “System Protection” tab where you configure System Restore options. Hit Start, type “restore,” and then click “Create a restore point.” On the “System Protection” tab, click the “System Restore” button.
The welcome page of the System Restore wizard just gives you a brief description of the process. Click “Next” to go on.
The next page shows you the available restore points. By default, the only thing showing will probably be the automatic weekly restore point and any manual restore points you’ve created. Select the “Show more restore points” option to see any automatic restore points created before app or driver installations.
Select the restore point you want–remember, the most recent working restore point is ideal–and then click “Scan for affected programs” to have System Restore detect any programs that will be uninstalled during the process.
System Restore will present you with two lists. The top list shows you programs and drivers that will be deleted if you restore Windows to the selected restore point. The bottom list shows programs and drivers that might be restored by the process. Again, even programs and drivers that get restored might not function properly until you do a full reinstall.
When you’re ready to restore, click the restore point you want to use and then click Next. Note that you can skip the scanning step and just click Next anyway, but it’s always good to see what apps will be affected before you start the process.
Next, you’re asked to confirm the restoration. Make sure you’ve selected the right restore point and click “Finish.”
System Restore informs you that once it starts, the restore process cannot be interrupted. Click “Yes” to start.
Windows will restart your PC and begin the restore process. It can take a while for System Restore to reinstate all those files–plan for at least 15 minutes, possibly more–but when your PC comes back up, you’ll be running at your selected restore point. It’s now time to test whether it resolved whatever problems you were having. And remember that System Restore creates an additional restore point right before performing the restore process, so you can always undo your actions by performing this same process and selecting that new restore point.
If System Restore doesn’t solve your problem, there are other ways you can go about addressing some of the issues System Restore is designed to solve.
If the problem was caused by a recent update, you can look at uninstalling that Windows Update or reverting to a previous “build” of Windows 10. This should fix problems that might occur due to Windows Update and issues with your specific hardware and software.
If you believe your system files are corrupted–or just want to check–you can try using the System File Checker to scan for and fix corrupt system files.
If you installed an update or hardware driver and the problem started after that, you can uninstall the driver or update and block them from being automatically installed again.
If Windows isn’t booting properly so you can’t do any of this, you can boot into Safe Mode. You can also visit the “advanced startup options” screen — these will automatically appear if Windows 10 can’t boot normally — and use the options there.
Safe Mode is also useful if for some reason System Restore is unable to restore your PC to the selected restore point. You can boot into Safe Mode and try running System Restore again from there. One big caveat though, as reader Straspey was good enough to point out. When you revert to a restore point from Safe Mode, System Restore does not create a new restore point during the process, meaning that you don’t have a way to undo the restore.
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Windows 10 also has two recovery tools that you can use if all else fails. The “Reset Your PC” feature can restore Windows to its factory default condition, or perform a clean installation of Windows while keeping your personal files intact.
System Restore isn’t a cure-all, but it can fix a surprising number of problems and unfortunately has been downplayed somewhat in recent years amidst all of Windows’ other recovery tools. System Restore is almost always worth trying before you result to more drastic measures, though.
The System Restore tool in Windows is one of the more helpful utilities available to you and is usually a great first step when you're trying to fix a major problem in Windows.
In a nutshell, what the Windows System Restore tool lets you do is revert to a previous software, registry, and driver configuration called a restore point. It's like 'undoing' the last major change to Windows, taking your computer back to the way it was when the restore point was created.
Since a majority of Windows problems involve issues with at least one of those aspects of your operating system, System Restore is a great tool to use early in the troubleshooting process. It also helps that it's really simple to do.
Follow these easy steps to return Windows to a previous, hopefully working, state using System Restore:
Time Required: Using the System Restore tool to undo/reverse changes in Windows usually takes anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, at least in most cases.
How you access System Restore differs between Windows versions. Below are three separate procedures: one for Windows 10, Windows 8, or Windows 8.1, one for Windows 7 or Windows Vista, and one for Windows XP. See What Version of Windows Do I Have? if you're not sure.
Open Control Panel. Check out that linked how-to if this is your first time, or just search for it from the Windows 10 Cortana/Search box or the Windows 8/8.1 Charms Bar.
We're trying to get to the System applet in Control Panel, which can be done very quickly from the Power User Menu but it's only faster that way if you're using a keyboard or mouse. Press WIN+X or right-click on the Start button and then click System. Skip to Step 4 if you end up going this way.
Tap or click on System and Security within Control Panel.
You won't see System and Security if your Control Panel view is set to either Large icons or Small icons. Instead, find System, tap or click on it, then skip to Step 4.
In the System and Security window that's now open, click or tap System.
On the left, click or tap the System protection link.
From the System Properties window that appears, tap or click the System Restore... button. If you don't see it, make sure you're on the System Protection tab.
Tap or click Next > from the System Restore window titled Restore system files and settings.
If you've previously performed a System Restore, you may see both an Undo System Restore option, as well as a Choose a different restore point option. If so, select Choose a different restore point, assuming you're not here to undo one.
Select the restore point you want to use from those in the list.
If you'd like to see older restore points, check the Show more restore points checkbox.
All restore points that are still in Windows will be listed here, so long as that checkbox is checked. Unfortunately, there is no way to 'restore' older restore points. The oldest restore point listed is the furthest back you can possibly restore Windows to.
With your chosen restore point selected, tap or click the Next > button.
Confirm the restore point you want to use on the Confirm your restore point window and then tap or click the Finish button.
If you're curious as to what programs, drivers, and other parts of Windows 10/8/8.1 this System Restore will impact on your computer, select the Scan for affected programs link on this page prior to starting the System Restore. The report is informational only, but might be helpful in your troubleshooting if this System Restore doesn't fix whatever problem you're trying to solve.
Tap or click Yes to the Once started, System Restore cannot be interrupted. Do you want to continue? question.
If you're running System Restore from Safe Mode, please know that the changes it makes to your computer will not be reversible. Don't let this scare you away — chances are, if you're doing a System Restore from here, it's because Windows isn't starting properly, leaving you with few other options. Still, it's something you should be aware of.
Your computer will restart as part of a System Restore, so be sure to close anything you might have running right now.
System Restore will now begin reverting Windows to the state it was in at the date and time logged with the restore point that you chose in Step 7.
You'll see a small System Restore window that says Preparing to restore your system..., after which Windows will almost completely shut down.
Next, on an empty screen, you'll see a Please wait while your Windows files and settings are being restored message.
You'll also see various messages appear underneath like System Restore is initializing...,System Restore is restoring the registry..., and System Restore is removing temporary files.... All in all, this will probably take around 15 minutes.
What you're sitting through here is the actual System Restore process. Do not turn off or restart your computer during this time!
Sign in to Windows as you normally do. If you don't use the Desktop and aren't switched there automatically, go there next.
On the Desktop, you should see a small System Restore window that says 'System Restore completed successfully. The system has been restored to [date time]. Your documents have not been affected.'
Tap or click the Close button.
Now that the System Restore is complete, check to see that whatever issue you were trying to fix is actually corrected.
If System Restore did not correct the problem, you can either a) repeat the steps above, choosing an even older restore point, assuming one is available, or b) continue troubleshooting the problem.
If this System Restore caused an additional problem, you can undo it, assuming it wasn't completed from Safe Mode (see the Important call-out in Step 10). To undo a System Restore in Windows, repeat steps 1 through 6 above and choose Undo System Restore.
Navigate to the Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools program group.
Click on the System Restore program icon.
Click Next > on the Restore system files and settings window that should have appeared on the screen.
If you have two options on this screen, Recommended restore and Choose a different restore point, select the Choose a different restore point option before clicking Next > unless you're absolutely sure that the preselected restore point is the one you want to use.
Choose the restore point that you want to use. Ideally, you'd want to choose the one just prior to noticing the problem you're trying to undo, but not any further back. Any restore points that you manually created, scheduled restore points that Windows automatically created, and any created automatically during the installation of certain programs will be listed here. You can not use System Restore to undo Windows changes to a date that a restore point does not exist for.
If you need to, check the Show more restore points or Show restore points older than 5 days checkbox to see more than the most recent restore points. There's no guarantee there are any but it's worth looking if you need to go back that far.
Click Finish on the Confirm your restore point window to begin the System Restore.
Windows will shut down to complete the System Restore, so be sure to save any work you might have open in other programs before continuing.
Click Yes to the Once started, System Restore cannot be interrupted. Do you want to continue? dialog box.
System Restore will now restore Windows to the state that was recorded in the restore point you chose in Step 4.
The System Restore process could take several minutes as you see the 'Please wait while your Windows files and settings are being restored' message. Your computer will then reboot as normal when complete.
Immediately after logging into Windows after the reboot, you should see a message that System Restore completed successfully.
Click Close.
Check to see if whatever Windows 7 or Windows Vista problem you were troubleshooting has been corrected by this System Restore. If the problem still persists, you can repeat the steps above and choose another restore point if one is available. If this restoration caused a problem, you can always undo this particular System Restore.
Make your way to Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools.
Click on the System Restore program icon.
Choose to Restore my computer to an earlier time and then click Next >.
Choose an available date on the calendar on the left.
Available dates are those when a restore point was created and are shown in bold. You can not use System Restore to undo Windows XP changes to a date that a restore point does not exist.
Now that a date is chosen, choose a specific restore point from the list on the right.
Click Next >.
Click Next > on the Confirm Restore Point Selection window you see now.
Windows XP will shut down as part of the System Restore process. Be sure to save any files you have open before continuing.
System Restore will now restore Windows XP with the registry, driver, and other important files as they existed when the restore point you chose in Step 5 was created. This could take several minutes.
After the restart is complete, log in as you normally do. Assuming everything went as planned, you should see a Restoration Complete window, which you can Close.
You can now check to see if the System Restore fixed whatever Windows XP issue you were trying to fix. If not, you can always try an earlier restore point, if you have one. If the System Restore made things worse, you can always undo it.
The Windows System Restore utility will not in any way affect your non-system files like documents, music, video, emails, etc. If you were hoping that Windows System Restore would, in fact, restore or 'undelete' any deleted non-system files, try a file recovery program instead.
Restore points don't usually need to be created manually. Assuming System Restore is enabled and working properly, Windows, as well as other programs, should regularly create restore points at critical junctures like prior to a patch being applied, before a new program is installed, etc.
See What Is a Restore Point? for a greater discussion on restore points and how they work.
System Restore can also be started in any version of Windows by executing rstrui.exe, which might be helpful in certain situations, like when you need to run it from Safe Mode or another limited-access situation.
See How to Start System Restore From the Command Prompt if you need help doing that.