System Restore rolls Windows settings, drivers and installed programs back to an earlier point in time, without touching your documents or photos. The catch: it only works if restore points already exist, so it's worth turning on before you need it.
What System Restore does and doesn't do
| Rolled back | Not touched |
|---|---|
| Apps, drivers and updates installed after the restore point | Documents, photos, downloads and other personal files |
| Windows system settings and the registry | Personal files you deleted (they don't come back) |
It isn't a backup and it isn't a virus removal tool.
1. Turn on System Protection
- Search the Start menu for Create a restore point and open it. The System Protection tab of System Properties appears.
- Under Protection Settings, if your C: drive shows Off, select it and choose Configure.
- Select Turn on system protection and set Max Usage to a modest share of the disk. When the space fills, the oldest restore points are deleted automatically.
- Select OK.
Some PCs ship with this turned off, so it's worth checking.
2. Create a restore point manually
Windows often creates restore points automatically before updates and driver installs, but making one yourself before a big change is safer.
- On the same System Protection tab, select Create.
- Give it a clear name, like "Before graphics driver update."
- Select Create. It takes a minute or two.
3. Restore while Windows is working
- Select System Restore on the System Protection tab, or press Win + R and type
rstrui. - Select Next and choose a restore point from before the problem started.
- Select Scan for affected programs to preview which apps and drivers will be removed.
- Select Next > Finish. The PC restarts and restores. Don't turn it off during the process.
4. Restore when Windows won't start
- After a few failed boots, Windows opens the recovery environment automatically. If Windows does start, you can get there from Settings > System > Recovery > Advanced startup > Restart now.
- Choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > System Restore.
- Pick your account, enter your password, and follow the same steps as above.
5. After restoring
- Reinstall any programs you added after the restore point.
- If things got worse, open System Restore again and choose Undo System Restore. (Restores run from Safe Mode or the recovery environment can't be undone.)
- For other repair options, see our Windows repair guide.
Choosing the right restore point
- Pick the most recent point from before the problem started. Going further back removes more apps and updates than necessary.
- Tick Show more restore points if the one you want isn't listed.
- Automatic points are usually named after the update or install that triggered them, which helps you match them to when the trouble began.
- Restoring is safest with the laptop plugged in, and it can take a while, so let it finish.
Windows 10 differences
The steps are the same on Windows 10. To reach recovery, go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Advanced startup > Restart now.
FAQ
There are no restore points at all.
System Protection was off. You can't use System Restore for the current problem, but turn it on now (step 1) so it's available next time. Meanwhile, try the other tools in our Windows repair guide.
System Restore says it failed.
Security software sometimes interferes. Try again from the recovery environment, or pick a different restore point.
Will it remove a virus?
Not reliably. Malware can live in your personal folders, which System Restore doesn't touch. Run a full scan with Windows Security as well.
How much disk space does it use?
Only what you allow in Max Usage. Windows deletes the oldest points to stay within that limit.