How to Use Windows 11 System Restore

System Restore helps you undo all the system changes that happened to your PC after creating a restore point. It is preferable to set a restore point before making changes to your system so that you can immediately undo the changes you made if something goes wrong. Installing system upgrades, driver updates, or wrong settings might cause the system to malfunction and crash.

The system restores feature is present in the system to address such issues. On Windows 11, you get a system restore point, which you can utilize to undo any new system changes.

System Restore in Windows 11 is a powerful feature that creates “restore points,” snapshots of your system files, and settings at a specific time. These restore points can be used to roll back your system to a previous state, which is particularly useful if you encounter problems after installing new software, drivers, or updates. By understanding how System Restore works, you can effectively use it to undo unwanted changes and keep your system running smoothly.

How to Do Windows 11 System Restore

System restore is available on Windows 11, but by default, it is disabled. You will need to manually enable this function in order to use it. This guide will show you how to enable and use system restore in Windows 11.

Enabling System Restore Windows 11

You can enable system restore on Windows 11. When you configure system restore on your PC, your system will automatically create a restore point whenever you make any changes to the system, like installing updates or such. To enable system restore on Windows 11, follow the steps given below:

• Open the “Start menu“ and then search for create a recovery drive and open it.
• You will be headed to the system protection tab in the system properties. Now under the protection settings, select the drive in which you want to create the restore point, and then click on configure. 

• On the next Windows that appears, click select the turn on system protection toggle, and click on apply. 

After doing so, Windows 11 will create a restore point automatically whenever you try making some changes to Windows.

Creating System Restore Point Manually on Windows 11

The above method will create a system restore point automatically. However, if you want to create a system restore point automatically when making any changes to the system, then you can follow the steps given below-

• Click on the Start or press the Windows key on your keyboard to open the start menu. In the start menu, search for and open the create a recovery drive.
• This will open the system properties of your PC. Click on create option that you will find under protection settings under the system protection tab.

• You will have to name the restore point. Ensure you name it correctly before continuing. Click on create to create a restore point with that name.

You can manually create the system restore point whenever you are making any changes to the system.

Restoring Windows 11 System From Desktop

If you want to undo the changes and restore the system to the point when it was working fine, then you can restore your system using the restore point you created earlier. Follow the steps given below to restore the system using the system restore point.

• In the start menu, search for create a recovery drive and open it. This will lead you to the system protection tab in the system properties. 
• You will see the system restore option there. Click on it.
• Now select the restore point to which you want to restore your system.
• Click on the scan for affected programs button. This will tell what changes will be made. This will let you know what apps will be removed or added to your system because they were added or removed after creating the restore point.

• Once done, click on close to close the current window, and then click on next to continue with system restore.
• Once done, click on finish, and then close the window. This will restore your system to the system restore point.

Restore The System From The Advanced Startup

If you cannot access your system, you will have to restore your PC from the advanced startup. When the system crashes, you have the option to restore your system using the advanced startup.

Step 1: Firstly access the advanced startup on your PC. 

• You can do this by interrupting the normal boot process of the system. Firstly, power off your PC. Press the power button to turn it on, and as soon as the Windows logo appears, turn it off. This will interrupt the normal boot process. Repeat this 4-5 times to access advanced startup. 
• If you can access the sign-in screen, then on the sign-in screen, click on the power option. Then hold the shift key and click on the restart while you still hold the shift key. 
• You can either use the Windows setup to open the advanced setup. If you have bootable media for Windows, then boot into the computer using that and click on the repair your computer option.

Step 2: Once in the advanced startup, you will see a blue screen. In the advanced startup, select Troubleshoot option. 

Step 3: Now, in troubleshoot, select advanced options, and then select system restore. 

Step 4: Next, you will have to select Windows 10 account and then confirm it with your account password. 

Step 5: Once done, click on the continue button. 

Step 6: Next, select the restore point, and then click on scan for affected programs. This will show you all the changes that will be made to your system after you restore it. Close the current window, and then click on next to continue with the system restore. 

Step 7: Once done, click on finish.

You can restore your system from the advanced startup by following the above process.

READ MORE:

• How to Run as Administrator Windows 11
• Fix Windows 11 Widgets Not Working
• How To Enable Windows 11 Dark Mode
• How To Download And Install Connect App In Windows 11
• How to Fix Windows 11 Not Detecting Second Monitor
• Change Default Search To Google in Start Menu Windows 11

Final Words

That’s how you use Windows 11 system restore. System restores in Windows 11 are a valuable tool that allows you to restore your system to a prior state if it crashes. So feel free to use it and make your time worthwhile.

FAQs

How do I use System Restore to revert to a previous state?

Open the System Restore interface by searching for “rstrui.exe” or navigating to it through System Properties. Choose a restore point from the list and click “Next.” You can click “Scan for affected programs” to see what changes will occur. Finally, confirm your choice and click “Finish” to start the restoration process.

Can I use System Restore if Windows 11 won’t boot?

Yes, if Windows 11 fails to boot, you can access System Restore from the Advanced Startup options. Restart your PC and enter the Advanced Startup (often by pressing F11 or using the power button menu). Navigate to “Troubleshoot” > “Advanced options” > “System Restore,” and then follow the prompts.

How do I know if System Restore was completed successfully?

After the process, your PC will restart. Upon successful completion, you will be logged into Windows with a confirmation message indicating the restoration was successful.