How to Restore a System on Windows 10 using System Restore

By default, System Restore is disabled on Windows 10. Still, when properly activated and configured, it can automatically create checkpoints, but you can manually create a restore point before making any changes. Change the system.

In this Windows 10 guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to configure and use System Restore to undo changes that could harm your device.

How to turn on System Restore -System Restore

On Windows 10, System Restore is disabled by default, but you can use the following steps to enable it:

1. Open Start.
2. Find Create a restore point, and click the System Properties result.
3. Under “Protection Settings”, select the primary system drive, and click the Configure button.

   

4. Select the Turn on system protection option.

   

   A quick tip: You can also use the slider to set the amount of space you want System Restore to use, defaulting only one percent.

5. Click Apply.
6. Click OK.

Once you’ve completed the steps, a new restore point will be created automatically when a significant system change occurs, such as before the Windows 10 update was installed.

Note: You can only enable System Restore on supported drives. This is not a feature that you can help with on each device. In case you have multiple drives, you cannot configure them.

How to create a system restore point

While the new restore point will be automatically created during significant changes, you will sometimes want to make a restore point before modifying anything that could cause problems if you don’t do it correctly.

1. Open Start.
2. Find Create a restore point, and click the System Properties result.
3. Under “Protection Settings”, select the primary system drive, and click the Create button.

   

4. Enter a description to define the restore point.

   

5. Click Create.

After completing these steps, if something goes wrong while modifying the Registry, installing a new application or driver, you can use the steps below to use the restore point to undo the change.

How to undo changes with System Restore

In case you run into any problems, before reinstalling Windows 10, you have to undo the changes using a restore point to get up and running again.

1. Open Start.
2. Find Create a restore point, and click the System Properties result.
3. Click the System Restore button.

   

4. Click Next.

   

5. Choosing the most recently known working to restore point will help you to fix the current problem.
6. Click the Scan for affected programs button to see the applications removed if installed after the restore point was created.
7. Click Close.
8. Click Next.

   

9. Click Finish.

   

Once you’ve completed the steps, your device should return promptly to its previous state, where everything worked properly.

Use the restore point when your device doesn’t start

The previous steps went through how to use a restore point while you still have access to the desktop. However, there will come a time when you will have to use System Restore because a system change is preventing your device from starting.

If you can’t start the computer, you can use advanced system options to access System Restore, which you can do with the following steps:

1. Try starting your computer three times to activate auto repair on Windows 10.
2. Click Advanced Startup.
3. Click Troubleshoot.
4. Click Advanced options.
5. Click System Restore.

   

6. Click Next.

   

7. Choosing the most recently known working to restore point will help you to fix the current problem.
8. Click the Scan for affected programs button to see the applications removed if installed after the restore point was created.
9. Click Close.
10. Click Next.

    

11. Click Finish.

Suppose you cannot enter the automatic repair environment. In that case, you can start your device using a bootable medium, click Next, click the Repair your computer button, and then follow the direction lead above.

Conclude

While we focused this tutorial on Windows 10, System Restore has been working for many years, and you can use the same instructions on Windows 8.1 and Windows 7.

Also, keep in mind that this feature is not a replacement for a full backup or reset your device to factory defaults. If your computer has a hardware problem, you won’t be able to use this feature to recover, and there is a chance that you might lose files.