Find out if System Restore is enabled on Windows 11 Devices
System Restore is a built-in backup and restore feature of the Windows operating system. It is part of Microsoft's Windows 11 operating system and can be used to restore the system to a previous state, provided that snapshots were created in the past.
System Restore is useful in certain situations, for instance to roll back Windows updates or resolve critical issues on the system that did not exist previously.
System Restore may not be enabled by default on Windows 11 PCs. It is a good idea to check the feature to find out if it is enabled or not. Users who use third-party backup software regularly, e.g., Paragon Backup, to create system backups, may have less need for the feature.
Note: System Restore can also be managed from the command line.
Check if System Restore is enabled on Windows 11
On Windows 10 devices, you could open the Advanced System Settings that are part of the Control Panel. Microsoft removed the link from the Control Panel, which means that users need to go through the Settings application to find out if System Restore is enabled.
Here is how that is done:
- Open the Start menu and select the Settings application.
- Open System if it is not open already.
- Select About, an option at the bottom of the System Settings page.
- Activate the "System Protection" link on the page that opens.
Windows 11 opens the System Properties window, a classic Windows that has not been migrated to the Settings application yet.
Check the Protection Settings in the window; if you see "Off" next to the main drive, or other drives, then System Restore is not turned on. You will also notice that the System Restore button on the page is not active as well, meaning that you can't use it to restore the system to a previous state.
How to enable and configure System Restore on Windows 11
Select the Configure button in the window after making sure that the main drive, drive c: usually, is selected, to activate System Restore or change parameters. The page that opens displays three core options:
- Turn System Restore on or off by switching between "Turn on system protection" and "Disable system protection".
- Change the percentage of disk space that System Restore may use for its functionality.
- Delete all restore points for the drive.
Repeat the process for other drives if you want to. Once turned on, you may use the create button to create a new system restore snapshot right away.
Windows 11 will create snapshots automatically if system restore is turned on, for instance, when updates are installed.
You may use the option to create manual system restore points regularly.
Closing words
System Restore is a useful feature of Windows 11 and previous versions of Windows. It is unclear why it is not enabled by default, at least on some systems. One explanation is the required storage space that it uses when enabled.
The solution is not perfect. While it works well when it comes to the installation of updates, usually, it may fail in other situations, e.g. accidental deletion of system files or malware attacks.
Now You: do you use System Restore?
There is not still W11 23H2 and these instructions are nonsense by now. :[
It worked for me just fine. You’re probably not following the instructions clearly.
Just tried the password option and the OOBE option and didnt work.
Worked perfectly. Thank OP.
Worked perfectly for me just now. Specifically, the regedit option.
Is this cut and paste from a Microsoft PR paper, because it 1000% BS:
“By listening to user insights, Microsoft has demonstrated its commitment to refining the Windows experience based on real-world needs.”
Windows 11 is proof they don’t give a s*it.
Worked for me just now
I agree! Windows 11 was a downgrade to me and I kept all 8 computers in our family on Windows 10 as a result. They didn’t listen to any customers. The taskbar was THE main reason I stayed away from Windows 11. With 6 monitors, it is impossible to navigate so many browser tabs, without the feature. I will try the new version in the virtual box to see if it is worth it yet.
Microsoft did a terrible job with this implementation.
They simply need to employ the creator of StartAllBack to fix Windows. He is smarter and more talented than the entire campus of Microsoft employees.
lol
Thank you so much! I work in IT and this is extremely useful information!
Thanks man. The second method worked great!
I used the second method, and i got exactly what i expected.
Using the Bypass 2: Use a banned email address email worked fantastically as I had gone to far to use the bypass 1.
I will be back when I next have a problem.
Keep you the great work
W11 File Explorer is the worst crap ever done. W11 is the biggest shame ever.
Just one more reason for me to go to Linux when Windows 10 ages out.
@ MarineRecon,
Be careful which Linux distro you choose. Some of them don’t include the Wayland protocol which is a security issue i.e. apps can copy, paste and inject data without user interaction.
It’s included in Fedora: https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/fedora/latest/system-administrators-guide/Wayland/
How about a DARK MODE for your website? That would be oh so nice.
Something like this : [https://img.justpaste.me/image/8617] maybe?
Done with ‘Dark Reader Extension for ? Firefox’ [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/darkreader/]
This comment was written on [https://www.ghacks.net/windows-11-installation-has-failed-how-to-fix-this-upgrade-error/#comment-4573155}
Definitely NOT! Once you get older and your eyesight starts to fail you’ll positively loathe dark mode.
Not sure what eye problems *you’re* having, but for me the exact opposite is true. Dark Mode is MUCH easier on my Eyes.
BTW- I’m 52, and have worked in IT all my life. Been staring at monitors for hours each day, most days of the week since the late 1980’s.
Microsoft completely ruined File Explorer by converting to XAML/WinUI/whatever new bloated modern garbage. Its worse than it ever was.
i tested it on win10 current edition. speeds up explorer like a charm
SO what is the priority numbers to give preference to ethernet over wireless?
Worked very well happy to have Windows Photo Viewer back in action in Windows-11
Worked for me (registry option) thank god, I can use the search option to find things on my computer again. Thank you so much!
Install Everything Search and dispense with Microsoft’s crappy search tool. https://www.voidtools.com/
Martin wrote an article on it: https://www.ghacks.net/2020/10/09/add-everything-search-to-the-windows-taskbar-for-even-faster-searches/
I presume the text “WindowsCopilot,,” is a typographical error (2023/09/17/how-to-disable-windows-copilot-in-windows/). The broken comment system unfortunately looks like it is populating itself via AI autopilot.
Hopefully, this Windows Copilot nonsense fails even more spectacularly than Cortana. Who requested this? We want all of the UX features removed back in 11, not this copilot nonsense.
I really don’t mind all of these Windows enhancement but Microsoft get one thing very wrong. ‘Opt in’, is far better than seek information and work to disable.
Turn off Windows Copilot entirely is not good enough.
How to uninstall Copilot entirely ?
@ ilev,
Use Gpedit or the registry. Explained in this article: https://www.ghacks.net/2023/09/17/how-to-disable-windows-copilot-in-windows/
With that snake oil salesman Panos gone, hopefully Windows can return to a normal desktop operating system without all the insanity it has right now in Windows 11.
Can we please stop being ‘politically correct’ (lying) and call them ads again instead of ‘suggestions’?
@ Martin,
Does your gpedit hack also turn off all the other “subscribed content” shown in the registry screenshot? Do you happen to know what all those are?
Thank you, I used the fake email option, it worked great.
I wish I had read this article a few months ago, as I purchased two refurbished Windows 10 Pro PCs to replace two older ones. The 1st one I entered an existing Microsoft account I had and it imediately setup OneDrive, adding it to the path names for the common folders such as Documents, Music, video, etc. I tried to just disable OneDrive but then had odd problems finding my data copied from another older PC. long story short I was able to remove all the entries from the registry after un-installing OneDrive.
The second refurbished PC I didn’t connect the WiFi adapter so during installation I was able to click on the no Internet option. Basically I did as you suggested above; set up a local login, disabled OneDrive from running on bootup, and eventually unInstalled it. No problems with folder paths, etc.
The registry option worked for me, but only me, not any other users. How do I make this apply to all users? Yes, I have admin rights.