How to create and use a Windows restore point
Configure System Protection and understand what System Restore changes.
- Updated
- September 18, 2026
- Reading time
- 8 min read
Configure System Protection and understand what System Restore changes. Use the procedure as a controlled diagnostic process and preserve a safe way back.
Enable protection
System Restore can reverse system settings, drivers, and installed software to a recorded state. It is not a file backup and cannot supply a restore point from before protection was enabled. Back up important documents separately before recovery work.
- Search Start for Create a restore point, or press Windows + R and run systempropertiesprotection.exe. Open the System Protection tab.
- Under Protection Settings, select the Windows system drive and check whether protection is On. If it is Off and you are authorized to enable it, choose Configure > Turn on system protection.
- Choose a storage allowance appropriate to the available space, then Apply and OK. Follow administrator policy if controls are restricted; do not delete existing restore points as a troubleshooting shortcut.
Create a point
On the System Protection tab, select Create, give the point a recognizable description such as Before graphics driver change, and wait for confirmation. Do this before the planned change, while the PC is in a usable state.
You can open System Restore to check available points, then cancel without applying one. A creation error needs investigation; do not assume a recovery point exists merely because protection is enabled.
Restore
Save work, connect reliable power, and have account credentials and any BitLocker recovery key available. Choose a point that predates the specific problem; a newer point may already contain the unwanted change.
- From System Protection, select System Restore and proceed to the point selection. Use Show more restore points if offered. If there is no suitable point, stop and choose a different recovery approach rather than creating one now to undo an earlier change.
- Select the intended point and use Scan for affected programs to review software and drivers that may change. Cancel if the impact is unclear.
- Confirm the selected point and proceed with Finish only when ready. Let restoration and its restart complete without deliberately interrupting power.
Verify
Read the restoration result after sign-in, then repeat the original failing task. Check affected applications and drivers before reapplying the same change that preceded the fault.
If restoration fails or the symptom remains, record the error and selected point; do not repeatedly restore without new evidence. Check for appropriate current updates after confirming stability, and keep the separate file backup.