System Restore on Windows 10 is a built-in rollback tool that undoes software changes — driver installs, Windows Updates, program installations — that caused problems, without affecting your documents or personal files. It works by restoring Windows system files, the registry, and installed programs to a saved restore point from before the issue began.
This guide covers enabling System Restore on Windows 10, selecting the right restore point, running the restore from both the normal desktop and Safe Mode, and accessing it when Windows 10 will not start.
Before you start
Confirm System Protection is enabled on Windows 10 (Step 1 below). If it was disabled, no restore points exist and System Restore cannot reach any previous state. In that case, the alternatives are a Windows Reset (Settings → Update & Security → Recovery → Reset this PC) or restoring from a full system image backup if one was created.
How to verify the fix
After System Restore completes on Windows 10, test the exact issue that prompted the restore — open the application that was crashing, run the task that triggered the error, or confirm the BSOD no longer appears after a restart. If the problem is gone, the restore succeeded. If it persists, select an older restore point. If System Restore cannot resolve the issue, see Windows Recovery Drive for booting into the full Windows Recovery Environment.
Step-by-step fix
Check System Protection is enabled in Windows 10
System Restore on Windows 10 requires System Protection to be turned on for the C: drive. To check: press Windows + S, type Create a restore point, and open the result. The System Properties window opens on the System Protection tab. In the Protection Settings list, look at the C: drive row — the Protection column should show On. If it shows Off, click the C: drive to select it, click Configure, choose Turn on system protection, set the Max Usage slider to 5–10% (about 10–20 GB on a typical drive), and click OK. If System Protection was off, no restore points exist yet — you will need to create one manually before you can restore.
Open System Restore on Windows 10
In the System Properties window (opened by searching 'Create a restore point'), click the System Restore button. The System Restore wizard opens. Click Next to display the list of available restore points. Each entry shows the date, time, a description, and the type — Windows Update, Device Driver Package Install, Manual, or Application Install. The most recent restore points are shown first. If the list is short, check the Show more restore points checkbox at the bottom left to reveal older entries. If no restore points are listed at all, System Protection was off when the problem occurred and System Restore cannot be used — see the Reset this PC option in Settings → Update & Security → Recovery as an alternative.
Select the correct restore point for Windows 10
Choose a restore point from before the problem started. If Windows 10 was working correctly last Monday and started crashing on Tuesday after a driver update, select a restore point from Monday or earlier. Click a restore point once to highlight it, then click Scan for affected programs to see a list of programs and drivers that will be removed or restored by that restore point. This scan shows: programs that will be deleted (installed after the restore point date) and programs that will be restored (were present then, removed since). Personal files do not appear in this list because they are not changed by System Restore. Select the appropriate restore point and click Next.
Run System Restore on Windows 10 and wait
On the confirmation screen, verify the restore point description and date are correct, then click Finish. A warning appears noting that the operation cannot be interrupted once started. Click Yes to confirm. Windows 10 closes all open applications, saves the current state (allowing an undo later if needed), and begins the restore. The screen goes dark, the Windows logo may appear with a progress spinner, and the PC restarts at least once. The entire process takes 10 to 20 minutes on most systems. Do not press the power button or cut power during the restore.
Run System Restore in Safe Mode if Windows 10 is unstable
If Windows 10 is too unstable to run System Restore normally — it crashes immediately on startup or System Restore fails midway — run it from Safe Mode. To enter Safe Mode: hold the Shift key while clicking Restart from the Start menu, then go to Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart → press 4 for Safe Mode. Once in Safe Mode, search for 'Create a restore point' and run System Restore normally. In Safe Mode, third-party programs, drivers, and antivirus software that might interfere with the restore are disabled, giving System Restore a clean environment to work in.
Run System Restore from Windows 10 Advanced Startup if Windows won't boot
If Windows 10 will not start at all, access System Restore from the Windows Recovery Environment. If your PC triggers Automatic Repair after two failed boots, a screen appears with Troubleshoot options — click Troubleshoot → Advanced options → System Restore. Alternatively, restart your PC, interrupt the boot three times by holding the power button during the Windows logo, and Windows enters recovery mode automatically. If neither method works, use a Windows Recovery Drive or Windows 10 installation USB — boot from it, choose Repair your computer, and navigate to Troubleshoot → Advanced options → System Restore. See [Windows Recovery Drive](/computers/windows-recovery-drive/) for how to create one.