When a Windows 11 update, driver installation, or software change causes your PC to crash, slow down, or display errors, System Restore rolls the system back to a previous working state in about 15 minutes. Your personal files — documents, photos, and downloads — are not affected by the restore.

System Restore on Windows 11 works the same way it did in Windows 10, but the path to find it changed: it is no longer in the Settings app and is instead accessed by searching for “Create a restore point” in the Start menu.

Windows 11 System Restore — where to find it, enable System Protection, select restore point, run from boot options

Before you start — confirm System Protection is on

System Restore requires System Protection to be enabled. On many Windows 11 installations, it is on by default. To verify: search “Create a restore point” → check the Protection column next to the C: drive. If it shows Off, enable it before looking for restore points — though this will not create retroactive points for events that already happened.

If your Windows 11 PC will not start and you cannot reach the desktop, skip directly to Step 6: running System Restore from the Windows 11 boot options.

How to verify the fix

After the restore completes and Windows 11 restarts, open the notification that confirms the restore outcome. Test the specific problem that triggered the restore — run the application that was crashing, reproduce the steps that caused the error, or check the settings that had changed. A successful restore resolves problems caused by system changes made after the restore point date. If the issue predates the restore point you chose, run System Restore again and select an older point.

If the restore did not improve the situation, use the Undo System Restore option in the same wizard before attempting any other changes.

Step-by-step fix

  1. Verify System Protection is enabled on Windows 11

    System Restore requires System Protection to be turned on for the drive you want to restore. To check: press Windows + S, type Create a restore point, and click the result. The System Properties window opens on the System Protection tab. Under Protection Settings, look at the C: drive row — the Protection column should show On. If it shows Off, click Configure, select Turn on system protection, set the disk space slider to at least 5% (10–15 GB on a typical drive), and click OK. System Protection must be on for restore points to exist and for System Restore to function.

  2. Open System Restore on Windows 11

    Press the Windows key, type Create a restore point, and press Enter. The System Properties window opens. Click the System Restore button in the System Protection tab. The System Restore wizard opens. Click Next on the first screen. The wizard displays available restore points — each entry shows the date and time it was created, a description (such as Windows Update or Driver Install), and the type. If no restore points appear, System Protection was not enabled when the issue occurred — see the steps above to enable it, but note that restore points cannot be created retroactively.

  3. Select the right restore point

    Choose a restore point from just before the problem started. If Windows 11 began crashing after a specific Windows Update, select a restore point created before that update was applied. To see a description of each restore point, click it once and read the description field. To see all stored restore points, check the Show more restore points box at the bottom left — this reveals older points not shown by default. Before confirming, click Scan for affected programs to preview which programs and drivers will be removed or restored. This scan does not make any changes — it only shows what the restore operation will affect. Your personal files are not listed because they are not affected.

  4. Run System Restore and wait

    After selecting a restore point, click Next, review the confirmation screen showing the restore point date and the drive to be restored, then click Finish. Click Yes to confirm. Windows 11 closes all applications and begins the restore process. The screen goes dark and a progress animation appears. Do not press the power button or restart the computer during this process — the restore must complete uninterrupted. The process takes 10 to 20 minutes. Your computer restarts automatically when the restore is complete.

  5. Confirm the result and test Windows 11

    After the restart, Windows 11 displays a notification confirming whether the restore succeeded or failed. If successful, the message reads: System Restore completed successfully. Test the specific issue that prompted the restore — open the application that was crashing, check the Windows 11 settings that had changed, or verify that the error message is gone. If the problem remains, the restore point you chose may predate the problem — run System Restore again and select an older restore point. If the restore did not help, open System Restore and select Undo System Restore to reverse the operation.

  6. Run System Restore from Windows 11 boot options if Windows won't start

    If Windows 11 will not load the desktop, you can run System Restore from the boot environment. Restart your PC and hold the Shift key while clicking Restart (or restart twice to trigger Automatic Repair mode). From the options screen, go to Troubleshoot → Advanced options → System Restore. The same restore point wizard appears, but runs before Windows fully loads. Select a restore point and confirm. This method bypasses any software conflict that might prevent System Restore from running normally. If you cannot reach this screen, a Windows Recovery Drive allows access to the same options — see [Windows Recovery Drive](/computers/windows-recovery-drive/).