How to Find & Use Restore Points in Windows 11 — GUI, CMD & PowerShell

System Restore Points are essential recovery features built into Windows 11 that can help you revert system settings and files back to an earlier point in time. Whether you’re troubleshooting a faulty update, recovering from a software installation gone wrong, or trying to undo configuration errors, restore points offer a reliable fallback method without affecting your personal files. This guide explores how to find and use restore points in Windows 11 via the Graphical User Interface (GUI), Command Prompt (CMD), and PowerShell.

TL;DR (Too Long, Didn’t Read)

Restore Points in Windows 11 allow you to revert system settings to an earlier, stable state. You can access them through the System Protection tab in the Control Panel, or use CMD and PowerShell commands to manage them. Use GUI for ease, or leverage command-line tools for automation and troubleshooting. It’s recommended to create a manual restore point before large updates or new software installations.

Understanding Restore Points in Windows 11

A restore point is essentially a snapshot of your system files and settings at a particular time. It does not affect your personal documents, images, or other data, but it can roll back system files, drivers, registry settings, and installed applications.

Windows 11 automatically creates restore points before major updates or driver installations if protection is turned on, but you can also create them manually for added safety. Access to these restore points is available through several methods:

• Graphical User Interface (GUI) – Easiest for most users
• Command Prompt (CMD) – Useful for scripting and troubleshooting
• PowerShell – Provides more flexibility and automation options

How to Enable System Protection and Create a Restore Point (GUI)

Before using restore points, you need to ensure that System Protection is enabled:

1. Open the Control Panel and navigate to System and Security > System.
2. Click on System Protection on the left sidebar.
3. Under the System Properties window, go to the System Protection tab.
4. Select your system drive (usually C:), then click Configure.
5. Choose Turn on system protection and allocate disk space (5-10% recommended).
6. Click OK to confirm settings.

To manually create a restore point:

1. In the same System Protection tab, click Create.
2. Provide a name (e.g. Before installing driver X) and click Create.

How to Use a Restore Point (GUI)

If something goes wrong, follow these steps to revert your system:

1. In the System Protection tab, click System Restore…
2. Follow the prompts and select a restore point from the list.
3. Click Next, then Finish to begin restoring.
4. Your system will reboot and begin the restoration process. This cannot be interrupted.

After restoration, Windows will inform you if the restore was successful. If it fails, try a different restore point or use Safe Mode.

Managing Restore Points through Command Prompt (CMD)

For administrators or power users, Command Prompt provides ways to interface with the Volume Shadow Copy Service and manage restore points more precisely. Though limited for creation, it is valuable for triggering restores or checking functionality.

To display available restore points:

vssadmin list shadows

This command lists available restore points (also referred to as shadow copies). Each entry shows the creation time and shadow copy ID.

To create a restore point:

Windows does not directly support manual creation of restore points via a simple CMD command. However, you can invoke a script to create one using WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation), though it’s more streamlined in PowerShell.

To run System Restore from Safe Mode using CMD:

1. Reboot into Safe Mode with Command Prompt.
2. Enter the following command:

rstrui.exe

This launches the System Restore wizard in GUI mode even from Safe Mode, letting you choose a restore point.

Working with Restore Points in PowerShell

PowerShell offers more flexibility and control over restore points, including creation via scripting.

To create a new restore point:

Checkpoint-Computer -Description "Manual Restore Point" -RestorePointType "MODIFY_SETTINGS"

This command creates a restore point with a defined type and description. Note: PowerShell must be launched in administrator mode for this to work.

RestorePointType can be one of the following:

• APPLICATION_INSTALL – Before installing software
• APPLICATION_UNINSTALL – Before removing software
• DEVICE_DRIVER_INSTALL – Before driver operations
• MODIFY_SETTINGS – Generic changes

If you receive an error like “This command cannot be run due to the following error: A new restore point cannot be created because the frequency of restore point creation is limited by the system.”, it means you’ve hit the 24-minute limit between restore points.

To view existing restore points in PowerShell:

There is no direct in-built command like CMD’s vssadmin, but you can work with WMI to list them using third-party scripts or modules. Officially, this function is limited to creation only via PowerShell.

Best Practices for Using Restore Points

To maximize the efficiency and reliability of restore points in Windows 11, follow these best practices:

• Create a restore point before major software updates, driver installations, or configuration changes.
• Regularly check if System Protection is enabled after large Windows updates.
• Use meaningful names when creating manual restore points to easily identify them later.
• Don’t rely solely on restore points; use full system backups for data protection.

Troubleshooting Tips

If restore points are unavailable or not working:

• Ensure System Protection is enabled on the relevant drive.
• Check disk space allocation for system protection—if it’s too low, old restore points may be deleted quickly.
• Try launching System Restore from Safe Mode (rstrui.exe).
• Use sfc /scannow and DISM tools to repair corrupted system files that may interfere with System Restore.

Conclusion

System Restore Points are a powerful safety net when working with a Windows 11 system. Whether you’re a casual user or system admin, understanding how to find and use them via GUI, CMD, or PowerShell can help you resolve issues quickly and efficiently. As always, complement restore points with regular full backups for full peace of mind.