System Restore is like the Time Machine in Mac; it allows you to cancel the changes that have been made to Windows 10 system when problems are caused.
The System Restore feature is able to solve a lot of issues easily. Hence, this post will discuss how to take full advantage of System Restore Windows 10.
By enabling System Restore in Windows 10, you can create a snapshot of your device and save it as a restore point.
Where does the System Restore points come from?
In general, they are generated when you do the following things:
- Install a new driver, application or update.
- Create a restore point manually.
Whenever changes are applied and problems are caused, you can restore your device to an earlier point in time to make things right. This will leave your precious data intact.
How to Make the Best of System Restore Windows 10
Where Is System Restore in Windows 10
You should know that the System Restore is disabled by default in Windows 10.
How to open and enable System Restore:
- Press the Start key on the keyboard.
- Scroll down to open the Windows System folder.
- Select Control Panel.
- Choose to View by Small icons.
- Click on the Recovery icon.
- Click on the Configure System Restore option.
- Select your system drive (usually C).
- Click on the Configure button.
- Choose Turn on system protection.
- Click on the OK or Apply button.
- Click on the OK button at the bottom of the System Protection tab.
Of course, you can access System Restore in Windows 10 via command prompt:
- Run command prompt as administrator.
- Type rstrui.exe and press Enter on the keyboard.
How to Create a System Restore Point
It is known to all that the system will create a restore point automatically when it discovers the installation of new apps or a major system change.
Here is how to create a restore point manually:
- Click on the Cortana search box on taskbar (fix Windows 10 taskbar not working).
- Type create a restore point.
- Select Create a restore point (Control panel) under Best match to go to System Protection tab of System Properties window. (You can also repeat step 1 to step 6 mentioned in How to open and enable System Restore part to access the System Protection tab).
- Click on the Create button.
- Name the restore point with distinctive words so that you can choose the correct point when you need to restore your device.
- Click Create at the bottom.
- Wait for the creating restore point process to complete.
- Click on the Close button when system says the restore point was created successfully.
- Click on the OK button in the System Protection tab.
How to Restore Windows 10 from an Earlier Restore Point
In fact, you can restore your device to an earlier state via several ways.
Here is the easiest way:
- Go to System Protection tab using the ways talked above.
- Click on the System Restore button.
- Click on the Next button at the bottom of System Restore window.
- Choose a restore point from the list.
- Click on the Next button.
- Confirm your restore point and click on the Finish button.
- Wait for the process to complete.
How long does a System Restore take on Windows 10?
Generally, it takes about 25 ~ 30 minutes to finish the restore process. But, another 10 ~ 15 minutes are needed for finishing the final setup.
FYI: important files are missing from Windows 10? Please read this to know how to get them back:
System Restore Windows 10 from Boot
The System Restore feature is also a good way for fixing computer problems that preventing you from booting into Windows.
How to use System Restore to set things right:
- Restart your computer.
- Press the F8 key (or another key according to the hint on the screen).
- Select Safe Mode with Command Prompt under Advanced Boot Options.
- Type rstrui.exe into Command Prompt and press Enter.
- Type system restore into the textbox and press Enter.
- Choose a restore point from the list.
- Wait for the restore to complete.
- Reboot your computer.
Related problems: