How To Create A System Restore Point In Windows 10?

This guide shows how to create a system restore point in Windows 10. It explains enabling system protection, manual restore creation, and step-by-step methods for safe system recovery.

Posted by @Irene October 16, 2025 Updated By @Irene October 16, 2025

What is System Restore?

System Restore is a built-in Windows feature that helps fix problems caused by recent changes in your system. It works like a time machine for your computer settings, allowing you to return your system to a previous stable state without losing personal files.

When Windows creates a restore point, it saves system files, registry settings, installed programs, and drivers. These restore points are made automatically when you install updates, drivers, or new software, and you can also create them manually.

Using System Restore can solve issues like system crashes after updates, hardware errors caused by driver conflicts, or instability from new programs.

However, System Restore does not back up personal data such as photos, documents, or videos. It only restores system components and settings. It is a helpful tool for fixing system errors and restoring Windows 10 to an earlier working state.

How to create a System restore point in Windows 10?

Although System Restore cannot recover personal files, it can return your computer’s system settings to a previous working state. This feature is useful when Windows 10 experiences errors or fails to start properly. Before creating a restore point, ensure that System Protection is turned on. Then follow these simple steps.

Part 1. Turn on System Restore

If you have never enabled System Restore before, follow these steps to turn it on:

Step 1. Right-click on This PC on the left sidebar of File Explorer, then choose Properties.

Step 2. Select the System Protection on the right.

Step 3. If you didn't turn on System Restore before, you could see the protection status of each drive partition is labeled as off.

Step 4. To enable this feature, select a specific drive and then click the Configure button.

Step 5. Keep the option Turn on system protection is selected and click the Apply button.

Part 2. Create a Restore Point

After turning on this feature, you need to create restore points for further recovery.

Step 1. Type Create a restore point in the search box and select it from the list of results.

Step 2. In the System Properties window, select System Protection > Create.

Step 3. Type a description for the restore point, and then select Create.

Part 3. Revert the System to a Previous state

Here’s how to restore the failed system using the created restore points:

Step 1. Type control panel in the search box and open it.

Step 2. Click on Recovery > Open System Restore > Next.

Step 3. Choose a restore point and then select Next > Finish to restore the current system.

If you find no restore points have been created in Windows 10 when you need to recover files, you can follow the solutions to fix it.

How to recover lost data without backups?

If you lose data and do not have a System Restore point or backup, you can still recover it using professional recovery software. After a factory reset, most personal files on a Windows computer are erased, and recovery without software becomes very difficult. To improve your chances, it is recommended to use reliable data recovery tools.

AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery is an effective and user-friendly option for restoring lost data on both Windows and Windows Server. It can quickly recover deleted photos, videos, documents, and other files even without backups. Simply download and run the program to start restoring your lost data safely and easily.

If your data is lost on an SD card, remove the card, connect it to your computer, and use recovery software to scan and recover the missing files.

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Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery. Choose the exact partition or disk where your data lost and click Scan.

Step 2. Then, the recovery tool start to scan and search. lt will execute the “Quickly Scan" first for finding your deleted data fast, and then execute the “Deep Scan" for searching other lost data.

Step 3. Once the scan is completed, all deleted files, recycle bins and other missing files will be displayed. Please select the file you would like to recover and then click "Recover".

Step 4. Then, select a folder path to save your recovered files.

Step 5. Wait patiently for this process of recovering ends.

Conclusion

System Restore is a valuable Windows 10 feature that helps you fix system errors and restore your computer to a previous stable state. By enabling System Protection and creating restore points, you can easily recover from software issues, driver conflicts, or failed updates without losing personal data.

However, if you need to recover deleted files or lost data without backups, using professional recovery software like AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery is the best option. It offers a simple and effective way to restore lost photos, videos, and other important files safely and quickly.

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