How to Find Your Older Restore Points in Windows 10?

Where is the Restore Point Located in Windows 10?

Restore Points are a key feature in Windows 10 that allow users to revert their system to a previous state. This can be a lifesaver when a system update causes issues, a software installation goes wrong, or a computer gets a blue screen.

Where is the restore point located in Windows 10? It's important to understand that restore points are not individual files you can browse to using File Explorer. Instead, they are system snapshots that include critical system files, registry settings, and configurations. These snapshots are stored in a hidden folder called System Volume Information on your hard drive. In other words, you cannot directly access restore point files; they can only be managed through the System Restore utility.

How to Find Your Older Restore Points in Windows 10?

Many users create multiple restore points over time. When needed, they may want to locate a specific one to revert their system to a previous state. This section outlines three methods to find older restore points in Windows 10. Let’s dive into the practical steps for locating your restore points!

Method 1. Find Your Restore Points via the User Interface

This is the most common way to access your older restore points. Windows provides a user-friendly interface for System Restore, which is where you’ll typically go to revert your system. This method allows you to see a list of available restore points and choose the one you want to use.

Here's how to find your older restore points in Windows 10:

Step 1: Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.

Step 2: Type R and press Enter to launch the System Restore utility.

Step 3: Click Next to view available restore points, including their creation dates, descriptions, and types.

Method 2. Use CMD to Locate Restore Points

For users who are comfortable with the command line, using Command Prompt can also be an effective way to list and manage restore points. While it doesn't offer a graphical interface, it can sometimes reveal restore points that might not immediately appear in the System Restore UI, especially if there are minor system issues.

Follow these steps to find your restore point via CMD:

Step 1:Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.

Step 2: Then, press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open Command Prompt in admin/elevated mode.

Step 3: Type the following command and press Enter to execute tasks.

• vssadmin list shadows (View all available restore points for all drives)
• vssadmin list shadows >"%userprofile%\Desktop\Restore Points.txt" (List all available restore points for all drives to a text file on the desktop)
• vssadmin list shadows /For=C: (List all available restore points for a specific drive)

This command displays all available restore points, including their volume drive letters and shadow copy IDs.

Step 4: Finally, exit the CMD window.

Method 3. Recover Lost Restore Points with Software

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you may not be able to find the older restore points you're looking for. This could happen due to manual deletion, disk cleanup, or issues with the System Restore service itself. Additionally, when the allocated disk space for restore points is full, Windows automatically deletes older restore points to make room for new ones.

"So, how do I find my restore points in Windows 10 when they're missing?" In such cases, specialized data recovery software may help. We recommend using AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery, a powerful and versatile tool designed to recover various types of files on Windows PCs. Whether your files were lost due to computer crashes, accidental deletion, disk formatting, or a virus attack, you can recover them in just a few clicks.

Here’s how to find lost older restore points using AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery:

Step 1: Download and install AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery, and then choose the exact partition or disk where your older restore points are located.

Step 2: Scan your disk to find the deleted files. It offers two modes:

• Quick Scan: Quickly searches for recently deleted files.
• Deep Scan: Thoroughly scans your storage device to find lost data from more complex loss situations.

Step 3: Upon scanning completion, all missing files will be displayed. Kindly choose the desired files and then click Recover.

Step 4: Specify another saving path for the recovered files and wait for the process to complete.

★Pro Tips for Successful File Recovery:

Always recover files to a different location. Saving recovered data to the same drive can overwrite lost files, making them unrecoverable.

Stop using the affected drive immediately. The more you use it, the higher the chance your lost files will be permanently overwritten.

Extra Tips: How to Create a Restore Point in Windows 10?

Regularly creating restore points is a proactive measure that can save your device when necessary. It's a simple process and highly recommended before making any changes to your system, such as installing new software, updating drivers, or applying major Windows updates.

Here’s how to create a restore point in Windows 10:

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

Step 2: In the System window, click System Protection on the left pane.

Step 3: Under the Protection Settings section, select the drive you want to protect (usually C:), then click the Configure... button.

Step 4: Make sure the option Turn on system protection is selected. 

Step 5: Click the Create... button, enter a description for the restore point, and click Create.

Step 6: Once the restore point is created, click OK to close the window.

Final Words

Restore Points are effective, but they can sometimes become hidden or difficult to access. In this guide, we’ve walked you through how to find older restore points in Windows 10. By following the methods above, you can easily locate them and restore your computer to an earlier date.

Remember that the best defense is a good offense! It’s strongly recommended to proactively create restore points before making major system changes. It can be a lifesaver in emergencies.