Chapter 24: How to use System Restore in Windows 11

System Restore is a powerful tool in Windows 11 that allows you to roll back your system to an earlier point in time without affecting your personal files. This can be useful if you have installed a program or driver that is causing problems, or if your system is unstable due to a malware infection. In this chapter, we will learn how to use System Restore in Windows 11.

Enabling System Restore

Before you can use System Restore, you need to turn it on. By default, System Restore may not be enabled in Windows 11. Follow the steps below to enable it:

1. Right-click the Start button and select 'System'.
2. In the System window, click 'System Protection' in the left pane.
3. In the System Protection window, you will see a list of your drives. Select the system drive (usually C:) and click 'Configure'.
4. In the configuration window, select 'Enable system protection' and set the maximum disk space usage you want to allow for System Restore. We recommend at least 5-10% of the total disk space.
5. Click 'OK' to save your changes.

Now System Restore is enabled and Windows 11 will start creating restore points automatically.

Creating a Restore Point Manually

Although Windows 11 creates restore points automatically, you can also create a restore point manually at any time. Follow the steps below to create a restore point:

1. Open the System Protection window as described above.
2. Click 'Create' at the bottom of the window.
3. Give your restore point a name and click 'Create'.

Windows 11 will now create a restore point, which you can use to roll back your system if necessary.

Using System Restore

If you need to roll back your system to an earlier point in time, you can use System Restore. Follow the steps below to use System Restore:

1. Open the System Protection window as described above.
2. Click 'System Restore' at the top of the window.
3. In the System Restore window, click 'Next'.
4. You will see a list of available restore points. Select the restore point you want to revert to and click 'Next'.
5. Confirm your choices and click 'Finish' to begin system restore.

Windows 11 will now restart and roll back your system to the selected restore point. This may take a few minutes, so be patient.

Conclusion

System Restore is a powerful tool that can help you resolve many system problems. However, remember that System Restore is not a cure-all and does not replace the need for regular backups of your personal files. Always keep your important files in a safe place and use System Restore as an additional tool to keep your Windows 11 operating system running smoothly.