If a Windows update, driver, application or settings change leaves your PC unstable or unable to start properly, Windows 11 now includes a built-in Point-in-Time Restore feature that can roll your computer back to an earlier working state in just a few minutes.
Unlike the older System Restore feature, Point-in-Time Restore automatically creates full restore points every 24 hours by default. These include Windows, installed applications, settings and local files, making it much easier to recover from software problems without rebuilding your PC.
To Check Whether The Feature Is Enabled
– Open “Settings”.
– Select “System > Recovery > Point-in-Time Restore”.
– Confirm that the feature is turned on. On many Windows 11 Home and Pro PCs with drives of 200GB or larger, it is enabled automatically.
If Your PC Develops A Serious Problem
– Restart your PC into the “Windows Recovery Environment”.
– Select “Troubleshoot > Point-in-Time Restore”.
– Enter your “BitLocker recovery key” if prompted.
– Choose a restore point created before the problem occurred.
– Confirm the restore and allow Windows to roll your PC back to that earlier state.
Before using Point-in-Time Restore, remember that any applications, settings or local files created after the selected restore point will be removed. Files stored in OneDrive or another cloud service remain safe, although they may need to synchronise again afterwards.
Point-in-Time Restore provides an excellent safety net when updates or software changes go wrong, but it’s still important to keep your important files backed up to the cloud or another secure location.
