How to Use Three Proven Methods to Find Older Restore Points in Windows 11

What are Restore Points? Where are Restore Points stored? Restore Points are a feature in the Windows operating system that allow users to revert their computer's system settings, programs, and files to a previous state. This is particularly useful when issues arise after installing new software or updates, as it enables rolling back to a status before the problem occurred. Restore Points consist of a snapshot of the system state, including the registry, system files, and configuration information for certain applications. When you create a Restore Point manually or Windows automatically creates one (for instance, during an update installation), this information is saved. These points are stored in the "System Volume Information" folder on the system partition. This folder is hidden and only visible to system administrators. Each Restore Point occupies a certain amount of disk space, so it's recommended to regularly clean up your hard drive and manage disk space to ensure there's enough for creating and storing them. It's worth noting that while Restore Points can address issues caused by software conflicts or incompatibilities, they may not fix hardware failures, virus attacks, or certain types of malware. It's advisable to run an antivirus scan before using a Restore Point to rule out these possibilities.

Before we dive into how to find an earlier restore point in Windows 11, let's explain what they are. Microsoft developed a useful utility called System Restore, which helps users revert their computer to an earlier state. To do that, you need a snapshot, or a restore point, of your computer. What are the benefits of creating one?

• Removes inappropriate modifications made to your computer to prevent further issues.
• Having a well-behaved copy of the operating system can prevent system errors.
• There's no need to reset your PC when you need to restore it.
• Helps you overcome bad updates. It's best to create a restore point before doing a Windows update.

Now that you know the importance of system restore points, you should know how to find them on your computer.

Restore Points are stored in the root directory of each drive that has System Protection enabled. You might not be able to see them directly since they're hidden by default. To view them, change the folder options to show hidden files on Windows 11, and then look for the "System Volume Information" folder.

In the sections below, we'll teach you how to find old restore points using System Restore via software, CMD, and System Properties.

How to Find and Use an Older System Restore Point in Windows 11 In the Windows 11 operating system, System Restore Points are incredibly useful tools that allow you to roll back your system to a previous state when issues arise. To find and use an older restore point, follow these steps: 1. First, ensure that at least one restore point has been created on your computer. If not, you won't be able to locate any old restore points. Restore points are typically automatically generated when new software is installed or significant system changes occur. 2. Open the "Control Panel" (you can search for it in the search bar). In Category view, select "System and Security." 3. In the "System and Security" window, click on the "System" link. 4. On the left sidebar, click on "System Protection." This will open the "System Properties" dialog box. 5. Under the "System Protection" tab in the "System Properties" dialog, make sure the hard drive you want to restore, usually C: drive, is selected. Then, click on the "System Restore..." button. 6. This will initiate the "System Restore Wizard." On the welcome page, click "Next." 7. On the "Choose a restore point" page, you'll see a list of dates. Each date is accompanied by a description of when the restore point was created. Select an earlier date, then click "Next." 8. The system will display a confirmation page showing the date and time you're restoring to, as well as the programs and settings that may be affected. Make sure you understand all the information, then click "Finish." Note that once the system restore begins, you won't be able to cancel the operation. 9. The system will then start the restoration process. This might take some time, so do not turn off your computer during this period. 10. Once completed, your computer will automatically restart. You should now be back to the system state prior to the chosen restore point. Please note that this method only works if restore points have been created. If no restore points exist or they have all been deleted, you may need to explore alternative solutions like using backups or professional data recovery tools.

This method can come in handy when you accidentally delete these restore points or the "System Volume Information" folder. You might need to view earlier restore points on Windows 11 when you've deleted some personal files and wish to recover deleted files. Unfortunately, you can't use restore points to recover personal files, but you can utilize a tool like the Data Recovery Wizard to restore lost system files and personal files.

Note: To ensure a higher rate of data recovery, do not install the tool on the disk where you lost your files.

Step 1: Launch the Data Recovery Wizard on your Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, or Windows 7 computer. Select the disk partition or storage location where you lost your data and click "Scan."

Step 2: The recovery utility will start scanning the disk to find all lost and deleted files. Once done, click on “Filter” > “Type” to specify the type of lost file.

Select the type of data to recover

Step 3. Preview and recover lost Windows files. You can double-click to preview the scanned files. Then, select the target data and hit the “ Recover ” button to save them to another secure location on your computer or an external storage device.

Restore to an earlier point in time Using the System Restore feature in Windows 11, you can find and select an earlier restore point to revert your computer. Here's how: 1. First, press the `Win + X` keys on your keyboard, then choose "Control Panel" from the pop-up menu (or you can search for "Control Panel" directly). 2. In Control Panel, select "System" or search for "system." 3. In the "System" window, click on "System Protection" on the left. 4. This will open the "System Properties" dialog box. Under the "System Protection" tab, click on the "System Restore..." button. 5. Next, the "System Restore Wizard" will appear. Here, choose "Show more restore points" (if available) to view additional options beyond the most recent restore point. 6. The system will display available restore points. These are typically based on significant system events or software installation dates. Browse the list and find a point before the issue occurred. 7. After selecting a suitable restore point, click "Next," then confirm your choice and click "Finish." You'll be prompted to confirm whether you want to proceed with the restoration process. 8. Note: Performing a system restore may affect programs and updates installed after the chosen restore point. Make sure you have backed up important files just in case. 9. Click "Yes," and the system will start restoring to the selected point. This process might take some time, so do not turn off your computer or interrupt power. 10. After the restoration is complete, your computer will automatically restart. Following this, you should find that the issue has been resolved since the system is returned to its state prior to the problem. Please note that not all Windows 11 users have the ability to create or access restore points, depending on system protection settings. If no restore points are available, you may need to consider other troubleshooting methods, such as using Safe Mode, resetting your PC, or seeking professional assistance.

If you'd like to find an earlier restore point to return your system to, your best bet is to check the System Restore options. Both the latest and oldest restore points should be available through System Restore. Let's take a look at how to find earlier restore points in System Restore:

Step 1: In Windows 11, open the search box, type sysdm.cpl, and hit Enter. Click on Open.

Step 2. Next, you'll see the “System Properties” window. Click on “System Protection.”

Click “System Protection”.

Step 3: Click “System Restore” under “System Restore.”

Click on “System Restore”

Step 4: You will now see the System Restore Wizard, which will restore your system files and settings. Click “Next” to proceed.

Step 5: You'll now see the most recent restore points in the list. Check the “Show more restore points” box to view older ones, if available. This will reveal all the restore points on your Windows 11 system.

Perhaps you're wondering if System Restore can recover deleted files. You can find out more by reading the article below.

[Solved] Can System Restore Recover Deleted Files in Windows 10?

What should you do if you accidentally delete files in Windows 10? Can System Restore recover deleted files? Find the answer in this article.

How to Find an Older Restore Point in Windows 11 Using CMD In Windows 11, you can use the Command Prompt (CMD) to locate and access System Restore Points. Follow these steps to find an older restore point using CMD: 1. **Open Command Prompt:** - Press `Win + X` and choose "Command Prompt (Admin)" or "Windows PowerShell (Admin)." If your system defaults to PowerShell, select that option. 2. **Run the System Information Command:** In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter: ``` wmic restorepoint list brief ``` This will display a list of all available System Restore Points along with their dates and descriptions. 3. **Locate an Older Restore Point:** Within the listed information, look for entries with "Setting Restore Point" in the description, as these are typically created automatically by the system. Note the date and time next to "CreationTime" or under "Description." The earlier dates correspond to older restore points. 4. **Create a Restore Point ID:** Choose the restore point you want to revert to and note its corresponding "SequenceNumber." For example, if the sequence number is 123456789, you would initiate the restoration process with this command: ``` rstrux.exe /restore {123456789} ``` Make sure to replace `{123456789}` with the actual sequence number you found. 5. **Confirm and Execute the Restoration:** The system will prompt you to confirm whether you want to proceed. After confirmation, the system will start restoring to the selected restore point. This process might take some time, so do not close the Command Prompt window during this period. Keep in mind that using a System Restore Point may overwrite recent data and setting changes, so make sure to back up important files before proceeding.

This is another way to look for an older restore point on Windows 11. How familiar are you with the CMD command line? You can use CMD to delete files, perform system restore, and many other operations. Let's find all available restore points on Windows 11 via Command Prompt:

Step 1: Open the search box in Windows 11, type cmd, and hit Enter. Click on "Run as administrator" to launch CMD in admin mode.

Step 2. To view all available restore points for all disks, type vssadmin list shadows. To list the restore points for a specific drive, use the following command: vssadmin list shadows /For=(drive letter=""):

We hope this guide and tutorial have resolved your issue with finding older restore points in Windows 11. We're glad to see you sharing this article with more users!

Conclusions

In the first part, you learned what restore points are in Windows 11 and where all restore points are stored on your computer. We remind you that System Restore can only recover system files. To restore lost or deleted personal files on your computer, download the tool – Data Recovery Wizard.

How do I find an earlier restore point? Windows 11 FAQs

Please refer to the following question regarding our topic to learn more about finding an older restore point in Windows 11.

What if there are no earlier versions available on Windows?

If there aren't any previous versions available in Windows, try the following solutions:

1. Attempt to recover lost files using the "Data Recovery Wizard." 2. Utilize "Shadow Copy" to restore previous versions from a restore point. 3. Enable "File History" to address this issue. 4. Configure "Windows Backup and Restore" in the system settings.

**How to Fix the Lack of System Restore Points in Windows 11?**

You can try the following methods to fix the issue of no System Restore Points in Windows 11:

1. Enable System Restore. 2. Free up enough space to store restore points. 3. Adjust the Shadow Copy Service. 4. Repair corrupted system files. 5. Check restore points in Safe Mode. 6. Modify trigger settings in System Restore Properties.

How do I use System Restore to recover personal files?

You should be aware that System Restore Points do not recover personal files, but rather system files. It is recommended that you try using a Data Recovery Wizard tool to restore lost photos, videos, documents, audio, and other personal files.

**How to Reset Windows 11?** To reset Windows 11, follow these steps: 1. Press the `Win + I` keys on your keyboard to open "Settings." 2. In the Settings window, click on the "Recovery" option. 3. On the left-hand menu, click on "Reset this PC." 4. On the right side, you'll see two options: "Keep my files" and "Remove everything." Choose the option that suits your needs. If you want to completely wipe the system and personal data, select "Remove everything." 5. Click the "Start" button next to your chosen option. 6. A confirmation dialog will appear, detailing the reset process. Read it carefully, and then click "Next." 7. Choose whether you want to download Windows from the cloud or reinstall it locally. This depends on whether you have an internet connection and the time available. 8. Click "Confirm" to begin the resetting process. This may take some time, depending on your computer's speed and the chosen option. Please note that resetting Windows 11 will remove your apps, settings, and most of your personal files (depending on the option you choose). Make sure to back up important data before proceeding.

To reset your Windows 11 computer or laptop, click the Windows button, then go to Settings > System > Recovery. You can initiate this process by clicking the "Reset this PC" button. If you don't want to lose your personal files, it's best to choose "Keep my files" or create a backup beforehand.