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How to use System Restore in Windows 10

3 min. read

Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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System Restoreis a recovery feature in the Windows operating system that allows you to restore your PC to an earlier state. By usingSystem Restore, you’ll revert Windows files and settings, system files, installed programs and drivers to their previous state.

System Restorewill allow you to restore your system to a working state after making changes to the system files or after installing newsoftware. Bear in mind thatSystem Restorewon’t affect files such as your documents, pictures, etc., so you can’t use it to restore files that you’ve recently removed.

In order to restore your PC usingSystem Restore, you need to have a restore point available. You can create restore points manually at any time, but your PC will usually create them on its own when installing new software,driveror system update.

How to create a System Restore point in Windows 10

How to do a System Restore

To useSystem Restore, follow these steps:

Although System Restore is a great feature, sometimes issues with it can appear. If you encounter any problems with it, be sure to check ourwide collection of troubleshooting guides.

Now that you know how to perform a System Restore, let’s see some of the common questions related to this process.

How long does a system restore take?

A normal operation of restoring the system with the tools already built-in Windows takes somewhere between 15 – 35 minutes. It depends on the size of the restore point, the hardware of the device and the speed of the disk drive.

Does system restore delete files?

First, you should always make a backup copy of your files when performing any outside of the ordinary operation.

Now, are you worried that you would lose files if you do a System Restore? No need to worry – it will not delete any personal files such as documents, images, videos etc.

You will lose some of the programs that are already installed and you would need to re-install them though.

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Milan Stanojevic

Windows Toubleshooting Expert

Milan has been enthusiastic about technology ever since his childhood days, and this led him to take interest in all PC-related technologies. He’s a PC enthusiast and he spends most of his time learning about computers and technology.

Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as a front-end web developer. Now, he’s one of the Troubleshooting experts in our worldwide team, specializing in Windows errors & software issues.

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Milan Stanojevic

Windows Toubleshooting Expert

Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as a front-end web developer. Now, he’s specialized in Windows errors & software issues.