System Restore in Windows 11 allows you to create snapshots of your system called restore points. When things go wrong, you can roll back system files and settings to a previous state without affecting personal data.
Viewing available restore points is important for troubleshooting, recovery, and maintaining system stability. This guide outlines several methods showing how to view available restore points in Windows 11.
📌 Recommended deployment strategies:
Click to Choose a Method | 💻 Best for Individual Users | 💻💻💻 Best for Enterprises |
| Method 1: Using the System Restore interface | ✓ | |
| Method 2: Using Command Prompt | ✓ | |
| Method 3: Using PowerShell | ✓ | ✓ |
| Method 4: Registry insights | ✓ |
How to view available restore points in Windows 11
Method 1: Using the System Restore interface
📌 Use Cases: Use this when you prefer a simple, guided process to view and restore to a previous point without needing technical skills.
📌 Prerequisites: System Protection must be enabled on the system drive. (See #1 in ⚠️ Things to look out for.)
- Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
- Type rstrui and click Enter to launch the System Restore tool.
- In the System Restore window, click Next.
- Select the checkbox labeled Show more restore points to display all available restore points.
- Choose a restore point to view its details. (You may also proceed to restore your system from this interface.)
Method 2: Using Command Prompt
📌 Use Cases: Use this when you want a quick, scriptable way to audit restore point data without relying on GUI tools.
📌 Prerequisites: This method requires Administrator access and basic familiarity with the Command Prompt.
- Press Win + X and select Windows Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin). (See #2 in ⚠️ Things to look out for.)
- Run the following command: vssadmin list shadows
It will display a list of shadow copies (which include restore points), showing details such as creation time, shadow copy ID, and volume name. (See #3 in ⚠️ Things to look out for.)
💡Note: This method doesn’t label entries specifically as ‘restore points’, but the shadow copies correspond to them.
Method 3: Using PowerShell
📌 Use Cases: Use this for a detailed, filterable view of restore points or when integrating restore point data into scripts or system reports.
📌 Prerequisites: This method requires Administrator access and basic familiarity with PowerShell.
- Press Win + S and search for PowerShell.
- Right-click on Windows PowerShell in the search results and choose Run as administrator. (See #4 in ⚠️ Things to look out for.)
- Run this command: Get-ComputerRestorePoint | Format-Table -AutoSize
A table with each restore point’s sequence number, description, event type, and creation time will be displayed.
Method 4: Registry insights
📌 Use Cases: Use this when inspecting restore point behavior, lifespan settings, or policy configuration for compliance or diagnostics.
📌 Prerequisites: This method requires Administrator access and understanding of the Windows Registry structure.
⚠️ Warning: Editing the registry settings can cause system issues if done incorrectly. Proceed with caution, and back up the registry before making changes. (See #5 in ⚠️ Things to look out for.)
- Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
- Type regedit and click Enter to open the Registry Editor.
- Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SystemRestore
(See #6 in ⚠️ Things to look out for.)
You can view settings such as RPLifeInterval, LastRestorePoint, and RPGlobalInterval.
💡 Note: This method doesn’t show actual restore points, but it is useful for understanding the system configuration.
⚠️ Things to look out for
Risks | Potential Consequences | Reversals |
| Launching rstrui when System Protection is disabled. | No restore points will appear, and the tool may report that restore functionality is off. | Go to System Properties > System Protection, and enable it for the system drive. |
| Running vssadmin list shadows without admin privileges. | The command may fail or return incomplete data. | Right-click Command Prompt or Windows Terminal, and select Run as administrator. |
| Confusing shadow copies with restore points. | You may misinterpret backup data or fail to identify actual restore points. | Use PowerShell to list labeled restore points or verify with the System Restore UI. |
| Running Get-ComputerRestorePoint in a non-elevated session. | The command may return nothing or throw an access error. | Relaunch PowerShell with Run as administrator. |
| Editing a Registry value without a backup. | System Restore behavior may break, or values like RPLifeInterval could get corrupted. | Export the key first; if issues arise, restore the backup or use System Restore (if available). |
| Navigating to the wrong Registry path. | You might change unrelated system settings or cause system instability. | Double-check the path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SystemRestore |
Additional considerations
Here are the key points to keep in mind when working with system restore points in Windows 11:
Restore point storage location
Restore points are stored in the hidden System Volume Information folder. Each drive with System Protection enabled has its own version of this folder.
Automatic deletion
Windows deletes older restore points automatically when the allocated disk space limit is reached. This feature helps manage storage, but can result in the loss of earlier points.
Manual creation
It’s best practice to manually create a restore point before making major changes in the system (e.g., editing the registry or installing drivers). Doing so gives you a quick way to revert if something goes wrong.
Troubleshooting
If you encounter issues when viewing restore points, consider the following troubleshooting steps:
No restore points available
Make sure System Protection is enabled and that enough disk space is allocated. Without both, restore points won’t be created or retained.
Restore points missing
As stated above, older restore points may have been removed automatically due to storage limits or expired based on the RPLifeInterval setting in the registry, which controls their lifespan.
Cannot access System Restore
If System Restore doesn’t open in normal mode, try running it in Safe Mode or booting from Windows installation media to access recovery options.
Optimize System Restore Points to keep Windows 11 stable
Viewing available restore points in Windows 11 and understanding their significance is crucial for system recovery and maintenance. Windows offers several ways to do this, depending on your preference and administrative needs.
Command-line tools provide detailed insights into existing restore points, while registry settings offer a deeper look into System Restore configurations and are useful for advanced troubleshooting. Regularly checking and managing restore points helps keep your system stable.
Related topics:
- Enable or Disable System Restore | PowerShell
- How to Create a Restore Point in Windows with PowerShell
- How to Get System Restore Status with PowerShell for IT Professionals
- IT Guide: How to Undo a System Restore in Windows 10/11
- How to Change System Restore Point Creation Frequency in Windows 10/11
- How to Perform a System Restore in Windows 10
