How to Change Maximum Disk Usage for Point-in-time Restore in Windows 11

You change the maximum disk usage for point-in-time restore in Windows 11 to control how much storage space is allocated for system restore snapshots.

Point-in-time restore, powered by the Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS), creates restore points that let you roll back your PC to an earlier state. This feature is crucial for recovering from software issues or accidental changes.

Windows 11 by default may use a significant portion of your C: drive for these restore points, potentially impacting available space. You can manually adjust this limit, typically between 5% and 10% of your drive capacity, to ensure you have sufficient recovery options without sacrificing your own file storage.

How to Change Maximum Disk Usage in Settings

Requires Admin Privileges: You must be logged in as an administrator to change these settings.

1. Open Settings by pressing ⊞ Win+I on your keyboard.

2. Click System on the left, then select Recovery on the right.

3. Under Recovery options, click Point-in-time restore or the View or edit button.

4. Move the Maximum usage limit slider to choose between 2 GB and 50 GB.

Advanced Configuration via Registry Editor

Requires Admin Privileges: Modifying the registry can affect system stability. Proceed with caution.

1. Press ⊞ Win+R, type regedit, and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.

2. Navigate to: 🗝️HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup\Recovery\PITR\Settingscopy

3. Double-click MaxGlobalSize_UX in the right pane.

4. Select Decimal and enter your desired size in MB (e.g., 10240 for 10 GB). Click OK.

Troubleshooting: Volsnap Event ID 36

If you see Volsnap Event ID 36 in your Event Viewer, it means the shadow copy storage is running out of space or is being aborted. To fix this, increase your Maximum usage limit using the steps above. Ensure your drive has at least 15% free space to prevent VSS from failing.

Best Practices for Storage

For most users, a limit of 10 GB to 20 GB is sufficient. If you have a small SSD, keep the limit lower to save space. If you have a large drive, you can increase it to keep more history. Remember, these points are not a replacement for a full system backup.

Summary

Managing your Point-in-time restore storage is a simple way to keep your Windows 11 system healthy. By using the Settings app or Registry Editor, you can control how much space VSS uses. Always keep an eye on your disk space to avoid Volsnap 36 errors and ensure you have enough recovery points for emergencies. For more technical details, visit the official Microsoft documentation.” }