How to Enable or Disable System Restore in Windows 11

What is System Restore?

System Restore is a Windows tool that saves copies of your system, called restore points, so you can go back to an earlier time if something goes wrong.

Restore points are created before important changes happen to your system. Each restore point saves all the information needed to bring your computer back to that earlier state.

How Long Are Restore Points Kept?

Windows 11 version 24H2, after the June 2025 update, will keep restore points for a maximum of 60 days, automatically deleting older ones to save space.

System Restore automatically manages the disk space used for restore points. When space runs low, it deletes the oldest restore points to make room for new ones. The amount of disk space used depends on your hard drive size and which version of Windows you have.

What Gets Restored and What Doesn’t?

System Restore can undo recent changes by removing apps, drivers, or updates installed after a restore point was made, but it never touches your personal files like documents or emails.

Important: System Restore does NOT restore your files, documents, email, browsing history, or favorites. Your personal files stay safe. However, any apps, drivers, or updates installed after the restore point was made will be removed.

System Restore works in the Windows Recovery Environment and safe mode too. This makes it easier to fix your computer when problems happen.

Default Setting and Disabling

System Restore is on by default in Windows, but you can turn it off if you prefer, though disabling it won’t delete your existing restore points.

Good to know: Disabling System Restore will NOT delete your existing restore points. You can still use restore points at startup or in PowerShell even after disabling System Restore.

You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable System Restore.

Option 1Use Local Group Policy Editor

If you have Windows Pro, Enterprise, or Education, you can disable System Restore by opening the Local Group Policy Editor and going to System > System Restore settings.

1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor by typing gpedit.msc in your 🔍 search bar and pressing Enter.
2. In the left pane, navigate to this location:
   

   Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > System Restore

3. In the right pane, find the policy called Turn off System Restore. Double-click it to open it.
4. To Enable System Restore (Default Setting):

   • A) Select the dot next to Not Configured.
   • B) Click OK.
5. To Disable System Restore:

   • A) Select the dot next to Enabled.
   • B) Click OK.
6. [REQUIRES ADMIN] After making your choice, you can close the Local Group Policy Editor.

Option 2Use Registry Editor (Works on All Editions)

You can disable System Restore on any Windows edition, including Home, by opening Windows Terminal as an administrator and running a specific command to modify the registry.

1. [REQUIRES ADMIN] Open Windows Terminal as administrator.
2. To Enable System Restore (Default Setting):
   

   Run this command:

reg delete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\SystemRestore" /v DisableSR /f

1. To Disable System Restore:
   

   Run this command:

reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\SystemRestore" /v DisableSR /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

Summary

System Restore helps you fix problems by saving system snapshots, called restore points, which are kept for 60 days in Windows 11 version 24H2 and don’t affect your personal files.