How to List Windows 11 Restore Points
Restore points are saved snapshots of your Windows 11 system files, apps, and registry settings that let you roll back your PC to a previous working state. Windows creates these backups automatically every 7 days when you turn on System Protection for your main 📁C:\
Listing your saved restore points lets you check available backup dates before you undo a broken update or fix a recent system change. You can run a quick PowerShell command or use the built-in System Properties window to see every available restore point on your hard drive.
You can list Windows 11 restore points by opening Settings, navigating to System About, and clicking System protection. Then, click System Restore and check “Show more restore points.” Alternatively, use PowerShell (Admin) and run the command Get-ComputerRestorePoint.
How to see restore points in Settings
You can list Windows 11 restore points directly through the main Settings app by opening the hidden System protection menu. Press the Win+I keys together to open Settings, go to System, click About, and then click the System protection link to view all your saved recovery points in one window.- Open the Windows Settings app. Press Win+I on your keyboard.
- Go to System, then click About.
- Click the System protection link.
- In the window that opens, click the System Restore button.
- Check the box that says Show more restore points. You will now see a list of dates you can choose from to revert your computer.
How to see restore points using PowerShell
You can list Windows 11 restore points using PowerShell by running a quick command in an administrator terminal. Right-click the Start button , open Terminal as an administrator, and run the right command to instantly display every saved recovery point on your computer without clicking through menus.
[ADMIN REQUIRED] Right-click the Start button and select Terminal (Admin). Paste the following command:
Get-ComputerRestorePoint | Format-Table -AutoSize
The console displays a table showing the date, time, and description for each saved point.
Troubleshooting missing restore points
Missing restore points typically indicate that System Protection, the background service responsible for tracking changes, is disabled for the target drive.
Managing disk space for restore points
You can manage disk space for restore points to stop old recovery snapshots from filling up your hard drive. Open the System Protection settings menu to change how much storage your computer uses for backups, or delete older restore points to free up space right away.
Clicking the Delete button inside the Configure menu removes older restore points. Disk Cleanup clears out older shadow copies (the underlying file backups utilized by restore points).
Summary
Both the Settings app and PowerShell provide reliable ways to audit restore points. Reviewing these backups prepares the workstation for future troubleshooting.
Why does 🪟 Windows 11 not show all my restore points?
Windows 11 might omit older restore points when the disk space allocated for System Protection reaches maximum capacity. Reaching this threshold causes Windows to purge the oldest snapshots automatically. Checking the services management console ensures the Volume Shadow Copy Service remains enabled and running.
Can I view the contents of a restore point without restoring?
Native Windows tools do not support browsing files inside a restore point directly. System restore points revert the entire system state rather than allowing selective file extraction. Extracting specific files requires third-party software built to mount and explore Volume Shadow Copies.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.
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