How to View Point-in-Time Restore Points List in Windows 11
System Restore in Windows 11 lets you roll back your PC to a previous working state by saving snapshots of your system files, apps, and settings. Point-in-time restore displays an exact list of saved backup dates so you can pick the right moment to fix a bad update or broken app.
Checking this list reveals every available restore point saved on your drive. You need at least 2% of free disk space on your main drive to keep these snapshots active and working properly.
Open Settings by pressing Win+I, navigate to System Recovery, then click “View or edit” under “Point-in-time restore” to see available snapshots. You can also use the Command Prompt with the command vssadmin list shadows.
How to View Restore Points in Settings
You can view restore points directly in the Settings menu on Windows 11 by opening the Recovery section under System settings. This built-in method lets you check your saved snapshots and make sure your computer can roll back to a working state if a recent app or update causes problems.
Steps:
- Press Win+I to open Settings.
- Go to System and click on Recovery.
- Find Point-in-time restore and click View or edit.
- [ADMIN REQUIRED] Click Yes on the User Account Control (UAC) prompt.
- You will see a list of available snapshots under Current restore points.
| Criteria | Point-in-time restore | System Restore |
|---|---|---|
| Configuration | System settings | Control panel |
| Restore point trigger | Scheduled frequency (automatic only) | Event-triggered or manual |
| Retention | Max 72 hours per restore point | Indefinite (subject to disk usage/cleanup) |
| Target scope | Full system state | System files and settings; app/user data coverage varies |
| Management | Will support remote management* | No modern management |
| Configuration | Defaults | Options |
|---|---|---|
| Feature On/Off | On | On, Off |
| Restore point frequency | Every 24 hours | 4, 16, 12, 24 hours |
| Restore point retention | 72 hours | 6, 12, 16, 24, 72 hours |
| Maximum usage limit | 2% of disk | Percent of disk (min 2GB, max 50GB equivalent) |
Viewing Restore Points via Command Line
You can view restore points using the Command Prompt when the main Settings app is frozen or not working properly. Running an administrative command line tool lets you see all raw system snapshots and shadow copies currently stored on your computer hard drive.
Steps:
- Press Win + S and type cmd.
- Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
- [ADMIN REQUIRED] Type the following command and press Enter:Code
vssadmin list shadows
This command lists all shadow copies currently stored on your drive. If the list is empty, no restore points are available.
Troubleshooting Missing Restore Points
You can fix missing restore points by checking your System Protection settings to ensure the feature is turned on for your main drive. Windows often deletes old snapshots automatically if your hard drive runs low on free space or exceeds the age limit.
- System Protection is Off: Go to System Properties > System Protection and ensure it is turned On for your drive.
- Disk Space: If your drive is nearly full, Windows may delete old restore points to make room for new files.
- Age Limit: Restore points are typically kept for a maximum of 72 hours. If your last point is older than that, it may have been deleted automatically.
Summary
You can view restore points in Windows 11 using either the Settings menu or the Command Prompt to check your saved system snapshots. These recovery points are temporary and depend on your available disk space and System Protection settings.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
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