- To boot Windows 11 in System Restore, start the computer in WinRE, open Advanced Startup > Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > System Restore, click “Next,” select the restore point to recover the system, and click “Finish.”
On Windows 11, you can use the System Restore feature from the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) to recover the installation when your computer has problems and won’t boot correctly, and in this guide, you will learn how.
System Restore comes disabled by default (for some odd reason), but when it’s enabled, it can create a copy of the system state as a “restore point” automatically during certain events (such as during system and driver updates) to protect the hard drive’s data. However, you can always create restore points manually.
In the event of a problem, you can use System Restore to recover Windows 11 to the last good working state by applying one of the available restore points. Although you can use this feature from the system settings, if your computer isn’t starting correctly, you can boot into WinRE to access System Restore to undo changes and recover your Windows 11 installation.
This guide will teach you the steps to access System Restore from WinRE during boot on Windows 11.
Open System Restore to recover setup of Windows 11
To recover your Windows 11 installation from boot using a restore point, use these steps:
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Press the power button.
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Immediately after the Power-On Self-Test (POST), and you see the blue Windows logo, press the power button again to shut down.
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Repeat steps 1 and 2 twice. In the third restart, Windows 11 should enter into the Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE), where many diagnostics will be performed to fix any booting issues.
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Click the Advanced Options button.
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Click on Troubleshoot.
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Click on Advanced options again.
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Click the System Restore option.
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Click the Next button.
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Select the restore point to recover your installation.
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(Optional) Click the “Scan for affected programs” button.
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Confirm the apps you may need to reinstall after applying the restore point.
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Click the Close button.
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Click the Finish button.
Once you complete the steps, the restore point will apply to fix the problem in question on Windows 11.
FAQ
Does System Restore will delete my files?
No, the feature was not designed to delete your files during the process. However, it’s always a good idea to create a file backup before proceeding.
How a restore point will fix problems on Windows 11?
When a restore point is created, a snapshot of the current installation is taken. If you install a program or an update that causes problems, you can use a restore point to undo the changes to restore the computer to the state it was before the event.
Why there’s no restore point on Windows 11?
Windows 11 comes with the feature disabled by default. You must enable it manually. Also, sometimes restore points won’t be created manually. As a result, it’s always recommended to create restore points manually regularly.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].