Oops! Use this new Windows 11 setting to roll back recent system damage
If, for example, problems arise following a driver update, you can reset Windows to a previous state prior to the change. However, PITR goes further than traditional system restore: Not only are important Windows files and settings restored, but also installed apps and personal files on the Windows drive.
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Who can use the new feature?
Point-in-Time Restore is available for Windows 11 from version 24H2 onwards. However, whether the feature is automatically enabled also depends on the size of the Windows drive and how the device is managed.
On unmanaged Windows 11 PCs, Point-in-Time Restore is enabled by default. For automatic activation, however, the Windows drive must be at least 200GB in size. The feature can also be used on smaller system drives, but it must be enabled manually: Open Settings > System > Recovery > Point-in-Time Restore and switch on the feature there.
Note: Managed devices, such as those in a corporate environment, may also have different settings applied by the administrator.
By default, Windows reserves up to 2 percent of the storage space on the Windows drive to store local restore points. And another important point: The time window for the new feature is limited. By default, PITR only goes back up to 72 hours and is therefore primarily intended for urgent problems — for example, if Windows suddenly stops working reliably after an update, a driver installation, or a change to the system configuration.
What exactly does Point-in-Time Restore revert to?
PITR restores the Windows drive to the state it was in at the selected restore point. This includes, among other things, the operating system, installed programs, system settings, and personal files that were already present at that time.
