How to Fix System Restore Failures in Windows 11 and 10

Troubleshooting System Restore Issues in Windows 10 and 11

Been there, done that. If you’re having trouble with system restore—like it won’t create restore points or can’t revert to saved states—you’re definitely not alone. It’s a common pain, and the causes can be varied. Usually, there’s a fix or tweak that can get things back on track, but honestly, it can take some trial and error to find what’s going wrong on your machine. Sometimes you hit dead ends, other times it’s just a matter of testing different solutions.

Creating a Restore Point Manually

One of the first things I tried was forcing a restore point manually. Even if Windows shows you a message saying it can’t create one, it’s worth a go. Head to the Control Panel or search for “Create a restore point” in the Start menu—usually under System and Security > System. When the System Properties window pops up, click on the System Protection tab. You’ll see your drives listed. Select your main drive (probably C:), then click Create.
Sometimes, it throws an error or just silently fails. Noting the exact message can help if you need to troubleshoot further.
Using rstrui.exe from the Run dialog (Win + R) can sometimes give a clearer view or more options if the GUI is being stubborn.

Temporarily Disabling Security Software

This was a big one for me. Security tools like Windows Defender, Norton, McAfee—whatever you run—can interfere with the shadow copy process needed for creating restore points. I had to turn them off briefly to see if that let Windows make restore points. Just be cautious—disable third-party security before starting this process and re-enable afterwards.
Some security software may have specific logs or settings (like “Allow system restore” or “Whitelist shadow copy components”). If disabling helps, you’ll have identified the culprit. Just remember, it’s not ideal to leave your system unprotected for long, even temporarily.

Boot Into Safe Mode

Safe Mode can be a lifesaver. It loads Windows with only the essential drivers and software—no third-party apps or extra services. If restore points work in Safe Mode but fail normally, it suggests a conflicting app or service is at fault.
To boot into Safe Mode, press Shift + Restart from the login screen or Start menu, then navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings, and click Restart. When it reboots, choose Enable Safe Mode.
Once in Safe Mode, try creating a restore point again or disable certain services to identify conflicts.

Running System File Checker

Corrupted Windows system files can also cause restore issues. I opened an elevated Command Prompt (Win + X and select Windows Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin)), then ran sfc /scannow.
It takes some time, and I was ready to see fixes applied automatically. After it completed, I attempted to create a restore point again—sometimes this tool repairs underlying problems without much fuss.

Repairing the System Image with DISM

If restore still isn’t cooperating, the system image may be corrupted. I ran DISM to check and repair the Windows image, starting with:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth

Then, to fix any issues, run:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

This process can take some time—make sure your PC is connected to the internet, as it downloads files from Windows Update. After that, I ran sfc /scannow again just to double-check. Fixing the system image often resolves restore problems.

Using CHKDSK to Check Your Disk

Sometimes disk errors cause restore troubles. I used chkdsk /f /r on my C: drive to scan for bad sectors and logical errors. Open an elevated Command Prompt and type:

chkdsk C: /f /r

If the drive is in use, it will ask to schedule a scan on restart—type Y. Then reboot and let it run. Keep in mind, this can take a while if your disk has issues. Once finished, restart and see if restore functionality has improved.

Ensure System Restore Is Enabled

Sometimes it’s just a setting. Check if System Protection is turned on for your drive. Go to Control Panel > System & Security > System. Click on System Protection on the left sidebar.
Under “Protection Settings,” your main drive (usually C:) should say On. If not, click Configure and turn it on. It’s also smart to allocate enough disk space—at least 5–10GB—so restore points can be stored. Forgetting to re-enable protection after updates or clean-ups can cause headaches, so keep an eye on this.

Check Available Disk Space

If your drive is nearly full, Windows won’t be able to create restore points. I checked my C: drive, and if free space fell below around 10%, I cleared out unnecessary files or moved data elsewhere. Sufficient free space is essential—otherwise, restore points simply won’t happen.

Make Sure Relevant Services Are Running

Ensure these services are enabled and running:

Volume Shadow Copy
Task Scheduler
Microsoft Software Shadow Copy Provider

If any are stopped, right-click and select Start. If their startup type isn’t set to Automatic, double-click and change it. These services are critical for creating and managing restore points, so don’t skip this step.

Check Event Viewer for Clues

This can be a bit tedious but often worthwhile. Type eventvwr.msc into Run, then browse to Windows Logs > Application and System. Look for warnings or errors related to VSS (Volume Shadow Copy Service), SR (System Restore), or disk issues.
Sometimes, error codes like “0x80042302” or messages about shadow copy failures pop up. Searching these error codes along with your exact message can lead directly to a fix or explanation.

Adjusting Group Policies and Admin Rights

If the restore tab is missing or greyed out, it may be due to group policies or admin restrictions. Press Win + R, run gpedit.msc (only available in Pro or Enterprise editions). Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > System Restore.
Check if “Turn off System Restore” is enabled—if it is, that disables restore points. On managed devices (like work or school systems), policies may be locked down. If you’re the admin, you can tweak these; otherwise, check with your IT department.

Resetting the WMI Repository

This was a real game-changer for me. Sometimes, the WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation) database gets corrupted, causing restore issues. To fix it, I booted into Safe Mode (Shift + Restart > Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart, then select Safe Mode).
In an elevated Command Prompt, run:

net stop winmgmt

then navigate to:

rename C:\Windows\System32\wbem\Repository RepositoryOld

This forces Windows to rebuild the WMI database. After that, restart normally and see if restore points start working again. It’s a good step if other fixes haven’t done the trick.

Restarting WMI and Managing WMI Services

If WMI seems finicky, restarting it might help. Open Command Prompt as administrator and run:

net stop winmgmt

then:

winmgmt /restart

If the command isn’t recognised, you can also do this through Services (Win + R > type services.msc)—find Windows Management Instrumentation, right-click, stop, then start again. Alternatively, reset the repository with winmgmt /resetrepository.
Reboot afterwards and check if restore points are now being created properly. Sometimes, a quick WMI bounce clears out confusing errors.

Wrapping Up and Final Tips

After trying all these steps, a restart is essential. Then attempt to create a restore point again. Check your services, disk space, and protection settings—often it’s a combination of small issues.
Also, keep an eye on available disk space and whether relevant services are running. Patience helps; these issues can be a bit unpredictable, but most of the time, it’s just a matter of finding the right setting or service tweak.
Hope this helps — it took me ages to figure some of this out, and honestly, nothing beats finally getting a reliable restore point working. Good luck, and here’s hoping your system restore troubles are behind you!