Point-in-time restore uses local Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) restore points to quickly revert a Windows PC (OS, apps, settings, and user files) to a prior state within a rolling 72-hour window. This native capability minimizes system downtime and provides a reliable safety net when unexpected driver issues, system corruption, or problematic updates occur.
Enabled by default on unmanaged consumer PCs with 200 GB OS drives or higher (and off by default on enterprise devices), it automatically manages background storage—purging restore points after 72 hours, when disk usage exceeds 2%, or if free space drops below 20 GB.
Enable / Disable Point-in-Time Restore
You can easily turn the feature on or off or configure storage parameters through the main Windows system options:
- Open Settings.
- Navigate to System > Recovery > Point-in-time restore, then select View or edit.
- Accept the User Account Control (UAC) prompt by clicking Yes.
- In the pop-up window, switch the toggle to On or Off.
- (Optional) Adjust your restore point frequency, retention period, or maximum storage usage using the available sliders and dropdowns.
Use Point-in-Time Restore
To roll back your system using a saved restore point when your device runs into critical stability issues:
- Access the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE)—this happens automatically after repeated boot failures, or you can get there manually via Settings > Recovery > Advanced startup.
- Select Troubleshoot > Point-in-time restore.
- Provide your BitLocker recovery key if prompted.
- Choose the specific restore point corresponding to the date and time you wish to revert to.
- Review the warning regarding potential data loss (changes made after that timestamp will be discarded), acknowledge the risks, and select Restore to begin the process.
Following these configuration and recovery steps ensures your system can be safely rolled back in the event of a severe software fault. Always verify your cloud backups and account recovery keys before executing a full state restoration.