On Windows, manually creating restore points is a pretty easy task. In fact, Windows automatically creates restore points when it is installing new updates. As new restore points are created, there might be situations where you want to see all the restore points. This allows you to better manage the restore point. For instance, you can browse restore points to extract files and even save space in your C drive by deleting unnecessary restore points.
There are two easy methods to view the restore points on your PC. In this tutorial, I will show those two methods in simple steps so that you can better manage Windows restore points. Let’s get started.
Before You Begin
- You need administrator rights to see, open, or browse restore points on Windows.
- The below methods are tested to work on Windows 10, 11, & 8.
See Restore Points Using the Built-in System Restore Tool
Windows has a built-in System Restore tool that shows all the restore points in your PC. Here’s how to open and use it.
Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog.
Enter rstrui in the Run field and click OK to open System Restore.
Click Next in the System Restore window.
In this screen, you will see a list of all the restore points.
Optionally, you can also select a restore point from the list and click the Scan for Affected Programs button at the bottom. It shows all the programs and drivers that will be affected by choosing that restore point to restore Windows.
Click on the Cancel button to safely close the System Restore window.
Use System Restore Explorer to See, Mount, Browse, and Delete Restore Points
If you want to see and manage restore points then you have to use a third-party program called System Restore Explorer. This program not only lists all the restore points in your computer but also lets you mount and browse restore points so that you can extract files from a particular restore point. Additionally, this program also lets you delete the restore points that you don’t need.
First, download System Restore Explorer from here.
After downloading, double-click on the downloaded file and follow the on-screen instructions to install the System Restore Explorer program.
After installing, open the Start menu, type System Restore Explorer in the search bar, and click on the top result to open the program.
As soon as you open the application, it shows all the restore points on your PC.
If you want to see what’s in a restore point. You can mount it. To do that, select a restore point of your choice and click the Mount button.
Once mounted, you will see the mounted restore point as a VolumeShadowCopy folder in the root of the C drive. Open it and you will see all the files and folders in that restore point. If needed, you can extract the files and folder by copying them to another folder.
Note: Do not modify, add, or delete any files or folders in the ShadowCopy. It might damage the restore point.
Once you are done, close the File Explorer window, select the restore point, and click the Unmount button to disconnect the restore point’s mount.
To delete a specific restore point, select the restore point, and click the Delete button.
Click the Yes button in the confirmation window.
Finally, close the System Restore Explorer window by closing the X button on the top right corner.
Comparing Both Methods
Both methods are excellent for seeing the restore points in your PC. However, depending on what you want, one is better than the other.
If you just want to see all the available restore points and know which programs & drivers are affected by using a particular restore point then follow the first method. For this, the built-in application will do fine. No need to install a third-party program.
On the other hand, if you want to see and manage your restore points then follow the second method and install the System Restore Explorer tool. It lets you see and open the restore points like a regular folder. If needed, you can also delete restore points to free up space in your C drive.
Wrapping Up – Managing Restore Points in Windows
As you can see, whether using the built-in tool or a third-party program, it is pretty simple to see your restore points. It helps you judge if you want to create a new restore point before making changes to your system. When needed, you can use these restore points to restore your system.
If you have questions, comment below and I will help.