This Feature Makes Windows 11 Unbreakable! (Point-in-Time Restore)

Have you ever installed a program or tweaked a system setting, only to have your PC refuse to boot afterwards? It’s a nightmare scenario that usually ends with a complete Windows re-installation. However, a new feature coming to Windows 11 aims to fix this. It’s called Point-in-Time Restore, and it acts almost like a "time machine" for your PC.

Currently available in Windows 11 Insider Preview builds, this feature is designed to save your computer from severe disasters like boot failures or system corruption in minutes.

What is Point-in-Time Restore?

Point-in-Time Restore enables you to revert your Windows PC to the exact state it was in at an earlier time. Unlike the classic System Restore, which resides in the Control Panel and only backs up system files and settings, this new feature is much more powerful.

It captures the full system state, meaning it acts as a comprehensive backup of your entire machine locally. It uses the Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) to take snapshots of your system, allowing for fast recovery from recent issues.

How It Differs from "Classic" System Restore

While the old System Restore is good for fixing minor glitches, Point-in-Time Restore is a modern upgrade.

• Location: The classic version is in the Control Panel; the new feature is found in the modern Settings app.

• Scope: Classic Restore saves system files and settings. Point-in-Time Restore saves the full system state.

• Automation: While you often have to manually trigger the old System Restore, Point-in-Time works automatically in the background.

How to Enable and Configure It

To access this feature (if you are on a compatible Windows 11 Preview build), navigate to: Settings > System > Recovery > Point-in-Time Restore.

Here is what you need to know about the settings:

• Automatic Enablement: If your C: drive is larger than 200GB, this feature will likely be enabled by default.

• Frequency: By default, it creates a restore point every 24 hours, but you can increase this frequency to every 12, 6, or even 4 hours.

• Retention: Restore points are kept for 72 hours before being deleted to free up space.

• Storage: You can allocate how much disk space the feature uses—from as little as 2GB up to a percentage of your total storage.

The "Undo" Button for Your Entire PC

The most critical thing to understand about Point-in-Time Restore is that it reverses everything.

If you download a file (like a movie or a document) after a restore point is created, and then you use this feature to go back in time, that file will disappear. It does not just revert system changes; it reverts user files in system folders (like Downloads or Documents) to match the restore point exactly.

How to Recover Your PC

If your PC stops booting, Point-in-Time Restore is designed to be accessible from the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE).

1. If your PC fails to boot, it should automatically enter WinRE (or you can force it by interrupting startup).

2. Navigate to Troubleshoot.

3. Look for the Point-in-Time Restore option.

Point-in-Time Restore looks like a game-changer for Windows stability. By capturing the full system state, it promises to help users recover from almost any type of disaster without needing a fresh Windows installation. It is essentially System Restore 2.0—upgraded, modernized, and significantly more powerful.

Get more more info from official website here https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/configuration/quick-machine-recovery/point-in-time-restore

I’ve also made a video on this topic — you can watch it below.

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