{"id":32516,"date":"2026-09-29T09:57:05","date_gmt":"2026-09-29T13:57:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/?p=32516"},"modified":"2026-09-29T09:57:05","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T13:57:05","slug":"windows-11s-new-point-in-time-restore-is-it-better-than-system-restore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/windows-11s-new-point-in-time-restore-is-it-better-than-system-restore\/","title":{"rendered":"Windows 11\u2019s New &#8220;Point-in-Time Restore&#8221;: Is It Better Than System Restore?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-path-to-node=\"1\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 24pt;\"><b data-path-to-node=\"1\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Windows 11\u2019s New &#8220;Point-in-Time Restore&#8221;: Is It Better Than System Restore?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/thundercloud.net\/infoave\/images\/2026\/pit.png\" alt=\"Cloudeight InfoAve Point in time restore\" width=\"600\" height=\"267\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">Recovery features are like insurance for your PC \u2014 you don&#8217;t think about them until you need them. For over two decades, System Restore has been a somewhat trusty &#8220;undo button&#8221; that rolls back Windows without touching any personal files. Windows 11 recently introduced a new feature called Point-in-Time Restore. Here is what it does and how it compares.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">Microsoft silently introduced a new feature in Windows 11 called Point-in-Time Restore. It does not replace the old System Restore many of you are familiar with; rather, it provides yet another option to recover from a computer disaster. We wanted to make sure that you&#8217;re aware of it, what it does, and how it works.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"9\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">What Makes Point-in-Time Restore Different from System Restore?<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"10\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"10,0,0\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\"><b data-path-to-node=\"10,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Automatic Daily Snapshots:<\/b> Point-in-Time Restore automatically creates a snapshot every 24 hours, whereas System Restore relies on major updates or manual creation.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"10,1,0\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\"><b data-path-to-node=\"10,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">More Thorough Rewind:<\/b> System Restore only rolls back system files and settings. Point-in-Time Restore also removes apps installed and personal files created after the snapshot.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"10,2,0\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\"><b data-path-to-node=\"10,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">72-Hour Window:<\/b> Snapshots auto-delete after 3 days to save space.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\"><strong>Point-in-Time is Enabled by Default:<\/strong> Point-in-time is enabled\u00a0on\u00a0most PCs with at least 200 GB of storage. Windows System Restore is not.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"13\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">How to Adjust Storage Settings<\/span><\/h2>\n<div class=\"attachment-container unknown\">\n<div class=\"sequence-container\" data-hveid=\"0\" data-ved=\"0CAAQse0SahcKEwisuP7og5KXAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQVw\">\n<div class=\"sequence-event ng-star-inserted\">\n<div class=\"sequence-event-content\">\n<div class=\"sequence-event-description gds-body-l\">\n<p><span class=\"only-show-to-message-actions\" style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\" data-test-id=\"sequence-export-header\"><strong>1. Open Settings:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ng-star-inserted\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">Click <b>Start<\/b> &gt; <b>Settings<\/b> (or press <b>Windows Key + I<\/b>).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sequence-event ng-star-inserted\">\n<div class=\"sequence-event-content\">\n<div class=\"sequence-event-description gds-body-l\">\n<p><span class=\"only-show-to-message-actions\" style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\" data-test-id=\"sequence-export-header\"><strong>2. Navigate to Recovery:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ng-star-inserted\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">Go to <b>System<\/b> &gt; <b>Recovery<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sequence-event ng-star-inserted\">\n<div class=\"sequence-event-content\">\n<div class=\"sequence-event-description gds-body-l\">\n<p><span class=\"only-show-to-message-actions\" style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\" data-test-id=\"sequence-export-header\"><strong>3. Manage Settings:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ng-star-inserted\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">Click <b>View or Edit<\/b>\u00a0next to <b>Point-in-Time Restore<\/b>. Use the slider to adjust maximum storage space.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"16\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">How to Run a Point-in-Time Restore<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-32517\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/pit2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"567\" height=\"352\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/pit2.jpg 567w, https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/pit2-300x186.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 567px) 100vw, 567px\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<ol start=\"1\" data-path-to-node=\"17\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"17,0,0\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">Hold <b data-path-to-node=\"17,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"5\">Shift<\/b> while clicking <b data-path-to-node=\"17,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"26\">Restart<\/b> in the Start Menu to enter Recovery Mode.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"17,1,0\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">Select <b data-path-to-node=\"17,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"7\">Troubleshoot<\/b> &gt; <b data-path-to-node=\"17,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"22\">Point-in-Time Restore<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"17,2,0\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">Have your BitLocker key ready if encrypted, choose a restore point, and follow the prompts.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"19\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">Quick Comparison<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"20\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"20,0,0\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\"><b data-path-to-node=\"20,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Storage:<\/b> System Restore keeps points as long as storage allows (good for old issues but bad for disk space). Point-in-Time Restore deletes points after 72 hours (best for immediate fixes and saving drive space).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"20,1,0\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\"><b data-path-to-node=\"20,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Launch Method:<\/b> System Restore runs directly from Windows; Point-in-Time Restore requires Recovery Mode.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"21\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\"><b data-path-to-node=\"21\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Our Advice:<\/b> Keep both enabled for maximum protection.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Windows 11\u2019s New &#8220;Point-in-Time Restore&#8221;: Is It Better Than System Restore? Recovery features are like insurance for your PC \u2014 you don&#8217;t think about them until you need them. For over two decades, System Restore has been a somewhat trusty &#8220;undo button&#8221; that rolls back Windows without touching any personal files. Windows 11 recently introduced a new feature\u2026 <span class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/windows-11s-new-point-in-time-restore-is-it-better-than-system-restore\/\">Read More &raquo;<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":21518,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4299,1961],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32516"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32516"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32516\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32523,"href":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32516\/revisions\/32523"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21518"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32516"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32516"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32516"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}