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How to Fix Windows 10 Can’t Find Restore Point Error: Step-by-Step Solutions

Sometimes, Windows 10 may not be able to find any restore points when you try to use System Restore. This can be frustrating, especially if you rely on restore points to fix problems on your PC.

Restore points are snapshots of your system’s state, allowing you to undo unwanted changes. When Windows cannot find these points, it prevents you from rolling back your system.

Fortunately, there are simple and effective ways to fix the “Windows 10 Can’t Find Restore Point” error. Following these steps carefully will help you regain access to your restore points.

This guide will walk you through easy-to-understand solutions, starting from basic checks to more advanced fixes.

Quick Note: Before You Begin

  • Make sure System Restore is actually enabled on your system drive (usually C:).
  • Check if you have enough disk space allocated for restore points.
  • Verify that no recent changes or updates have disabled System Restore.
  • Have an administrator account ready, as some steps need admin rights.

Step 1: Verify System Restore is Enabled

The first step is to confirm that System Restore is turned on for your main drive. If it’s off, Windows won’t create or save restore points.

  1. Press Windows + S and type “Create a restore point”. Click the matching result.
  2. In the System Properties window, under the System Protection tab, select your system drive (usually C:).
  3. Click Configure.
  4. Check if Turn on system protection is selected. If not, select it and adjust the maximum disk space to at least 5%.
  5. Click Apply and then OK.

This ensures Windows creates restore points automatically when significant system changes occur.

Step 2: Check Disk Space for Restore Points

System Restore needs enough disk space to save restore points. If the space is too low, old restore points get deleted, or none are created.

  1. Go back to the System Protection tab in System Properties.
  2. Select your system drive and click Configure.
  3. Look at the Disk Space Usage section.
  4. If the space is very low (less than 1%), increase it by moving the slider to allocate more space.
  5. Click Apply and then OK.

Allocating more space allows Windows to keep more restore points and improves restore functionality.

Step 3: Run System File Checker (SFC) Scan

Corrupted system files can cause restore points not to appear. Running the System File Checker tool can fix these files.

  1. Press Windows + X and select Windows Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin).
  2. Type the following command and press Enter:
sfc /scannow

This command will scan for and repair any corrupted system files. Wait until the process completes—it may take several minutes.

After it finishes, restart your computer and check if restore points are now visible.

Step 4: Check and Restart the Volume Shadow Copy Service

The Volume Shadow Copy service creates backups that System Restore uses. If this service is stopped or malfunctioning, restore points won’t be found.

  1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
  2. Scroll down and locate Volume Shadow Copy.
  3. Right-click it and select Properties.
  4. Set the Startup type to Automatic.
  5. If the service is not running, click Start. If it is running, click Restart.
  6. Click OK to save changes.

Restarting this service ensures restore points can be created and accessed properly.

Step 5: Enable System Restore via Registry Editor (Advanced)

If the above steps don’t work, System Restore might be disabled in the Windows Registry. Editing the registry can fix this, but be careful as incorrect changes can harm your system.

  1. Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
  2. Navigate to the following key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionSystemRestore
  1. On the right side, find DisableSR.
  2. If the value is set to 1, double-click it and set it to 0.
  3. Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer.

This re-enables System Restore if it was previously disabled by the system or third-party software.

Alternative Method: Use Command Prompt to Create a Restore Point Manually

If you want to test whether System Restore is working, you can try creating a restore point manually using the Command Prompt.

  1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
  2. Type the following command and press Enter:
wmic.exe /Namespace:\rootdefault Path SystemRestore Call CreateRestorePoint "Test Restore Point", 100, 7

If this command runs successfully, it means System Restore is functioning and able to create restore points.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why does Windows 10 say it can’t find any restore points?

This usually happens because System Restore is turned off, there is no disk space allocated for restore points, or the restore points were deleted automatically due to low space or corruption.

Can I recover deleted restore points?

Unfortunately, once restore points are deleted by Windows or other software, they cannot be recovered. You need to ensure System Restore is enabled to create new points.

Is System Restore enabled by default on Windows 10?

Yes, System Restore is generally enabled on the system drive by default, but it can be disabled manually or by some third-party programs.

Will disabling antivirus help fix restore point issues?

Sometimes antivirus or system optimization tools can interfere with System Restore. Temporarily disabling them can help identify if they are causing the problem.

Do I need administrator rights to fix restore point errors?

Yes, most fixes require administrator permissions because they involve changing system settings or running system tools.

When Nothing Works

If you have followed all the steps and still cannot find restore points, consider these final options:

  • Run a full Windows Update to ensure your system has the latest fixes.
  • Use the Reset this PC feature to reinstall Windows without losing your files.
  • Consult the official Microsoft support pages for System Restore issues: Microsoft System Restore Support.
  • Backup your important data and consider a clean installation if the problem persists.

Conclusion

Windows 10 not finding restore points can be caused by disabled settings, insufficient disk space, or system file issues. By verifying System Restore is enabled, checking disk space, running system scans, and ensuring necessary services are running, most users can fix this error easily.

Using the registry editor and command line gives advanced options if basic methods fail. Always back up important data regularly, so you are prepared for system issues.

Following this step-by-step guide will help you restore your system confidently and keep your PC running smoothly.

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