What Does System Restore Do in Windows 10?

System Restore is a feature in Microsoft Windows that allows the user to revert their computer's state (including system files, installed applications, Windows Registry, and system settings) to that of a previous point in time, which can be used to recover from system malfunctions or other problems.

1. What happens when you do a system restore?
2. Is System Restore bad for your computer?
3. Should I enable System Restore in Windows 10?
4. When should I use System Restore?

What happens when you do a system restore?

System Restore takes a "snapshot" of the some system files and the Windows registry and saves them as Restore Points. ... It repairs the Windows environment by reverting back to the files and settings that were saved in the restore point. Note: It does not affect your personal data files on the computer.

Is System Restore bad for your computer?

No. It's designed to back up and restore your computer's data. The inverse however is true, a computer can mess up System Restore. Windows Updates reset the restore points, viruses/malware/ransomware can disable it rendering it useless; in fact most attacks on the OS will render it useless.

Should I enable System Restore in Windows 10?

System Restore is turned off by default in Windows 10. It's not used often but it's absolutely crucial when you need it. If you're running Windows 10, I want you to go turn it on if it is disabled on your computer. (As always, this advice is for normal non-technical individuals and small business users.

When should I use System Restore?

System Restore is used to return important Windows files and settings—like drivers, registry keys, system files, installed programs, and more—back to previous versions and settings. Think of System Restore as an "undo" feature for the most important parts of Microsoft Windows.