How to schedule automatic restore points on Windows 11

UPDATED 10/20/2023: On Windows 11, System Restore Point allows undoing system changes that may prevent the computer from starting up correctly or operating as expected using restore points.

The System Restore Point feature can automatically detect and create restore points when it detects special events, such as when Windows 11 installs a new system or driver update or you install an application. However, since the feature doesn’t create a snapshot of every system event, it’s possible to use the Task Scheduler to create periodic restore points in case you need to recover the system.

In this guide, you will learn the steps to create restore points automatically every other day to recover your computer in case of problems.

Enable System Restore on Windows 11
Create periodic restore points on Windows 11

Enable System Restore on Windows 11

To enable System Restore on Windows 11, use these steps:

Open Start on Windows 11.
Search for Create a restore point and click the top result to open the app.
Under the “Protection Settings” section, select the system drive (C) and click the Configure button.
Select the Turn on system protection option.
Click the Apply button.
Click the OK button.

Once you complete the steps, you can continue creating a scheduled task to create restore points periodically.

Create periodic restore points on Windows 11

To allow Windows 11 to create daily restore points, use these steps:

Open Start.
Search for Task Scheduler and click the top result to open the app.
(Optional) Right-click the “Task Scheduler Library” folder and select the New Folder option.
Confirm a name for the folder—for example, My Tasks.
Right-click the “My Tasks” folder and click the Create Task option.
Click on the General tab.
In the “Name” field, type a descriptive name for the task, such as “My Daily Periodic Restore Point.”
Under the “Security options” section, select the “Run whether the user is logged on or not” option.
Check the “Run with highest privileges” option.
Click on the Triggers tab.
Click the New button.
Use the “Begin the task” drop-down menu and select the On a schedule option.
Under the “Settings” section, select the Daily option.
Configure the schedule settings (day, time, and frequency) on the right side.

Quick note: You can use any schedule that suits you, but if you select every day, restore points will be created every two days because the schedule will conflict with the one-per-day restore point rule.
Click the OK button.
Click on the Actions tab.
Click the New button.
Use the “Actions” drop-down menu and select the Start a program option.
In the “Program/script” setting, type the following command:
```
powershell.exe
```

In the “Add arguments (optional)” setting, type the following command:

-ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Command "Checkpoint-Computer -Description \"My Daily Periodic Restore Point\" -RestorePointType \"MODIFY_SETTINGS\""

Click the OK button.
Click the Conditions tab.
Under “Power,” clear the “Stop if the computer switches to battery power” and “Start the task only if the computer is on AC power” options.
Click the OK button.
Specify the password for your account.
Click the OK button.

Once you complete the steps, a system restore point will be created on your specified schedule.

It’s important to note that when specifying the administrator account and password, the system will save that information to run the task in the background regardless of who is signed in on the computer.

If the time comes when you need to recover your computer, you can use these steps to undo system changes with a restore point.

Update October 10, 2023: This guide has been received to ensure accuracy and notes that once you specify an account, the task will run regardless of who is signed in.