How to Fix Windows 10 System Restore Not Working (2026 Guide)

Why Is Windows 10 System Restore Not Working?

System Restore is one of Windows 10's most reliable recovery tools — when it works. But many users encounter errors like "System Restore did not complete successfully", missing restore points, or the restore process freezing mid-way. The most common culprits are:

• System Protection is disabled on the C: drive
• The Volume Shadow Copy (VSS) service is stopped or disabled
• Third-party antivirus software blocking the restore process
• Corrupted restore points or insufficient disk space
• Corrupted system files preventing a clean rollback

This guide walks you through every proven fix, from quick checks to advanced command-line repairs.

Fix 1: Verify System Protection Is Enabled

If you have no restore points at all, System Protection is likely turned off. Here's how to check:

1. Press Win + S and search for Create a restore point.
2. Open System Properties → System Protection tab.
3. Select your C: drive and check if Protection shows On.
4. If it says Off, click Configure, select Turn on system protection, and set disk space to at least 5–10%.
5. Click Apply → OK.

After enabling protection, click Create to make a manual restore point immediately.

Fix 2: Start the Volume Shadow Copy Service

System Restore depends on the Volume Shadow Copy (VSS) service. If it's stopped, restores fail silently.

1. Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
2. Scroll down to find Volume Shadow Copy.
3. Right-click it and select Properties.
4. Set Startup type to Manual.
5. Click Start, then Apply → OK.

Also check the Task Scheduler and Microsoft Software Shadow Copy Provider services — these need to be running or set to Manual as well.

Fix 3: Run System Restore in Safe Mode

Safe Mode loads only essential Windows components, which prevents antivirus and third-party software from interfering with System Restore.

1. Press Win + R, type msconfig, and go to the Boot tab.
2. Check Safe boot → Minimal and click OK.
3. Restart your PC — it will boot into Safe Mode automatically.
4. Open System Restore (search in Start menu) and run it from Safe Mode.
5. After the restore completes, go back to msconfig and uncheck Safe boot.

Fix 4: Temporarily Disable Antivirus Software

Security software — especially real-time protection — can block System Restore from creating or applying snapshots. Before running a restore:

1. Right-click your antivirus icon in the system tray.
2. Select Disable protection temporarily or Turn off real-time protection.
3. Attempt the System Restore immediately.
4. Re-enable your antivirus once the restore finishes or fails.

This applies to Windows Defender as well. Open Windows Security → Virus & threat protection → Manage settings and toggle Real-time protection off briefly.

Fix 5: Repair System Files with SFC and DISM

Corrupted Windows system files can prevent System Restore from completing. Use built-in repair tools:

Open Command Prompt as Administrator (search cmd, right-click → Run as administrator).

Step 1 — Run DISM first:

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

This downloads and replaces corrupted Windows image files. It may take 15–20 minutes.

Step 2 — Run SFC after DISM completes:

sfc /scannow

SFC scans all protected system files and replaces corrupted ones automatically. Restart when it finishes, then retry System Restore.

Fix 6: Free Up Disk Space

System Restore requires adequate free space on the C: drive to create and apply snapshots. If your drive is near full, restores will fail.

1. Press Win + E to open File Explorer and check C: drive space.
2. Right-click C: → Properties → Disk Cleanup.
3. Click Clean up system files and select old restore points, Windows Update cleanup, and Temporary files.
4. Aim to free at least 5–10 GB before attempting a restore.

You can also run this in Command Prompt to clear temporary files quickly:

del /q /f /s %TEMP%\*

Fix 7: Try a Different Restore Point

Restore points can become corrupted individually. When System Restore fails with one point, the error usually references the specific snapshot that's damaged:

1. Open System Restore and click Choose a different restore point.
2. Check the box for Show more restore points.
3. Select an older restore point — one created before the problem started.
4. Click Scan for affected programs to see what will change.
5. Proceed with the selected point.

Fix 8: Run Check Disk to Fix Drive Errors

Disk errors can corrupt restore points. Run CHKDSK to repair them:

chkdsk C: /f /r

You'll be prompted to schedule the scan for the next restart. Type Y and restart your PC. CHKDSK will run before Windows loads and fix any filesystem errors it finds.

Fix 9: Reset Shadow Storage Limits

If System Restore worked in the past but now creates no new points, the shadow storage allocation may be misconfigured. Reset it:

vssadmin resize shadowstorage /For=C: /On=C: /MaxSize=10%

Then delete and recreate the storage to force a fresh start:

vssadmin delete shadows /All /Quiet

After running these commands, reboot and try creating a new restore point manually from System Properties.

Fix 10: Use Windows Recovery Environment as a Last Resort

If all the above fail, boot into the Windows Recovery Environment:

1. Hold Shift and click Restart from the Start menu.
2. Go to Troubleshoot → Advanced options → System Restore.
3. Select your user account and enter your password.
4. Choose a restore point and confirm.

Running System Restore from WinRE bypasses Windows entirely, making it the most reliable method when the OS itself is partially corrupt.

When System Restore Cannot Help

If System Restore is completely unavailable — no restore points exist and the system is too damaged to boot — you'll need to use Reset This PC (Settings → Update & Security → Recovery) or reinstall Windows using installation media. Always back up important files first using another PC or a live USB environment.

Prevent Future System Restore Failures

• Keep System Protection enabled on C: with at least 5% disk allocation
• Create manual restore points before installing new drivers or software
• Maintain at least 10–15 GB free on your system drive at all times
• Check Volume Shadow Copy service is set to Manual (not Disabled)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Windows 10 say "System Restore did not complete successfully"?

This error usually occurs because antivirus software blocked the restore process, the restore point is corrupted, or the Volume Shadow Copy service stopped during the operation. Run System Restore in Safe Mode and disable antivirus temporarily to bypass these issues.

How do I create a restore point if there are none?

Go to Start → search "Create a restore point" → System Protection tab → select C: drive → click Configure → turn on protection → click Create to make one manually.

Can I recover files if System Restore fails completely?

Yes. Use File History (if enabled), Previous Versions in File Explorer, or third-party data recovery software. For the OS, use Reset This PC or reinstall Windows from installation media.

Does System Restore delete personal files?

No. System Restore only affects Windows system files, installed programs, and registry settings. Personal documents, photos, and other user files in your profile folders are not affected.

How much disk space does System Restore need?

Windows recommends allocating 5–10% of your system drive. For a 500 GB drive, that's 25–50 GB. If disk space drops below the minimum threshold, Windows automatically deletes older restore points to make room.