Windows 11 restore points now expire sooner
Windows 11 users should be aware of a recent change that affects the retention period of their system restore points. With the latest June 2025 update for version 24H2, Microsoft has reduced the retention period for system restore points from 90 days to 60 days. This means that if you rely on restore points to recover your system after a problem, you’ll have a shorter window before those backups are automatically deleted. The change isn’t temporary as Microsoft has confirmed that the 60-day limit will apply to all future updates of version 24H2, and it’s expected to carry over into the next major release, version 25H2, later in 2025.
System restore points are snapshots of your system’s state and can be a lifesaver when something goes wrong after installing software, drivers, or Windows updates. While Windows creates restore points automatically before some updates, it’s often a good idea to create your own manually, especially before making major changes to your system. Doing so ensures you have a recovery option within that new 60-day time frame.
To manually create a restore point, start by typing “recovery” into the Windows search bar and selecting “Create a restore point.” In the window that appears, go to the “System Protection” tab and click “Configure.” Ensure the option “Enable System Protection” is selected, then confirm with “OK.” Back in the main window, click “Create,” give your restore point a meaningful name like “Before June driver update,” and confirm to save it.
If you ever need to use a restore point, search for “System Restore” in the Start menu and follow the steps to choose and apply one of the available backups. Just keep in mind that if it’s older than 60 days, it won’t be there anymore.
