Microsoft’s Windows 11 creates System Restore points, which are snapshots of your computer’s files, settings, and registry. These snapshots are stored as system files that can be restored later if they remain active. However, if the computer is still running Windows, the system restore points automatically get deleted after 60 days. Microsoft has recently confirmed this, emphasizing the importance of creating regular System Restore points over relying on the default, which deletes them rapidly.
For snippets of time, the documentation states that in Windows 10, System restore points can last up to 90 days. This extended lifetime is a benefit, as even if the file becomes inactive, it can still be restored. However, in Windows 11, the retention period is limited to 60 days (most of the time) or up to 90 days if the document file is active, depending on the use case.
Microsoft has introduced an update, or Security Update (June 2025), that reverses this 90-day limit, granting up to a 60-day retention period for Windows 11. This new update offers a longer retention period, providing more flexibility for users to create System restore points without immediate deletion of snapshots. Unlike Windows 10’s 90-day limit, which stands for at least when the computer is running, Windows 11’s version 24H2 (which includes the new Security Update) guarantees 60 days for all systems.
To save your computer’s precaution from being deleted, users can create their own System restore point by opening the Start menu, selecting theconfigurationWindow and choosing the Create a restore point option. In the System Protection tab under Protection Settings, users select a partition they wish to protect and configure it as a Protected partition. Once all configurations are in place, users can save the restore point to their computer’s partitions for future use. This process ensures that their computer never becomes inactive or is left without备份, adhering to the retention period guarantee in Windows 11 24H2.
