Discover why you have no system restore point windows 10 and how to solve the "no restore points have been created windows 10" error. This guide provides proven steps to enable System Protection, configure settings, and ensure your PC can create automatic restore points.
It’s frustrating to find the error “No restore points have been created on your computer’s system drive" when you need a system restore point to restore your problematic computer. Don’t panic, this guide will introduce why this happens and walk you through fixing it for good and, crucially, how to rescue your files if you're already in a pickle.
The message indicating you have no system restore point in Windows 10 is a symptom, not the disease itself. It means the automatic mechanism designed to protect your system has been switched off, a lack of disk space, or a deeper system service that's decided to take an unscheduled nap.
On many new Windows 10 installations or after a major feature update, System Protection is turned off for your main drive.
If you’ve allocated only a tiny amount of space—or if your drive is simply packed to the gills—Windows will automatically delete old restore points to make room for new ones. If the space is critically low, it might stop creating them altogether, leading to the situation where you have no restore point in Windows 10.
Now that we've identified the likely suspects, let's move on to the practical steps of activating and configuring the system properly.
1. Right-click on 'This PC' on your desktop and select 'Properties'.
2. In the window that appears, click on 'System protection' on the left-hand side.
3. A new, smaller window will pop up. Under 'Protection Settings', you’ll see a list of your drives. Find your system drive (usually C:) and check its status.
4. If it says 'Off', click the 'Configure' button, and in the new dialog, select 'Turn on system protection'.
5. Finally, use the slider under 'Disk Space Usage' to allocate a reasonable amount of space—anywhere from 5% to 10% of your drive is a good starting point.
6. Click 'Apply' and 'OK'. Boom, you’re back in business.
If you've enabled protection and have plenty of disk space but are still facing the problem of no restore points being created in Windows 10, it's time for some advanced troubleshooting.
The Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) is the unsung hero, the actual engine that takes the snapshot of your system. If this service is stopped or disabled, System Restore is dead in the water. To check on it:
1. Press Win + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter.
2. In the long list of services, scroll down and find "Volume Shadow Copy".
3. Double-click it. First, ensure its "Startup type" is set to "Manual" or "Automatic".
4. Then, look at the "Service status"; if it says "Stopped", click the "Start" button.
After enabling System Protection, you can check if your disk space is enough for your system restore points. Or you have to delete some unnecessary files, uninstall programs to free up space.
You've tried everything, but the system is unstable or, worse, unbootable. It’s time to recover your important files. This is where a dedicated data recovery tool like MyRecover becomes your absolute hero.
Here is a step-by-step guide to using MyRecover for recovering your Windows 10 files:
1. Create a Bootable USB Drive on a Working PC.
2. Boot Your Problematic PC from the USB Drive
3. Recover Files Easily
Why does Windows 10 show no restore points after an update?
A: Major Windows updates often reset System Protection to "Off." Always check this setting in System Properties after an update.
How do I enable system restore if there are no restore points?
A: Right-click This PC > Properties > System Protection. Select your drive, click Configure, choose "Turn on system protection", allocate disk space, and click OK.
Can I create a restore point when the system says no restore points are available?
A: Yes! The "no restore points" message refers to the past. If your system is stable, go to System Protection and click "Create" to make a new one immediately.
What is the difference between a system restore and a factory reset?
A: System Restore only affects system files and programs, keeping your personal files safe. A factory reset erases everything and reinstalls Windows completely.
Does System Restore affect personal files like photos and documents?
A: No. Your documents, photos, and other personal data remain completely untouched during a System Restore operation.
How far back do Windows 10 restore points go?
A: Their duration depends on allocated disk space and how often new points are created. With sufficient space (5-10% of your drive), you can maintain points for several weeks or months.