Microsoft is testing Point-in-Time Restore, a new recovery feature for Windows 11 that provides a more comprehensive system snapshot than traditional system restore. The feature was first seen in the Windows 11 Insider Experimental preview released on April 24, 2026, and was originally announced for 2025.
Microsoft states that the goal of point-in-time restore is to “reduce downtime and simplify troubleshooting when disruptions occur.” This feature appears in the Windows Recovery Environment troubleshooting window when a PC encounters a problem and can also be accessed and configured from the Windows Settings app.
What does point-in-time restore backup and how does snapshot scheduling work?
Unlike System Restore, which backs up system files, registry settings, drivers, and installed applications, Point-in-Time Restore includes user files, applications, settings, passwords, secrets, certificates, and keys. Files stored in OneDrive or other cloud services are not affected by the restore.
Reverting to a point-in-time snapshot restores the entire PC, so any local changes made after the snapshot will be lost. This includes local file edits or new files saved outside of cloud storage.
Point-in-time restore follows an automated schedule rather than offering the option of manual snapshot creation. Snapshots are kept for 72 hours and can be set to be retained for shorter periods such as six, twelve, sixteen, or twenty-four hours. Depending on the user’s preferences, new snapshots can be created every four, twelve, sixteen, or twenty-four hours.
Storage requirements and Windows 365 Enterprise Edition
On PCs with at least 200GB of drive space, point-in-time restore is enabled by default. Devices with smaller drives need to be set up manually. Storage usage is set to 2% of total drive capacity, with options for various percentage allocations. At least 2GB must be reserved for the feature to function properly. For consumer Windows installations, this feature is optional and can be turned on or off by the user.
A separate version of point-in-time restore is available for Windows 365 enterprise cloud PCs managed through Intune. This enterprise feature is always active, keeps restore points for up to a month, allows manual creation of restore points, and relies on scalable cloud storage rather than local drive space.
Remote management support and availability
Remote management support for point-in-time restore is in development but not yet available in the current preview. Microsoft has said it will be included in a future update, although no specific timeline has been announced. This feature is now limited to Windows 11 Insider Experimental Channel builds.
Microsoft has not provided any information about when point-in-time restore will be available to a broader group of Windows 11 users.
