How Long Do Windows 11 Restore Points Last? The Shocking Truth About Microsoft’s New 60-Day Rule

Are Your Windows 11 Backups Disappearing? Why Microsoft’s Latest Change Could Save or Doom Your Computer

Microsoft made a big change to Windows 11 that affects how long your computer keeps backup copies of your system. I want to tell you about this change because it matters for keeping your computer safe.

With the June 2025 update for Windows 11 version 24H2, Microsoft now deletes System Restore points after exactly 60 days. This is different from before, when nobody really knew how long these backups would last.

What Changed and Why It Matters

Before this update, things were confusing. Some computers would keep restore points for only 10 days, while others kept them for up to 90 days. I found this frustrating because you never knew if your backup would still be there when you needed it.

Now Microsoft made it clear: 60 days is the new standard. This means your computer will automatically delete any restore point that’s older than 60 days.

The History Behind This Change

Let me explain how we got here. Way back in Windows Vista, Windows 7, and even Windows 10, restore points lasted for 90 days. This gave you plenty of time to notice problems and fix them.

But when Windows 11 came out in 2021, things got messy. The retention time became unpredictable – sometimes 10 days, sometimes 90 days. Microsoft never clearly explained this change in their official documents.

I can verify this change myself using a simple PowerShell command. When I check the system registry, I see the value is now 5,184,000 seconds, which equals exactly 60 days. On Windows 10 computers, this same value shows 7,776,000 seconds, which equals 90 days.

Why This Matters for You

System Restore points are like snapshots of your computer at a specific moment. They save your system files, settings, and program information. If something goes wrong – like a bad update or driver installation – you can use these snapshots to go back to when everything worked properly.

The 60-day limit means you have a reliable window to fix problems, but you need to be more active about creating your own restore points. Don’t just rely on Windows to make them automatically.

How to Create Your Own Restore Points

I recommend making restore points regularly. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Open System Properties

1. Press Windows + R
2. Type “sysdm.cpl” and press Enter
3. Or search for “Create a restore point” in the Start menu

Step 2: Enable System Protection

1. Click the “System Protection” tab
2. Select your main drive (usually C:)
3. Click “Configure“
4. Choose “Turn on system protection“

Step 3: Create the Restore Point

1. Click the “Create” button
2. Give it a descriptive name like “Before installing new software“
3. Click “Create” again
4. The whole process takes just a few minutes, and Windows will confirm when it’s done.

When to Create Restore Points

I suggest making restore points in these situations:

• Before installing new software
• Before updating drivers
• Before making changes to system settings
• Every few weeks as a routine backup

What This Means Going Forward

The 60-day policy applies to all future versions of Windows 11 24H2. This gives you more time than the unpredictable 10-day periods some users experienced, but less than the old 90-day standard.

Microsoft also confirmed that if your computer runs low on storage space, it will still delete restore points to free up disk space. This has always been the case and continues to be true.

My Recommendation

Don’t rely only on automatic restore points. Take control by creating your own restore points regularly. The 60-day window is better than the chaotic system we had before, but it’s still not as generous as the old 90-day period.

Think of restore points as insurance for your computer. You hope you’ll never need them, but when something goes wrong, you’ll be grateful they’re there. With the new 60-day limit, you have a predictable timeframe to work with – just make sure you use it wisely.