How Long Does System Restore Take in Windows 10/11

Learn How long a Windows 10/11 System Restore takes. Different Methods to Fix System Restore Stuck in Windows.

System Restore is a very useful recovery tool for Windows, but many people are worried when it takes a long time and seems to hang on the loading screen. In actuality, this is dependent on how fast the computer is, how healthy the hard drive is, and how large the changes are that are going to be restored.

In this tutorial, I will explain how long a System Restore takes on Windows 10/11, what factors can result in the slowing down of this process, and how one can efficiently overcome such problems when System Restore hangs during the procedure.

What is System Restore

System Restore is often used to fix problems related to faulty software, driver issues, or a failed update in the Windows operating system.

In many cases, you can run System Restore in Safe Mode or use Startup Repair to recover your system.

In the following section, you will learn what exactly System Restore is, how it works, and how long a System Restore typically takes on Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Windows system problems are often a result of applications or drivers that have been recently installed. System Restore is the option through which you can return Windows to a previous setup that has been working fine.

A system restore point includes important system elements such as registry settings, system files, and installed drivers. Windows usually creates restore points automatically once a week and before major changes like installing updates, drivers, or new software. You can also create a restore point manually whenever needed.

If something goes wrong, you can run System Restore and choose a restore point created before the problem started. Windows will then revert system settings and drivers to that earlier state without affecting your personal files.

This is particularly helpful when troubleshooting problematic areas such as unstable drivers. For instance, if the installation of a particular driver results in system crashes or sluggish performance, uninstalling the same might not solve the entire problem. System Restore can be very helpful in reversing the entire process.

System Restore is also very helpful when Windows or applications mess up system components. Sometimes, an offending application directory may not be removed well enough to reverse whatever changes happened. Going back to a previous Windows system solves a host of problems.

How Long Does a System Restore Take in Windows 10 and 11?

On most Windows 10 and Windows 11 PCs, a System Restore typically takes about 20 to 45 minutes. System Restore may take longer if you have an older system that has a hard drive instead of an SSD.

Just how long this takes is determined by a few different factors, such as how fast your system resources are, how large the restore point is, and how many changes to the system Windows must reverse. If there are many installed updates and programs on your PC since the restore point, then there is a probability that the system restore process may last closer to an hour.

It is also normal for System Restore to seem “stuck” at various percentages for several minutes. However, it is not always the case that there is an issue, and it is generally best to wait for at least an hour to determine that it has indeed frozen.

System Restore completing after an hour or not showing any signs of running is most likely an indicator that something is amiss. In this scenario, the best thing you could do is restart in Safe Mode or perform a System Restore from the Windows Recovery Environment.

Why does System Restore take longer and get stuck

In the section below, we will see the top reasons why System Restore takes longer and gets stuck:

Bad Hard Drive Sectors

Sometimes a hard drive will malfunction if it has one or more faulty sectors. This might lead to the loss of critical data from the faulty sectors, but it won’t affect the data on the other drive, and the disc will still be fully functional.

There is a sizable chance that System Restore will fail or make a mistake that results in data loss when you use it to back up files on a drive. You must think about how to restore damaged sectors effectively and correctly.

Corrupted Restore Points

When the operating system crashes or other unfortunate events occur, system restore points can assist you in returning to the prior state of Windows. Users of Windows may unintentionally discover that system restore points are missing or missing when they attempt to execute a system restore.

The System Restore feature may become stuck and display the message “System Restore is initializing,” or System restore hung up on “Initializing” after the restore point has been destroyed or corrupted in some way.

Lack of Disk Space

Your lack of disc space might occasionally cause System Restore to have trouble initializing. A specific quantity of disc space is required for System Restore. The old restore points will be immediately erased to create a way for the new ones if their size exceeds the figure you selected.

System Restore will operate normally if the disc space used to store restore points is five percent of the backup drive’s total storage space.

What is the Functioning of System Restore Points

System Restore Points operate by creating a snapshot of your Windows system’s most important elements at a particular point in time. This snapshot enables Windows to reverse system changes if there are problems, without affecting your personal data.

When a restore point is created, Windows records important system information such as:

• System files and settings
• Windows Registry entries
• Installed drivers
• System applications and updates

Restore points are created automatically whenever major changes are about to happen on the system, such as the installation of Windows updates or drivers and software. You can also choose to manually create a restore point whenever you want.

If your system begins experiencing difficulties, you can choose a restore point of a specified date that was created prior to when problems began happening. At the time of system restore, system settings will be restored to a saved snapshot of how the system settings were on that specific date.

In other words, System Restore Points serve as a safety net, allowing you to undo changes on the system level and restore the stability of the system without having to reinstall Windows and affecting your personal files. 

Also Read =>> Comprehensive review of FoneGeek iOS System Recovery

What are the Limitations of System Restore?

While System Restore is a useful recovery tool, it does have certain limitations that users should be aware of:

• Do not protect personal files: System Restore does not back up or recover personal data, such as documents, photos, or videos. If files are deleted or corrupted, System Restore will not restore them.
• Limited restore point storage: Windows allocates only a fixed amount of disk space for restore points. Once this space is full, older restore points are automatically deleted. However, it is possible to allocate more space for restore points.
• Not always enabled by default: There is a possibility that System Restore may not be active, so no restore points are available unless it is enabled manually.
• May not fix all problems: Hardware failures, severe system corruption, malware infections, or disk errors cannot be resolved using System Restore.
• Recent changes may be lost: Apps, drivers, or updates installed after the selected restore point will be removed, which may require reinstallation.
• Restore points can fail: In some cases, a restore point may become corrupted or fail to complete, especially if the system is already unstable.

Please note: System Restore does not reinstall Windows, unlike the Reset This PC option in some versions of Windows. If you need to resolve more complex operating system issues, particularly those that began outside of what System Restore can resolve, you can opt for Reset This PC.

Understanding these limitations helps set realistic expectations and ensures you use System Restore as part of a broader system recovery strategy rather than a complete backup solution.

6 Ways to Fix System Restore Stuck in Windows 10 and 11

The methods listed below can help you quickly fix System Restore Stuck Problems:

Method 1: Run SFC (System File Checker)

Step #1: Activate Administrator mode in the Command Prompt window. To do so, launch the Run dialogue box by using the “Windows key + R” combination. After that, type cmd and hit Enter.

Step #2: Type SFC/scannow into the Command Prompt, then hit Enter.

Step #3: The corrupted files will then be found and repaired when it has been scanned into your system. Try to restart the System Restore once it’s done.

Method 2: Using Another Restore Point

Step #1: Go to “System and Security” in the “Control Panel” after opening it.

Step #2: System Protection may be found by clicking “System” and choosing it from the left-side menu.

To restore your computer, tap the “System Restore” button and then adhere to the on-screen directions.

Step #3: Select a different restore point from the list after arriving at the “Select a restore point” screen and see if it fixes the issue.

Method 3: Using Startup Repair

Step #1: Utilize the Windows Recovery or Installation disc to access the Advanced Startup or WinRE.

Step #2: Select Startup Repair under Troubleshoot > Advanced Options.

Method 4: Reinstall Windows

Step #1: Navigate to Troubleshoot > Reset this PC on the Advanced Startup.

Step #2: Choose to Keep my Files, then adhere to the on-screen directions.

Method 5: Using Safe Mode

Step #1: Restart your computer after inserting your Windows installation DVD.

Step #2: Pick Troubleshoot on the “Choose an option” prompt. Select “Advanced settings” next, followed by “Startup Settings,” and then “Restart.”

Step #3: You may hit F5 to restart your computer in Safe Mode when it restarts.

Method 6: How to Create a Restore Point

Step #1: Type “System restore point” into the search box and select “launch the program”.

Step #2: In this step, you need to select “Configure and Choose “Enable system protection”.

Step #3: Select the disc space you want to utilize, then click “Apply” and “OK”.

Step #4: Click “Create” after choosing your “Windows drive”.

Your system restore point has now been successfully generated. Depending on the amount of data, programs, and apps on the C drive, it will take some time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q #1) Are personal files removed during System Restore?

Answer: Your computer was returned to its previous state via System Restore. It undoes any modifications you have made while also erasing all previously installed drivers and software. Except for the user application settings, all of your private files are unaltered.

Q #2) Can I go back and undo what System Restore does?

Answer: Yes, a restore point is produced each time you use System Restore, so you may undo the modifications if they don’t solve your problem.

You cannot undo the restoration procedure if you use System Restore while the machine is running in safe mode or while utilizing the System Recovery Options. If a different restore point is available, you may run System Restore once more and select it.

Q #3) What files are altered when a system restoration is performed?

Answer: Windows system files, applications, and registry settings are all impacted by System Restore. Additionally, it can modify any user-created executable file, including batch files, scripts, and other sorts. System Restore cannot assist you in recovering a lost file since it does not impact personal data like emails, documents, or images.

If you have backups, you can retrieve your data from them.

Q #4) How much time should be spent initializing System Restore?

Answer: If you notice that 45 minutes have gone by and the System Restore is still not finished, the software may freeze, and the system is likely stuck. Normally, it takes us 30 to 60 minutes to start the system restoration. You must take action in this circumstance to address the issue.

Q #5) What will happen if I pause System Restore in Windows 10?

Answer: The implications of interrupting System Restore Windows 10 are unfathomable. It will advise you not to manually stop System Restore since you performed a system restore. If you pause the system files backup or registry backup restoration, it won’t finish. System Restore will become stuck and will take a long time to boot.

Q #6) How long do restore points remain in storage?

Answer: Restore points are kept until the reserved disc space for System Restore is used up. Old restore points are erased when fresh ones are generated. All restore points are erased from a disc if system protection, the function that generates restore points, is disabled. New restore points are established when you restart system protection.

Q #7) How long does system restore take on Laptop?

Answer: Generally, running a system restore on a laptop takes 20–45 minutes rather than a few hours.

Q #8) How do I know if the System Restore is stuck?

Answer: If it merely flashes once every five to ten seconds, it is stuck. We advise turning the device off completely. Then resume your rehabilitation when you see the blue Windows screen with the spinning circle; press and hold the power button to shut down.

Further Reading => Fixes for PC Wont Shut Down

Conclusion

For many Windows users, Windows 10 System Restore is a helpful repair and recovery tool. Users may return system files, registry entries, drivers, and other applications to their original configurations and states with the use of System Restore. The System Restore tool can assist users in resolving a variety of computer-related issues.

System Restore is effective and convenient most of the time, but it may occasionally be a real hassle. When users use System Restore to restore everything, it might occasionally take longer than two hours to complete the task. The warning will then appear on the screen: “Please be patient as your Windows settings and data are restored. System Restore is starting up “.

This is a typical and perplexing issue that many Windows users find baffling. System Restore hung up on ‘initializing’ Windows 10 or System Restore initializing is the critical problem that Windows System Restore is experiencing.

You may quickly fix this problem by using the methods described in this article.

Research Process

This article is based on hands-on testing of System Restore on Windows 10 and Windows 11, a review of official Microsoft support documentation, and an analysis of common issues reported by users.

The total time taken to write and publish this article is approximately 30 hours.