Delete System Restore Points in Windows 10  

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    Delete System Restore Points in Windows 10

    Delete System Restore Points in Windows 10

    How to Delete System Restore Points in Windows 10
    Published by Category: Performance & Maintenance
    05 Mar 2021
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Delete System Restore Points in Windows 10


    System protection (if turned on) is a feature that allows you to perform a system restore that takes your PC back to an earlier point in time, called a system restore point. This can be handy if your PC isn't working well and you recently installed an app, driver, or update.

    Each restore point contains the necessary information needed to restore the system to the chosen state. Restore points are automatically generated when you install a new app, driver, or Windows update, and generated when you create a restore point manually. Restoring won’t affect your personal files in your %UserProfile% folder, but it will remove apps, drivers, and updates installed after the restore point was created.

    When you get a new large or feature update for Windows 10, all restore points will automatically get deleted in the process of the update since the old restore points will be incompatible with the new Windows Update.

    See also:

    This tutorial will show you how to delete all or specific system restore points for drives in Windows 10.

    You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to delete a system restore point.

    Restore points are stored in the hidden protected OS System Volume Information folder in the root directory of each drive you have system protection turned on.



    Contents

    • Option One: To Delete All System Restore Points for a Drive in System Protection Settings
    • Option Two: To Delete All System Restore Points but the most Recent Restore Point in Disk Cleanup
    • Option Three: To Delete All or Specific System Restore Points in Command Prompt
    • Option Four: To Delete Individual System Restore Points in CCleaner
    • Option Five: To Delete System Image Restore Points in Command Prompt at Boot






    OPTION ONE

    To Delete All System Restore Points for a Drive in System Protection Settings


    1 Do step 2, step 3, or step 4 below for how you would like to open System.

    2 Open the Win+X Quick Link menu, click/tap on System, and go to step 5 below.

    3 Open the Control Panel (icons view), click/tap on the System icon, and go to step 5 below.

    4 Open the Control Panel (icons view), click/tap on the Recovery icon, click/tap on the Configure System Restore link, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)

    Delete System Restore Points in Windows 10-delete_restore_points-1.png

    5 Click/tap on the System protection link on the left side. (see screenshot below)

    Starting with Windows 10 build 20161, you will need to click/tap on About on the left side, and click/tap on the System protection link instead.
    Delete System Restore Points in Windows 10-settings_system.jpg

    Delete System Restore Points in Windows 10-delete_restore_points-2.png

    6 If prompted by UAC, click/tap on Yes.

    7 Under Protection Settings, select a drive (ex: C: ) that you want to delete all restore points from, and click/tap on the Configure button. (see screenshot below)

    Delete System Restore Points in Windows 10-delete_restore_points-3.png

    8 Click/tap on Delete. (see screenshots below)

    Delete System Restore Points in Windows 10-delete_restore_points-4.png

    9 Click/tap on Continue to confirm. (see screenshot below)

    Delete System Restore Points in Windows 10-delete_restore_points-5.png

    10 Click/tap on Close when finished. (see screenshot below)

    Delete System Restore Points in Windows 10-delete_restore_points-6.png

    11 You will notice that the Current Usage of the selected drive will now be 0 bytes. (see screenshots below)

    Delete System Restore Points in Windows 10-delete_restore_points-7.png






    OPTION TWO

    To Delete All System Restore Points but the most Recent Restore Point in Disk Cleanup


    1 Use step 7 in OPTION ONE of the tutorial below to delete restore points from a selected disk.

    How to Open and Use Disk Cleanup in Windows 10

    Delete System Restore Points in Windows 10-disk_cleanup_restore_points.png






    OPTION THREE

    To Delete All or Specific System Restore Points in Command Prompt


    1 Open an elevated command prompt.

    2 Copy and paste the vssadmin list shadows command into the elevated command prompt, and press Enter.

    This will list all shadow copies (restore points) on all drives. You will see the volume drive letter and shadow copy ID number for each one. You will need this information for the steps below.

    Delete System Restore Points in Windows 10-vssadmin_list_shadows.png

    3 Do step 4 (all), step 5 (all on drive), step 6 (oldest on drive), or step 7 (shadow copy ID) below for how you would like to delete restore points.


     4. To Delete All Restore Points on All Drives

    A) Copy and paste the command below you want to use into the elevated command prompt, press Enter, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below)

    (Prompts Y/N to confirm before deleting)
    vssadmin delete shadows /all

    OR

    (Delete without prompting)
    vssadmin delete shadows /all /quiet

    Delete System Restore Points in Windows 10-vssadmin_delete_shadows-4.png


     5. To Delete All Restore Points on Specific Drive

    A) Type the command below you want to use in the elevated command prompt, press Enter, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshots below)

    (Prompts Y/N to confirm before deleting)
    vssadmin delete shadows /For=(drive letter): /all

    OR

    (Delete without prompting)
    vssadmin delete shadows /For=(drive letter): /all /quiet

    Substitute (drive letter) in the commands above with the drive letter you want. This will be listed as Original Volume: (x: ) from step 2 above.

    For example:

    vssadmin delete shadows /For=C: /all

    OR

    vssadmin delete shadows /For=C: /all /quiet

    Delete System Restore Points in Windows 10-vssadmin_delete_shadows-1.png
    Delete System Restore Points in Windows 10-vssadmin_delete_shadows-2.png


     6. To Delete Oldest Restore Point on Specific Drive

    A) Type the command below you want to use into the elevated command prompt, press Enter, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshots below)

    (Prompts Y/N to confirm before deleting)
    vssadmin delete shadows /For=(drive letter): /oldest

    OR

    (Delete without prompting)
    vssadmin delete shadows /For=(drive letter): /oldest /quiet

    Substitute (drive letter) in the commands above with the drive letter you want. This will be listed as Original Volume: (x: ) from step 2 above.

    For example:

    vssadmin delete shadows /For=C: /oldest

    OR

    vssadmin delete shadows /For=C: /oldest /quiet

    Delete System Restore Points in Windows 10-vssadmin_delete_shadows-5.png


     7. To Delete Specific Restore Point using Shadow Copy ID

    A) Type the command below into the elevated command prompt, press Enter, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below)

    vssadmin delete shadows /Shadow={Shadow Copy ID}

    Substitute Shadow Copy ID in the commands above with the actual Shadow Copy ID number of the restore point you want to delete from step 2 above.

    For example: vssadmin delete shadows /Shadow={3e351030-9ebd-428c-9ff3-86dca40a7f96}

    Delete System Restore Points in Windows 10-vssadmin_delete_shadows-3.png


    8 When finished, you can close the elevated command prompt if you like.






    OPTION FOUR

    To Delete Individual System Restore Points in CCleaner


    This option will allow you to remove up to all restore points, but not the most recent restore point.


    1 If you have not already, download and install the free CCleaner program.

    2 Open CCleaner.

    3 Click/tap on Tools on the left side, and click/tap on System Restore in the Tools menu. (see screenshot below step 4)

    4 Select one or more listed restore points you want to delete, and click/tap on Remove. (see screenshot below)

    You can press and hold the CTRL key and click/tap on restore points to be able to select more than one randomly.


    Delete System Restore Points in Windows 10-ccleaner_restore_points-1.png

    5 Click/tap on OK to confirm. (see screenshot below)

    Delete System Restore Points in Windows 10-ccleaner_restore_points-2.png

    6 When finished, you can close CCleaner if you like.






    OPTION FIVE

    To Delete System Image Restore Points in Command Prompt at Boot


    This option was provided by our member Bree.
    Delete System Restore Points in Windows 10-system-image-restore-point.png




    That's it,
    Shawn






  1. Posts : 118
    Windows 10 Pro
       #1

    Cannot delete Shadow Copies


    Hi, is OK if I post to this Tut?

    I noticed some problems clearing old Restore points this morning.
    vssadmin list shadows & vssadmin delete shadows /all
    Delete System Restore Points in Windows 10-system-restore-delete.png
    Two Shadow copies created on 2/12/17 & 2/20/17 than I cannot remove. "Snapshots were found, but they were outside of your context. Try removing them with the backup application which created them."
    Isn't that System Restore?

    They are the only two restore points left. Not sure why this began on 2/12/17. Any thoughts?

    Delete System Restore Points in Windows 10-system-restore.png

    Thank you
    Last edited by dogpark; 24 Feb 2017 at 14:44.
      My Computers


  2. Posts : 68,668
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    Hello dogpark, :)

    Those would be restore points from a created system image. Basically, those will only be deleted when the appropriate system image for each one has been deleted.

    You can do so by selecting Keep only the latest system image and minimum space used by backup option when managing space for Windows Backup below.

    Windows Backup - Manage Space in Windows 10
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 118
    Windows 10 Pro
       #3

    Hi Brink,

    I thought perhaps it might have something to do with Windows Backup but have always had the Manage Windows Backup disk space option set to: Keep only the recent system image.

    I deleted all the restore points for D: (backup drive) thru System Protection. Don't believe System Restore has ever been on for D: drive. Even tho doing this indicates the Restore points have been successfully deleted the 3.52 GB value always remains.

    Delete System Restore Points in Windows 10-system-restore-del3.png


    Then I reran the vssadmin list shadows & vssadmin delete shadows /all

    Delete System Restore Points in Windows 10-system-restore-del2.png

    All is good?? - there is only one backup in System Restore now.

    Delete System Restore Points in Windows 10-system-restore-del4.png

    I had to go thru a few gyrations this morning to clear the normal Restore Points I found another poster suggesting almost identical problem = System restore - weird behavior. Thought may be symptom of a larger issue.

    Thank you for your assistance once again.
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 68,668
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #4

    That looks good to me for keeping the latest system image set.

    It won't hurt anything (other than using more space) if you wanted to have more than one system image available in case needed.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 5,442
    Windows 11 Home
       #5

    dogpark said:
    All is good?? - there is only one backup in System Restore now.
    You have got System image restore point there, not System restore point. Just so you know.

    dogpark said:
    Thought may be symptom of a larger issue..


    This. Probably something introduced with last updates causing Windows Backup to act on its own.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 118
    Windows 10 Pro
       #6

    Hmm...
    Well I deleted the last Windows backup, ran another and?? Not sure what I did but the Manage Windows Backup disk space now says:

    Delete System Restore Points in Windows 10-system-restore-del5.png

    Two hours ago I verified the checked circle did read "Keep only the latest system image"? That explains the additional 5GB, somehow I altered that setting. Chalk it up to operator error. OH well, if you don't break it?
    Sorry for wasting your time.

    Thank you
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 68,668
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #7

    It was no waste of time if it helped. :)
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 1
    windows 10
       #8

    Hi There.. Great post.. however it says "will show you how to delete all or specific system restore points ".. But i ONLY shows how to delete ALL (or all except very latest) .. I want to SELECTIVELY delete (e.g. keep the last 2 or 3).. How do I do that.. anyone know?

    Thanks, Keith
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 68,668
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Hello Keith, and welcome to Ten Forums. :)

    Step 7 in Option Three and Option Four allows you to delete specific restore points. Option Four is easier to use.
      My Computers


 

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