---
title: "Turn on System Protection so Windows can make restore points"
description: "Restore points need System Protection. How to check it, turn it on for your C: drive and make a restore point before you change Windows settings."
url: https://frozentweaks.com/help/turn-on-system-protection-restore-points
author: Frost LIVE, founder of Frozen Tweaks
published: 2026-10-01
updated: 2026-10-01
category: "Help center"
source: Frozen Tweaks (https://frozentweaks.com)
---

# Turn on System Protection so Windows can make restore points

**Short answer:** Windows can only make restore points while System Protection is on for your system drive, usually C:. Open Create a restore point from the Start menu, select the C: drive, choose Configure, select Turn on system protection and choose OK. Then the Make a restore point button in Frozen Tweaks and the Pro one-click run can make one.

**In the FAQ:** [Can I undo the changes?](https://frozentweaks.com/#faq-undo) · [What does the one-click run change in Windows Security?](https://frozentweaks.com/#faq-security)

## How to turn it on

1. **Open System Protection**: Open Start, type **Create a restore point** and open it. Windows opens System Properties on the **System Protection** tab. Or press Windows key + R, type `SystemPropertiesProtection` and press Enter.
2. **Select your system drive**: Under **Protection Settings**, select the drive marked **(System)**, usually **Local Disk (C:)**. If its Protection column says **Off**, go on.
3. **Turn on system protection**: Select **Configure**, then **Turn on system protection**. **Max Usage** sets how much disk space restore points may take. Select **OK**.
4. **Make a restore point**: Back on the tab, select **Create**, type a name and select **Create**. Or use the **Make a restore point** button in Frozen Tweaks, which every plan has.

## Can I do it in PowerShell?

Yes. Open PowerShell as administrator and turn System Protection on for C: with:

```powershell
Enable-ComputerRestore -Drive "C:\"
```

Then make a restore point with:

```powershell
Checkpoint-Computer -Description "Before tweaks" -RestorePointType MODIFY_SETTINGS
```

Both are Microsoft's own commands, documented on Microsoft Learn (sources below).

## Why didn't Windows make a new restore point?

Windows lets programs make one restore point every 24 hours. Microsoft documents this for Checkpoint-Computer: a new restore point within 24 hours of the last one is refused. If you made one earlier today, that one is your way back: rolling back to it also undoes the system changes made after it.

## Why do restore points matter with Frozen Tweaks?

Single tweaks don't need one: every free tweak has an undo switch in the app. The restore point is the way back from the Pro one-click run. The run makes one before it changes anything, checks that it exists and stops if Windows can't make one, so System Protection has to be on.

[Undo a tweak or roll back the run](https://frozentweaks.com/help/undo-tweak-roll-back) shows how to go back. The FAQ explains [what the run changes in Windows Security](https://frozentweaks.com/#faq-security).

## Questions

### Does a restore point back up my files?

No. A restore point covers Windows system files, settings and installed programs. Your documents, pictures and game saves aren't part of it, and rolling back leaves them as they are.

### How much space do restore points use?

As much as you allow with Max Usage. When that space is full, Windows deletes the oldest restore points to make room for new ones.

### Do I need System Protection for the free version?

Turn it on anyway. The free version's Make a restore point button needs it too, and a restore point is a checkpoint before you start. The free tweaks themselves each have an undo switch.

## Sources

- [System Restore (Microsoft Support)](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/system-restore-a5ae3ed9-07c4-fd56-45ee-096777ecd14e)
- [Enable-ComputerRestore (Microsoft Learn)](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.management/enable-computerrestore?view=powershell-5.1)
- [Checkpoint-Computer (Microsoft Learn)](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.management/checkpoint-computer?view=powershell-5.1)

## Related help

- [Undo a tweak, or roll back the one-click run](https://frozentweaks.com/help/undo-tweak-roll-back)
- [Laptop running hot after tweaking? Check the power plan](https://frozentweaks.com/help/laptop-heat-power-plan)
- [Windows protected your PC: running the Frozen Tweaks installer](https://frozentweaks.com/help/windows-protected-your-pc-smartscreen)

---
Written by Frost LIVE, founder of Frozen Tweaks. Help center: https://frozentweaks.com/help. Canonical version: https://frozentweaks.com/help/turn-on-system-protection-restore-points