How to Selectively Delete System Restore Points

The System Restore user interface doesn’t have an option to remove individual restore points. But, it’s possible to remove Restore Points selectively using the Vssadmin command-line, PowerShell, or by writing a program that makes use of the SRRemoveRestorePoint API in Windows Vista through Windows 10.

This article explains the two methods to delete individual restore points in Windows.

How to Delete a Particular System Restore Point

Here are two methods to delete Restore Points selectively in Windows. The first method uses the built-in console tool and the second one using a third-party tool.

Method 1: Using the Vssadmin console tool to delete a Restore Point

To delete an individual restore point in Windows 10 using the built-in vssadmin console tool, follow these steps:

1. Open an elevated command prompt window.
2. Type the following command and press ENTER:

   vssadmin list shadows

   

   C:\WINDOWS\system32>vssadmin list shadows
   vssadmin 1.1 - Volume Shadow Copy Service administrative command-line tool
   (C) Copyright 2001-2013 Microsoft Corp.
   
   Contents of shadow copy set ID: {6f104417-2f5a-4a06-a0d3-ada05061f7e7}
      Contained 1 shadow copies at creation time: 10/05/17 9:15:10 PM
         Shadow Copy ID: {b0c1ebeb-893e-4937-b3e0-e5bf3b96c6b1}
            Original Volume: (C:)\\?\Volume{098cc206-0000-0000-0000-500600000000}\
            Shadow Copy Volume: \\?\GLOBALROOT\Device\HarddiskVolumeShadowCopy2
            Originating Machine: DESKTOP-JKJ4G5Q
            Service Machine: DESKTOP-JKJ4G5Q
            Provider: 'Microsoft Software Shadow Copy provider 1.0'
            Type: ClientAccessibleWriters
            Attributes: Persistent, Client-accessible, No auto release, Differential, Auto recovered
   
   Contents of shadow copy set ID: {8b04f8ae-7806-45a6-94fb-fc82ce171027}
      Contained 1 shadow copies at creation time: 10/11/17 11:17:44 AM
         Shadow Copy ID: {3ba6f09f-efe0-400f-aaca-4c108a6035c5}
            Original Volume: (C:)\\?\Volume{098cc206-0000-0000-0000-500600000000}\
            Shadow Copy Volume: \\?\GLOBALROOT\Device\HarddiskVolumeShadowCopy3
            Originating Machine: DESKTOP-JKJ4G5Q
            Service Machine: DESKTOP-JKJ4G5Q
            Provider: 'Microsoft Software Shadow Copy provider 1.0'
            Type: ClientAccessibleWriters
            Attributes: Persistent, Client-accessible, No auto release, Differential, Auto recovered
   
   Contents of shadow copy set ID: {0b081d76-edba-4248-8e80-103664fe2129}
      Contained 1 shadow copies at creation time: 10/12/17 1:47:25 PM
         Shadow Copy ID: {d1a99397-2718-4a8f-b155-b1d02a64603c}
            Original Volume: (C:)\\?\Volume{098cc206-0000-0000-0000-500600000000}\
            Shadow Copy Volume: \\?\GLOBALROOT\Device\HarddiskVolumeShadowCopy4
            Originating Machine: DESKTOP-JKJ4G5Q
            Service Machine: DESKTOP-JKJ4G5Q
            Provider: 'Microsoft Software Shadow Copy provider 1.0'
            Type: ClientAccessibleWriters
            Attributes: Persistent, Client-accessible, No auto release, Differential, Auto recovered
   

   The list of restore points or volume shadow copies available on your computer is displayed.

3. To delete a particular restore point, use the following syntax:

   vssadmin delete shadows /Shadow={shadow copy ID}

   Replace {shadow copy ID} placeholder with the actual shadow copy ID you determined in step 2 above.

   For example, you may want to delete a restore point named “Test” — shown in the System Restore window.
   

   The “Test” restore point corresponds to the shadow copy ID {d1a99397-2718-4a8f-b155-b1d02a64603c}. This was found by matching the shadow copy’s date and time from the vssadmin list shadows command’s output above. I’ve underlined that ID for easy identification.

   So, here is the command you’d use to delete the “Test” restore point:

   vssadmin delete shadows /Shadow={d1a99397-2718-4a8f-b155-b1d02a64603c}

   

4. Press Y when you see the following prompt:Do you really want to delete 1 shadow copies (Y/N): [N]?The shadow copy or restore point is gone.

That’s how you delete individual restore points without using a third-party tool such as System Restore Explorer or CCleaner.

vssadmin delete shadows /all

Method 2: Using third-party tools to delete a restore point

System Restore Explorer by Nic Bedford is a neat utility that makes use of this API, allowing you to browse system restore points on your computer and select individual ones for deletion. Not just that, you can also mount the contents of a restore point, browse and copy individual files, without having to do a System Restore rollback. You can download System Restore Explorer from this URL:

https://www.nicbedford.uk/software/systemrestoreexplorer/

Select the Restore Point you’d like to remove, click Delete.

Using CCleaner

You may also use the third-party tool CCleaner to clear individual restore points.

Launch CCleaner → Tools → System Restore → Select a restore point → click Remove.

(Article last reviewed on 04-June-2021)