How to create and use Windows Recovery Drive in Windows 11/10

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You can use a recovery drive to enter Windows recovery if your device is having major issues, such as not accessing the OS. (WinRE). You can restore Windows or initiate a system restore point. A recovery drive requires an empty USB flash drive with at least 16GB of space to construct a restore drive. Since Windows updates improve device security and speed, recovery disks should be created periodically.

Please note that the recovery drive does not back up personal files and applications that are not included in the device.

When using a recovery drive to restore your device, please note that the original disc separation information on the system driver may be deleted. If you forget to backup your files and folders, try WinfrGUI, the GUI of Windows File Recovery (a command app developed by Microsoft).

>>further reading: how to recover deleted files from windows 10

Download WinfrGUI Free

How to create a recovery drive

Here’s how to create a recovery drive:

  • Press “Open” after searching for “Recovery Drive” in Windows.
  • Please choose “Yes” if the user account control box comes up.
  • Select “Next” after clicking on the “System Backup to Recovery Drive” box.
  • That’s it! You’re now ready to use the USB flash drive as a rescue driver.

Attention: The USB flash drive’s files will be erased, so please make a copy of your data first if it’s important.

Using the system restore point to restore the device

  • Click “Next” after picking out the USB flash drive you want to use from the list of drives that are already there.
  • When you click “Create,” the system will begin to copy the recovery files and repair tools that it needs to your USB flash drive. How long this takes will depend on your device and the size of the recovery picture.

Note: During the process, keep your AC adapter plugged in, and don’t force shut down your computer. If you do, the creation will not be finished.

  • Click “Finished” when the backup drive is ready.
  • Since Windows changes often to make it safer and faster, we recommend that you use the steps above to recycle recovery drives every so often.

Use the recovery drive to recover / restore your device

If you want to get your device back to the way it was, keep reading:

  • Connect your gadget to the USB flash drive.
  • Open the device and choose to boot from a USB flash drive. You can view our guide on how to boot the system from a USB drive or CD-ROM.
  • The device enters the Windows recovery environment. (WinRE). Choose your language and keyboard structure
  • Then you can choose one of the following options to recover your device: Recover from a system restore point or reinstall Windows via a recovery drive.

Note: Restoring the system to a previous point in time will not remove your personal files, but it will get rid of recently installed apps, drivers, and updates, which could lead to problems. When you reinstall Windows, it will delete all of your personal files, programs, drivers, and any settings changes you make.

Use the system restore point to restore the device

If you have selected a system restore point to restore your device, follow these steps:

  • Select Troubleshooting
  • Select “Advanced Options.”
  • Select “System Recovery.”
  • Click on “Windows 11” or “Windows 10,” depending on your operating system.
  • Press “Next” to begin the system reset.
  • You’ll see a list of all the recovery places that are open. Click “Next” after picking the one you want to use. Once you’ve chosen a recovery point, you can also choose “Scan for affected applications” to see what changes have been made to your device.
  • Click “Finished” after making sure the information for the chosen return point is right.
  • Press “Yes” to begin the healing process. When recovery is done, the device will restart and go into Windows.

Note: During the process, make sure your AC adapter stays plugged in and doesn’t force shut down your computer.

Using the recovery drive to reinstall Windows

These steps will show you how to use a recovery drive to reload Windows:

  • Choice: “Recover from Drive.”
  • Select “just delete my files” or “completely clean drive” as needed.
  • Windows reports recovery outcomes. Select “Recover” to proceed with Windows reinstallation.

Note: Keep your AC adapter connected during the process and avoid forced shutdown to prevent any problems.

The device will restart and go to the basic Windows settings page after the recovery is complete. You can check our first boot guide (Windows OOBE) for more instructions.

This information applies to devices running Windows 11 or Windows 10. We hope these instructions will help you build and use Windows Recovery drives efficiently.