System restore failed while restoring directory from restore point. Now I can't open certain windows apps?

Question

System restore failed while restoring directory from restore point. Now I can't open certain windows apps?

Wisteria-1484 20

"Details:

System Restore failed while restoring the directory from the restore point.

Source: AppxStaging

Destination: %ProgramFiles%\WindowsApps

An unspecified error occurred during System Restore. (0x80070070)"

I can no longer use snipping tool or open notepad. File explorer still works just fine, same for settings and calculator. The apps still seem to be there and taking up space on my drive, but it's like my computer can't find them.

I'm using Windows 11. I tried restoring it twice, once being a restore to the point before I initiated the system restore like it recommended on the prompt, but it still issued the same error. I'm not used to navigating system restores, so I may have done something wrong. How can I fix this?

This is my first time on this forum (or any forum like this for that matter), and it's been a rough week, so my brain is a little fried. I'm using the auto-tag option and hoping the one I select is correct. I apologize sincerely if it isn't.

0 comments

Answer accepted by question author

Igor Leyko 112.4K Independent Advisor

This error code typically indicates insufficient disk space. Please clean your disk using Cleanmgr /sageset:65535 & /sagerun:65535 command. Follow recommendations at https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/17421/windows-free-up-drive-space

Wisteria-1484 20 Reputation points

2026-07-09T17:48:27.5733333+00:00

Ah, gotcha. That makes sense lol

I can open my apps now. Unfortunately, it still isn't completing the system restore, but that's because now it's getting stuck on restoring the registry. I tried leaving it overnight, no luck.

Since the problem I opened this thread for is solved, though, I'll go ahead and accept this answer. Thank you so much for your help :]

1 additional answer

Your answer

Wisteria-1484 20 Reputation points

2026-07-09T17:48:27.5733333+00:00

Ah, gotcha. That makes sense lol

I can open my apps now. Unfortunately, it still isn't completing the system restore, but that's because now it's getting stuck on restoring the registry. I tried leaving it overnight, no luck.

Since the problem I opened this thread for is solved, though, I'll go ahead and accept this answer. Thank you so much for your help :]

Answer 1

Igor Leyko 112.4K Independent Advisor

Run command prompt as administrator, run chkdsk c: /r /scan command and show the result.

Wisteria-1484 20 Reputation points

2026-07-10T00:06:27.9333333+00:00
"The type of the file system is NTFS.

Volume label is Acer.

Stage 1: Examining basic file system structure ...

1996032 file records processed.

File verification completed.

Phase duration (File record verification): 23.95 seconds.

55597 large file records processed.

Phase duration (Orphan file record recovery): 39.22 milliseconds.

0 bad file records processed.

Phase duration (Bad file record checking): 0.33 milliseconds.

Stage 2: Examining file name linkage ...

1079 reparse records processed.

2748680 index entries processed.

Index verification completed.

Phase duration (Index verification): 1.25 minutes.

0 unindexed files scanned.

Phase duration (Orphan reconnection): 36.20 seconds.

0 unindexed files recovered to lost and found.

Phase duration (Orphan recovery to lost and found): 0.25 milliseconds.

1079 reparse records processed.

Phase duration (Reparse point and Object ID verification): 10.73 milliseconds.

Stage 3: Examining security descriptors ...

Security descriptor verification completed.

Phase duration (Security descriptor verification): 255.20 milliseconds.

376325 data files processed.

Phase duration (Data attribute verification): 0.31 milliseconds.

CHKDSK is verifying Usn Journal...

38128216 USN bytes processed.

Usn Journal verification completed.

Phase duration (USN journal verification): 130.40 milliseconds.

Stage 4: Looking for bad clusters in user file data ...

1996016 files processed.

File data verification completed.

Phase duration (User file recovery): 23.20 minutes.

Stage 5: Looking for bad, free clusters ...

9369257 free clusters processed.

Free space verification is complete.

Phase duration (Free space recovery): 1.05 minutes.

Windows has scanned the file system and found no problems.

No further action is required.

498930687 KB total disk space.

458359772 KB in 1484237 files.

948152 KB in 376326 indexes. 0 KB in bad sectors.

2145735 KB in use by the system.

65536 KB occupied by the log file.

37477028 KB available on disk.

4096 bytes in each allocation unit.

124732671 total allocation units on disk.

9369257 allocation units available on disk.

Total duration: 26.52 minutes (1591349 ms)."

This is the result it gave me.
Igor Leyko 112.4K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-07-10T14:10:13.93+00:00

The result does not show any problem with hard drive. Let's hope the problem is solved.