Create a volume snapshot

A snapshot captures a volume at a point in time. Take one before a change you are not sure about, so you keep this exact point and can create a new volume from it later. A snapshot of an encrypted volume is encrypted; a snapshot of an unencrypted volume is not.

Before you begin

• A volume that exists in your account. See Create a volume.

Take the snapshot

1. Open Storage > Volumes.
2. Select the volume, open its Actions menu, and choose Create Snapshot.
3. Enter a snapshot name.
4. Click Create Snapshot.

The snapshot appears on the volume’s Snapshots tab once it finishes.

Create a new volume from the snapshot

To make a new volume from a saved point, open the volume’s Snapshots tab, open the snapshot’s own Actions menu, and choose Create Volume. The option is ready once the snapshot reads Complete. You name the new volume and choose its size. Choose encryption again at creation if you want it on the new volume.

You can now create a new volume from the snapshot whenever you need this point back. For snapshots on a schedule, see Schedule volume snapshots. To upgrade the volume later, first delete the snapshot or create a new volume from it, as in Upgrade a volume. For how snapshots are kept, locked, and charged, see How snapshots work.