---
title: "Take a snapshot of a database"
description: "Take a manual snapshot of a TIR DBaaS database, follow it on the Snapshots tab, and delete old snapshots."
content_type: "how-to"
product: "tir-dbaas"
platform: "TIR"
url: "/tir/tir-dbaas/how-to/take-a-snapshot/"
topic: ["snapshots"]
---

# Take a snapshot of a database

Before a risky change, such as a migration or a bulk load, take a snapshot to keep a backup of
the data as it is. A snapshot copies the primary node's disk. You can later restore it into a
new database.

## Before you begin

- A database in the **Running** state. **Create Snapshot** is available only then.
- The create permission for DBaaS in the project. Deleting a snapshot needs the delete permission.
  See [TIR Access Control](/tir/tir-iam/).

## Take a snapshot

1. Choose **Create Snapshot** in one of these places:
   - The database's row menu on the **Manage Databases** list.
   - The three-dot menu on the database's details page.
   - The **Snapshots** tab of the details page.
2. In **Create Snapshot**, keep the suggested **Snapshot Name** or type your own. The suggestion is
   the database name, a hyphen, and the current date and time in UTC, such as
   `mydb-20261026-093000`. A name uses lowercase letters, numbers and hyphens, starts and ends with
   a letter or number, and is at most 63 characters. Each snapshot of a database needs its own
   name.
3. Select **Create**.

TIR starts the snapshot, and it appears on the **Snapshots** tab as **Creating**. The database stays
online while the snapshot is taken. When the snapshot is ready, its status changes to **Completed**.
The person who created the database then gets an email with the subject "Your snapshot '<name>' is
ready". If the snapshot fails, its status shows **Failed**; the email comes only for a **Completed** snapshot.

## Follow your snapshots

The **Snapshots** tab lists every snapshot of the database, newest first. The list refreshes by
itself while a snapshot is **Creating**. For each snapshot it shows:

- **Snapshot Type**: **Manual** for a snapshot someone took, **Scheduled** for one taken by the
  snapshot schedule.
- **Created At (IST)**: when the snapshot was taken, in Indian Standard Time.
- **Status**: **Creating**, **Completed** or **Failed**.
- **Size**: shown once the snapshot is **Completed**.

The **Overview** tab also shows **Last Snapshot**, with how long ago the newest snapshot was taken
and its status.

Each snapshot is also recorded on **Activity Timeline**: "Snapshot created", then "Snapshot
completed" or "Snapshot failed".

## Delete a snapshot

You can delete a snapshot in any status, whatever state the database is in. Deleting a snapshot
is permanent, so restore it first if you still need its data. When you delete a database, its
snapshots go with it. See [Delete a database](/tir/tir-dbaas/how-to/delete-a-database/).

1. On the **Snapshots** tab, open the snapshot's row menu and choose **Delete**.
2. In **Delete Snapshot**, select **Delete**.

TIR deletes the snapshot, and it leaves the list.

To get your data back from a snapshot, see [Restore a database from a
snapshot](/tir/tir-dbaas/how-to/restore-from-a-snapshot/). To take snapshots on a timetable instead
of by hand, see [Schedule snapshots](/tir/tir-dbaas/how-to/schedule-snapshots/).