---
title: "Create a VM snapshot"
description: "Take a snapshot of a TIR Virtual Machine's disk at one moment, from a running or stopped VM, and rename it later."
content_type: "how-to"
product: "tir-snapshots"
platform: "TIR"
url: "/tir/tir-snapshots/how-to/create-a-vm-snapshot/"
topic: ["take-snapshots"]
---

# Create a VM snapshot

Take a snapshot of a TIR Virtual Machine to keep a copy of its disk as it is now. Use it to return to
that state later or to protect the disk before a change.

A snapshot copies only the VM's disk, as it is at one moment. It leaves out the VM's settings, mounted
datasets, and mounted shared file systems.

## Before you begin

- A VM in the **Running** or **Stopped** state, on a plan that supports snapshots. See
  [Create a VM](/tir/tir-vm/how-to/create-a-vm/).
- Permission to create VMs in the project. To start from the VM's three-dot menu instead, you need
  permission to update VMs. See [TIR Access Control](/tir/tir-iam/).

## Take the snapshot

Start from the VM when you have it open, or from the project's snapshot list to pick any VM in the
project.

**From the VM.**

1. In the side menu, under **Compute**, select **Virtual Machines**, and open the VM.
2. Open the **Snapshots** tab and select **Create Snapshot**. The same entry is on the VM's
   three-dot menu.
3. In the **Create Snapshot** dialog, enter a **Snapshot Name**, or keep the name TIR suggests: the
   VM's name, the date, and the time. Select **Create**.

**From the project's snapshot list.**

1. In the side menu, under **Storage**, select **Snapshots**, then **Create Snapshot**.
2. Choose the VM under **VM**, and enter a **Snapshot Name**. You can choose only a VM that can take
   a snapshot, and TIR says why any other is left out.
3. Select **Create**.

A name can have up to 128 characters of letters, digits, underscores, and hyphens, and must differ
from the names already used for this VM.

The snapshot starts at once. If **Create Snapshot** is unavailable or the
request fails, see [Create Snapshot is greyed out, or
fails](/tir/tir-snapshots/troubleshooting/tir-snapshots/#create-snapshot-is-greyed-out-or-fails).

## What the snapshot holds

A snapshot of a running VM holds its files in a consistent state when the VM responds to the
snapshot request. In any other case, including a stopped VM, the snapshot holds the disk as it would
look after a power cut.

A snapshot you take yourself stays until you delete it, and it stays when you delete the VM. Its
storage is billed for as long as it exists; for prices, see [E2E Networks
pricing](https://www.e2enetworks.com/pricing).

## Wait for the snapshot to be ready

The new snapshot shows **In progress** under **Status**, then **Ready**. The status changes by itself, so
you can leave the tab open. To see the snapshots of every VM in the project, see
[Manage snapshots in a project](/tir/tir-snapshots/how-to/manage-snapshots-in-a-project/).

You can restore the VM or create a new VM from the snapshot once it shows **Ready**. A snapshot that
shows **Failed** did not complete; take a new one, and see
[Troubleshooting TIR Snapshots](/tir/tir-snapshots/troubleshooting/tir-snapshots/).

## Rename a snapshot

To give a snapshot a name you will recognise later, such as `before-upgrade`, rename it. Open its
**Actions** menu on the **Snapshots** tab or on the project's **Snapshots** page, and select **Rename**. In the
**Rename Snapshot** dialog, enter the new **Snapshot Name**, up to 255 characters of letters, digits,
underscores, and hyphens, and select **Rename**. You need permission to update VMs, and you can rename
a snapshot while its VM still exists.

To use a snapshot, see [Restore a VM from a snapshot](/tir/tir-snapshots/how-to/restore-a-vm-from-a-snapshot/)
or [Create a VM from a snapshot](/tir/tir-snapshots/how-to/create-a-vm-from-a-snapshot/). To take snapshots
automatically, see [Schedule VM snapshots](/tir/tir-snapshots/how-to/schedule-vm-snapshots/), and to clear
out old ones, see [Delete a VM snapshot](/tir/tir-snapshots/how-to/delete-a-vm-snapshot/).