---
title: "Back up a collection with Qdrant snapshots"
description: "Create, list, download, restore and delete a snapshot of one collection on one node of a Qdrant vector database with the Qdrant API."
content_type: "how-to"
product: "vector-database"
platform: "TIR"
url: "/tir/vector-database/how-to/back-up-a-collection-with-qdrant-snapshots/"
topic: ["snapshots"]
---

# Back up a collection with Qdrant snapshots

Qdrant can take a snapshot of one collection on one node. These snapshots are stored on that node's
disk, separate from the snapshots in the **Snapshot** tab. Use them when you need to download a
collection.

## Before you begin

You need a **Running** database, its **Endpoint URL**, and its **API Key**; see
[Connect to a vector database](/tir/vector-database/how-to/connect-to-a-vector-database/). Each call
goes to one node and one collection, so repeat it for every node. Nodes are numbered from 0 to the
node count minus 1. Add `node-<node>` to the address, where `<node>` is the node's number. `<your-endpoint-url>` is the **Endpoint
URL**, `<your-api-key>` is your API key, and `<collection_name>` is the collection.

## Create a snapshot

```python
from qdrant_client import QdrantClient

client = QdrantClient(
    host="<your-endpoint-url>", port=6333,
    prefix="node-<node>", api_key="<your-api-key>"
)
client.create_snapshot(collection_name="<collection_name>")
```

With cURL:

```bash
curl -X POST \
  -H "api-key: <your-api-key>" \
  https://<your-endpoint-url>:6333/node-<node>/collections/<collection_name>/snapshots
```

## List snapshots

```python
client.list_snapshots(collection_name="<collection_name>")
```

```bash
curl -X GET \
  -H "api-key: <your-api-key>" \
  https://<your-endpoint-url>:6333/node-<node>/collections/<collection_name>/snapshots
```

## Download a snapshot file

`<snapshot_name>` is a name from the list.

```bash
curl -X GET \
  -H "api-key: <your-api-key>" \
  https://<your-endpoint-url>:6333/node-<node>/collections/<collection_name>/snapshots/<snapshot_name>
```

## Restore a snapshot

`<file_location>` is where the snapshot file is.

```python
client.recover_snapshot(
    "<collection_name>",
    "<file_location>"
)
```

```bash
curl -X PUT \
  -H "api-key: <your-api-key>" \
  -d '{ "location": "<file_location>" }' \
  https://<your-endpoint-url>:6333/node-<node>/collections/<collection_name>/snapshots/recover
```

To restore from a file on your computer, upload it. `<file_name>` is the snapshot file.

```bash
curl -X POST \
  'https://<your-endpoint-url>:6333/node-<node>/collections/<collection_name>/snapshots/upload?priority=snapshot' \
  -H 'api-key: <your-api-key>' \
  -H 'Content-Type: multipart/form-data' \
  -F 'snapshot=@/path/to/<file_name>.snapshot'
```

A restore takes a priority that decides which data wins when both exist. Pass one of these as the
`priority` value of the upload address:

```text
replica    (default) Keeps existing data over snapshot data.
snapshot   Keeps snapshot data over existing data.
no_sync    Restores without any extra synchronization.
```

## Delete a snapshot

```python
client.delete_snapshot(
    collection_name="<collection_name>",
    snapshot_name="<snapshot_name>"
)
```

```bash
curl -X DELETE \
  -H "api-key: <your-api-key>" \
  https://<your-endpoint-url>:6333/node-<node>/collections/<collection_name>/snapshots/<snapshot_name>
```

## What to do next

For a backup of the whole database in one step, [take a snapshot](/tir/vector-database/how-to/take-a-snapshot/)
in the portal. For help, see [Troubleshooting Vector Database](/tir/vector-database/troubleshooting/vector-database/).