# Backups & Snapshots

Protecting your VMs and containers with regular backups is essential. Proxmox includes built-in backup and snapshot tools. Also, it's good idea to connect Proxmox Backup Server if you have an option of running another server. This way backups are stored off site.

For configuring Proxmox Backup Server with Virtual Environment click [here](https://docs.cyberpaw.org/books/proxmox-ve-pbs-setup-guide/page/schedule-backup-job-with-pbs) for a guide

### Snapshots

Snapshots save the state of a VM or container at a point in time. They are fast but stored on the same storage as the VM — not a true backup.

1. Select a VM or container in the web console
2. Go to the **Snapshots** tab
3. Click **Take Snapshot**
4. Name the snapshot and add an optional description
5. Check 'Include RAM' if you want to capture the running memory state (only for VMs)
6. Click **Take Snapshot**
7. To store: select the snapshot and click **Rollback.**

  
<span style="color: rgb(224, 62, 45);">Note</span>: Snapshots use disk space and can impact VM performance over time. Do not rely on snapshots as your only backup strategy, rather as a quick reverse when you're working or configuring something on a VM.

### Manual Backups

1. Select a VM or container
2. Go to the **Backup** tab
3. Click **Backup Now**
4. Select **storage** (e.g., local), backup mode, and compression
5. Click **Backup-**  Proxmox creates a compressed backup archive

<span style="color: rgb(224, 62, 45);">Note</span>: If you have PBS connected to your Proxmox system, you can change the Storage from Local to PBS.

### Scheduled Backups

1. Go to Datacenter &gt; Backup
2. Click Add
3. Configure:  
     • **Node:** your node or all  
     • **Storage:** where to save backups  
     • **Schedule:** e.g., daily at 2:00 AM  
     • **Selection:** All VMs, specific IDs, or exclude certain VMs  
     • **Retention:** set how many backups to keep (e.g., keep last 7)
4. Click **Create-** the schedule is saved and runs automatically

#### Backup Modes

- Stop — stops the VM, backs up, then restarts. Cleanest backup.
- Suspend — suspends the VM briefly during backup. Less downtime.
- Snapshot — VM keeps running. Fastest but may have slight consistency risk.