VirtualBox snapshots allow you to save the state of a virtual machine (VM) at a specific moment, enabling quick restoration to that state later. This feature is essential for testing configurations or rolling back changes without losing data.

📝 How to Create a Snapshot

  1. Start the VM ⚙️
    Ensure the virtual machine is powered on before creating a snapshot.
  2. Access the VM Settings
    • Click the Settings icon (⚙️) in the VirtualBox toolbar.
    • Navigate to the Snapshots tab.
  3. Capture the Snapshot
    • Click Take Snapshot.
    • Add a description (e.g., "Pre-update state") and confirm.

📊 Managing Snapshots

  • View Snapshots: Use the Snapshot Manager (📁) to browse saved states.
  • Restore a Snapshot:
    1. Select the desired snapshot.
    2. Click Restore to revert the VM to that point.
  • Delete Snapshots:
    • Right-click a snapshot and choose Delete.
    • Note: Deleting a snapshot removes all subsequent changes.

⚠️ Key Considerations

  • Storage Space: Snapshots consume disk space. Regularly clean up unused ones.
  • Performance: Frequent snapshots may slow down VM operations.
  • Order Matters: Restoring a snapshot resets the VM to its state at the time it was taken.

For deeper insights into VirtualBox features, visit our VirtualBox Introduction guide.

VirtualBox_Snapshot_Interface

Explore advanced snapshot techniques in our VirtualBox Tutorial section.