# Snapshots and restores
Source: https://docs.infraista.com/en/data-storage/backup-storage/snapshots-and-restores



A snapshot is a read-only, point-in-time copy of the whole box, sub-accounts included. Taking one takes a
few seconds and doesn't interrupt uploads. Each snapshot only uses space for files changed or deleted
after it was taken.

Open the box and select **Snapshots**.

<Shot name="data-storage/backup-storage/snapshots" alt="The Snapshots tab: the snapshot list, the automatic snapshot schedule and how much space snapshots use" />

## Automatic snapshots [#automatic-snapshots]

Under **Automatic snapshots**, turn on any of the schedules (all times UTC):

* **Daily**: at a time, keeping the last *n*;
* **Weekly**: on a day and time, keeping the last *n*;
* **Monthly**: on a day of the month (1 to 28) and time, keeping the last *n*.

**In plain English** repeats what you set. When a schedule reaches its limit, its oldest snapshot is
deleted. A box keeps up to 60 automatic snapshots in total. Select **Save schedule**.

## Take a snapshot now [#take-a-snapshot-now]

Select **Take snapshot** (on the box's header), enter a **Snapshot label** such as `before-client-delivery`,
and confirm. Manual snapshots stay until you delete them. Take one before big changes, like a cleanup or a
new backup job.

## Restore a few files [#restore-a-few-files]

Open any snapshot in the [web panel](/en/data-storage/backup-storage/web-panel) (**Browse in panel**),
pick files or folders, then download them or put them back in place. Nothing else changes.

Prefer your own tools? On **Settings › Advanced**, turn on **Show snapshots folder in mounts**: a
read-only snapshots folder appears at the root over SFTP and rsync, for the main user only.

## Roll back the whole box [#roll-back-the-whole-box]

**Restore box** on a snapshot returns every folder, all sub-accounts included, to how it was then:

* everything written since is permanently deleted;
* snapshots newer than this one are deleted too;
* connections drop during the rollback, and backup jobs that run meanwhile fail.

Type the box's name to confirm. It usually takes a few minutes. Only need a few files back? Restore them
from the panel instead.

## Snapshot space [#snapshot-space]

Snapshots count toward your box's space. Deleting files doesn't free space while a snapshot still holds
them; delete old snapshots to free it. **Snapshot space** on the tab shows the split between files,
snapshots and free space.

<Callout type="info">
  Snapshots live on the same storage box. They protect against deleted or overwritten
  files and ransomware on your side; for a copy in another location, add a second box.
</Callout>

## Related [#related]

* [Web panel](/en/data-storage/backup-storage/web-panel)