Create and manage instant snapshots

This document explains how to create and manageinstant snapshots.Instant snapshots capture the contents of a disk or group of disks(Preview) and can restore data to a new diskin minutes.

Instant snapshots are stored in the samezone or region as their source disks andarenot a replacement for standard snapshots, which offer off-site backupfor disaster recovery. Learn about the otherdata protection options available in Compute Engine.

To access the data on instant snapshots, use the instant snapshots tocreate a new disk orgroup of disks(Preview).

To copy an instant snapshot to another location or retain thesnapshotted data after the source disk is deleted,create a standard snapshot from the instant snapshot.

Before you begin

If you haven't already, set upauthentication. Authentication verifies your identity for access to Google Cloud services and APIs. To run code or samples from a local development environment, you can authenticate to Compute Engine by selecting one of the following options:
Select the tab for how you plan to use the samples on this page:
Console
When you use the Google Cloud console to access Google Cloud services and APIs, you don't need to set up authentication.
gcloud
1. Install the Google Cloud CLI. After installation,initialize the Google Cloud CLI by running the following command:
  gcloudinit
  If you're using an external identity provider (IdP), you must first sign in to the gcloud CLI with your federated identity.
  Note: If you installed the gcloud CLI previously, make sure you have the latest version by runninggcloud components update.
2. Set a default region and zone.
REST
To use the REST API samples on this page in a local development environment, you use the credentials you provide to the gcloud CLI.
For more information, see Authenticate for using REST in the Google Cloud authentication documentation.

Required roles and permissions

To get the permissions that you need to create instant snapshots, ask your administrator to grant you the following IAM roles on the project:

Compute Instance Admin (v1) (roles/compute.instanceAdmin.v1)
To connect to a VM that can run as a service account:Service Account User (v1) (roles/iam.serviceAccountUser)

For more information about granting roles, seeManage access to projects, folders, and organizations.

These predefined roles contain the permissions required to create instant snapshots. To see the exact permissions that are required, expand theRequired permissions section:

Required permissions

The following permissions are required to create instant snapshots:

To create an instant snapshot: compute.instantSnapshots.create
To create a consistency group of instant snapshots: compute.instantSnapshotGroups.create
To view instant snapshots: compute.instantSnapshots.list
To view consistency groups of instant snapshots: compute.instantSnapshotGroups.list
To view instant snapshots details: compute.instantSnapshots.get
To view details of a consistency group of instant snapshots: compute.instantSnapshotGroups.get
To delete an instant snapshot: compute.instantSnapshots.delete
To delete a consistency group of instant snapshots: compute.instantSnapshotGroups.delete

You might also be able to get these permissions withcustom roles or otherpredefined roles.

Limitations

You can't create instant snapshots of Hyperdisk Throughput or Hyperdisk ML volumes.
You can't select the storage location of an instant snapshot.It's always stored in the same region or zone as the source disk.
When you delete a disk, all instant snapshots of the disk are deleted,including instant snapshots that are part of a consistency group(Preview).This means that when you delete an instance, instant snapshots of theinstance's boot disk are deleted. Instant snapshots of non-boot disks attachedto the instance are also deleted ifyou'veenabled auto-delete for the disk.To retain the data on an instant snapshot before it is deleted,create a standard snapshot from the instant snapshot.
An instant snapshot is accessible only within the zone or region where it's stored.To move an instant snapshot to another region, you must create a standard snapshotfrom the instant snapshot.
When you create a disk from a CMEK-encrypted instant snapshot, you must providethe instant snapshot's encryption key.
You can create a standard snapshot of an individual disk at most 6 times every60 minutes. This limit also applies to creating a standard snapshot from aninstant snapshot of a disk.
You can't create a VM from an instant snapshot of a boot disk. Create adisk from the instant snapshot first, and choose the disk as the source for the VM.
You can create an instant snapshot of a given disk at most once every 30seconds.
You can't have more than 32 instant snapshots of the same disk.
You can't create instant snapshots with snapshot schedules.
You can't create instant snapshots on secondary asynchronouslyreplicated Persistent Disk volumes.
Instant snapshotsarecrash consistentand not application consistent. This means that any in-memory data thathasn't yet been written to the disk isn't captured in the instant snapshot.If you require application consistency, create anapplication consistent standard snapshot.
You can't move a disk until you delete all the instant snapshots of the disk.For more information, seeMoving a disk that has instant snapshots.
You can't edit the data stored in an instant snapshot.
You can't recover deleted instant snapshots.
You can't add new instant snapshots to an existingconsistency group of instant snapshots. You must add the disk to theconsistency group of disks, then create a new consistency group of instantsnapshots using theupdated consistency group (Preview).

Create instant snapshots

You can create an instant snapshot of a single disk, or create a group ofinstant snapshots from a group of disks(Preview). Instant snapshots of zonal disksare stored in the same zone as the source disk. Likewise, instant snapshots ofregional disks are stored in the same region as the source disk.

Create an instant snapshot of a disk

You can create an instant snapshot with the gcloud CLI,Google Cloud console, or REST.

Console

In the Google Cloud console, go to theVM instances page.
Go to VM instances
Select the project you want to work with.
In theName column, click the name of the VM attached to the disk you want to back up.
In theStorage section, select a disk in one of the following ways:
- To back up the VM's boot disk, in theBoot disk section,click theName of the boot disk.
- To back up an attached disk volume, in theAdditional disks section,click theName of the disk.
To finish creating an instant snapshot, on theCreate a snapshot page,do the following:
1. In theName field, enter a unique name to identify the instant snapshot.
2. Optional: Add more details about the snapshot in theDescription field.
3. In theType field, selectInstant snapshot. TheLocation fieldis automatically set to the same zone or region as the disk.
4. In theSnapshot source type field, verify thatDisk is selected.
5. Optional: To organize your project, add one or morelabels.
6. ClickCreate.

gcloud

To create an instant snapshot, use thegcloud compute instant-snapshots createcommand:

Zonal disk

To create an instant snapshot of a zonal disk:

 gcloud compute instant-snapshots createINSTANT_SNAPSHOT_NAME \   --source-disk=SOURCE_DISK_NAME \   --zone=SOURCE_DISK_ZONE

Replace the following:

INSTANT_SNAPSHOT_NAME: a unique name for the instant snapshot.
SOURCE_DISK_NAME: the name of the source disk.
SOURCE_DISK_ZONE: the zone of the source disk.The instant snapshot will be created in the same zone.

Regional disk

To create an instant snapshot of a regional disk:

 gcloud compute instant-snapshots createINSTANT_SNAPSHOT_NAME \   --source-disk=SOURCE_DISK_NAME \   --region=SOURCE_DISK_REGION

Replace the following:

INSTANT_SNAPSHOT_NAME: a unique name for the instant snapshot.
SOURCE_DISK_NAME: the name of the source disk.
SOURCE_DISK_REGION: the region of the sourcedisk. The instant snapshot will be created in the same region.

REST

To create an instant snapshot, make aPOST request to theinstantSnapshots.insertmethod.

Create an instant snapshot of a zonal disk:
Specify the zone in the URL of thePOST request. In the request body,specify a name for the new snapshot and the URL of the source disk.
```
POST https://compute.googleapis.com/compute/v1/projects/PROJECT_ID/zones/DISK_ZONE/instantSnapshots{ "name": "INSTANT_SNAPSHOT_NAME", "sourceDisk": "projects/PROJECT_ID/zones/DISK_ZONE/disks/SOURCE_DISK_NAME"}
```
Replace the following with the corresponding values:
- PROJECT_ID: the name of the project containing the disk.
- DISK_ZONE: the zone where the disk is located.the instant snapshot will be created in this zone.
- INSTANT_SNAPSHOT_NAME: a unique name for the instant snapshot.
- SOURCE_DISK_NAME: the name of the source disk.
Create an instant snapshot of a regional disk:
Specify the region in the URL of thePOST request.Include the name and source disk of the new snapshot in the request body.
```
POST https://compute.googleapis.com/compute/v1/projects/PROJECT_ID/regions/DISK_REGION/instantSnapshots{  "name": "INSTANT_SNAPSHOT_NAME",  "sourceDisk": "projects/PROJECT_ID/regions/DISK_REGION/disks/SOURCE_DISK_NAME"}
```
Replace the following in the request body with the corresponding values:
- PROJECT_ID: the name of the project containing the disk.
- DISK_REGION: the region where the source disk is located. The snapshot will be created in the same region.
- INSTANT_SNAPSHOT_NAME: a unique name for the snapshot.
- SOURCE_DISK_NAME: the name of the source disk.

Request response

If thePOST request is successful, the response body will be an objectthat you can poll to get the status of the instant snapshot's creation. SeeHandling API responsesfor more information.

Create instant snapshots of a group of disks

Preview

This product or feature is subject to the "Pre-GA Offerings Terms" in the General Service Terms section of the Service Specific Terms. Pre-GA products and features are available "as is" and might have limited support. For more information, see thelaunch stage descriptions.

To back up a group of disks so that all of the backups have the same timestamp,you must first add the disks that you want to back up to aconsistency group of disks.Then, you can create a consistency group of instant snapshots from theconsistency group of disks.

You can create a consistency group of instant snapshots by using thegcloud CLI or REST.

gcloud

To create a consistency group of instant snapshots, use thegcloud beta compute instant-snapshot-groups createcommand.

Create a consistency group of instant snapshots from zonal disks:
```
gcloud beta compute instant-snapshot-groups createINSTANT_SNAPSHOT_GROUP_NAME \ --source-consistency-group=SOURCE_CONSISTENCY_GROUP_NAME \ --zone=SOURCE_ZONE
```
Replace the following with the corresponding values:
- SOURCE_ZONE: the zone where the sourceconsistency group of disks is located. The consistency group of instantsnapshots will be created in this zone.
- INSTANT_SNAPSHOT_GROUP_NAME: a unique name forthe consistency group of instant snapshots.
- SOURCE_CONSISTENCY_GROUP_NAME: the name of thesource consistency group.
Create a consistency group of instant snapshots from regional disks:
```
gcloud beta compute instant-snapshot-groups createINSTANT_SNAPSHOT_GROUP_NAME \ --source-consistency-group=SOURCE_CONSISTENCY_GROUP_NAME \ --region=SOURCE_REGION
```
Replace the following with the corresponding values:
- SOURCE_REGION: the region where the sourceconsistency group of disks is located. The consistency group of instantsnapshots will be created in this region.
- INSTANT_SNAPSHOT_GROUP_NAME: a unique name forthe consistency group of instant snapshots.
- SOURCE_CONSISTENCY_GROUP_NAME: the name of thesource consistency group.

REST

To create a consistency group of instant snapshots, make aPOST request totheinstantSnapshotGroups.insertmethod.

Create a consistency group of instant snapshots from zonal disks:
Specify the zone in the URL of thePOST request. In the request body,specify a name for the new consistency group of instant snapshots and theURL of the source consistency group of disks.
```
POST https://compute.googleapis.com/compute/beta/projects/PROJECT_ID/zones/SOURCE_ZONE/instantSnapshotGroups{ "name": "INSTANT_SNAPSHOT_GROUP_NAME", "sourceConsistencyGroup": "projects/PROJECT_ID/zones/SOURCE_ZONE/resourcePolicies/SOURCE_CONSISTENCY_GROUP_NAME"}
```
Replace the following with the corresponding values:
- PROJECT_ID: the name of the project thatcontains the source consistency group of disks.
- SOURCE_ZONE: the zone where the sourceconsistency group of disks is located. The consistency group of instantsnapshots will be created in this zone.
- INSTANT_SNAPSHOT_GROUP_NAME: a unique name forthe consistency group of instant snapshots.
- SOURCE_CONSISTENCY_GROUP_NAME: the name of thesource consistency group.
Create a consistency group of instant snapshots from regional disks:
Specify the region in the URL of thePOST request. In the request body,specify a name for the new consistency group of instant snapshots and theURL of the source consistency group of disks.
```
POST https://compute.googleapis.com/compute/beta/projects/PROJECT_ID/regions/SOURCE_REGION/instantSnapshotGroups{"name": "INSTANT_SNAPSHOT_GROUP_NAME","sourceConsistencyGroup": "projects/PROJECT_ID/regions/SOURCE_REGION/resourcePolicies/SOURCE_CONSISTENCY_GROUP_NAME"}
```
Replace the following with the corresponding values:
- PROJECT_ID: the name of the project thatcontains the source consistency group of disks.
- SOURCE_REGION: the region where the sourceconsistency group of disks is located. The consistency group of instantsnapshots will be created in this region.
- INSTANT_SNAPSHOT_GROUP_NAME: a unique name forthe consistency group of instant snapshots.
- SOURCE_CONSISTENCY_GROUP_NAME: the name of thesource consistency group.

Request response

If thePOST request is successful, the response body will be an object thatyou can poll to get the status of the consistency group of instant snapshots'creation. For more information, seeHandling API responses.

Restore instant snapshots

To restore data backed up with instant snapshots, seeRestore from instant snapshots.

View instant snapshots

You can view a list of all instant snapshots by project, location, disk, orconsistency group (Preview).

View the instant snapshots in a project or location

You can view the list of all instant snapshots in a project or location byusing the gcloud CLI, Google Cloud console, or REST.

Console

In the Google Cloud console, go to theSnapshots page.
Go to the Snapshots page
Click theInstant snapshots tab. The list of instant snapshots appears.
Optional: Narrow your results with thefilter_listFilter field. Enter a propertyname or value in thefilter_listFilter field, or choose from the available properties.

gcloud

You can list the instant snapshots in a specific project or location with thegcloud compute instant-snapshots listcommand:
- List the instant snapshots in a particular project:
```
gcloud compute instant-snapshots list --project=PROJECT_ID
```
  ReplacePROJECT_ID with the ID of the project.
- List the instant snapshots in a zone with the--zones argument:
```
gcloud compute instant-snapshots list --zones=ZONE
```
  ReplaceZONE with the name of the target zone.
- List the regional instant snapshots in a region using the--regionsargument:
```
gcloud compute instant-snapshots list --regions=REGION
```
  ReplaceREGION with the name of the targetregion.
(Preview) You can list the consistencygroups of instant snapshots in a specific location with thegcloud beta compute instant-snapshots-groups listcommand:
- List the consistency groups of instant snapshots in a zone with the--zones argument:
```
gcloud beta compute instant-snapshot-groups list \--zones=ZONE
```
  ReplaceZONE with the name of the target zone.
- List the consistency groups of instant snapshots in a region withthe--regions argument:
```
gcloud beta compute instant-snapshot-groups list \--regions=REGION
```
  ReplaceREGION with the name of the targetregion.

REST

You can retrieve a list of the instant snapshots in a specific project orlocation.

List the snapshots in a project:
Make aGET request to theinstantSnapshots.aggregatedListmethod:
```
GET https://compute.googleapis.com/compute/v1/projects/PROJECT_ID/aggregated/instantSnapshots
```
ReplacePROJECT_ID with the ID of the project.
List the instant snapshots in a zone or region:
Make aGET request to theinstantSnapshots.list method.
- List the instant snapshots in a zone:
```
GET https://compute.googleapis.com/compute/v1/projects/PROJECT_ID/zones/SOURCE_ZONE//instantSnapshots
```
  Replace the following:
  - PROJECT_ID: the ID of the project.
  - SOURCE_ZONE: the target zone, forexample,us-west1-a.
- List the regional instant snapshots in a region:
```
GET https://compute.googleapis.com/compute/v1/projects/PROJECT_ID/regions/SOURCE_REGION/instantSnapshots
```
  Replace the following:
  - PROJECT_ID: the ID of the project.
  - SOURCE_REGION: the target region, forexample,us-west1.
(Preview) List the consistency groupsof instant snapshots in a zone or region:
- List the consistency groups of instant snapshots in a zone:
```
GET https://compute.googleapis.com/compute/beta/projects/PROJECT_ID/zones/SOURCE_ZONE/instantSnapshotGroups
```
  Replace the following:
  - PROJECT_ID: the ID of the project.
  - SOURCE_ZONE: the target zone, forexample,us-west1-a.
- List the consistency groups of instant snapshots in a region:
```
GET https://compute.googleapis.com/compute/beta/projects/PROJECT_ID/regions/SOURCE_REGION/instantSnapshotGroups
```
  Replace the following:
  - PROJECT_ID: the ID of the project.
  - SOURCE_REGION: the target region, forexample,us-west1.

View the instant snapshots for a disk

You can view the list of instant snapshots for a disk, including instantsnapshots that are in a consistency group, by using thegcloud CLI, Google Cloud console, or REST.

Console

In the Google Cloud console, go to theSnapshots page.
Go to the Snapshots page
Click theInstant snapshots tab. The list of all theinstant snapshots in the project appears.
Narrow the results by source disk:
1. EnterSource disk: in thefilter_listFilter field.
  A list of disks with instant snapshots appears.
2. Select the name of the disk from theValues list. The list of instantsnapshots shows all instant snapshots for the disk.
  If you don't see the name of a disk in the filter_listFilter field,type in the first few letters of the disk's name tochange the list of filtered options that you see.

gcloud

You can list the instant snapshots for a disk with thegcloud compute instant-snapshots listcommand and the--filterargument.

List the instant snapshots for a zonal disk:
```
gcloud compute instant-snapshots list \ --filter="sourceDisk:projects/PROJECT_ID/zones/ZONE/disks/DISK_NAME"
```
Replace the following:
- PROJECT_ID: the ID of the project.
- ZONE: the name of the zone for the disk,for example,us-west1-a.
- DISK_NAME: the name of the source disk,for example,disk-1.
List the instant snapshots for a regional disk:
```
gcloud compute instant-snapshots list \ --filter="sourceDisk:projects/PROJECT_ID/regions/SOURCE_REGION/disks/DISK_NAME"
```
Replace the following:
- PROJECT_ID: the ID of the project.
- SOURCE_REGION: the name of the region for the disk,for example,us-west1.
- DISK_NAME: the name of the disk, for example,disk-1.

REST

List the instant snapshots for a zonal or regional disk with aGET requestto theinstantSnapshots.listmethod.

Use thefilter=sourceDisk query parameter to specify the name of the disk.

List the instant snapshots for a zonal disk:

GET https://compute.googleapis.com/compute/v1/projects/PROJECT_ID/zones/SOURCE_ZONE/instantSnapshots?filter=sourceDisk:'https://www.googleapis.com/compute/v1/projects/PROJECT_ID/zones/SOURCE_ZONE/disks/DISK_NAME'

Replace the following:

PROJECT_ID: the ID of the project.
SOURCE_ZONE: the target zone, for example,us-west1-a.
DISK_NAME: the name of the source disk, for example,disk-1.

List the instant snapshots for a regional Persistent Disk volume:
```
GET https://compute.googleapis.com/compute/v1/projects/PROJECT_ID/regions/SOURCE_REGION/instantSnapshots?filter=sourceDisk:'https://www.googleapis.com/compute/v1/projects/PROJECT_ID/regions/SOURCE_REGION/disks/DISK_NAME'
```
Replace the following:
- PROJECT_ID: the ID of the project.
- SOURCE_REGION: the target region, for example,us-west1.
- DISK_NAME: the name of the source disk, for example,disk-1.

View the instant snapshots in a consistency group

Preview

You can view a list of all instant snapshots in a consistency group by using thegcloud CLI or REST.

gcloud

To retrieve a list of the instant snapshots in a specific consistency group,use thegcloud beta compute instant-snapshots listcommand.

List the instant snapshots in a consistency group formed from a group ofzonal disks:
```
gcloud beta compute instant-snapshots list \--filter="sourceConsistencyGroup:/projects/PROJECT_ID/zones/ZONE/instantSnapshotGroups/INSTANT_SNAPSHOT_GROUP_NAME"
```
Replace the following:
- INSTANT_SNAPSHOT_GROUP_NAME: the name of thesource consistency group of snapshots, for example,snapshot-group-1.
- ZONE: the target zone, for example,us-west1-a.
List the instant snapshots in a consistency group formed from a group ofregional disks:
```
gcloud beta compute instant-snapshots list \--filter="sourceConsistencyGroup:/projects/PROJECT_ID/regions/REGION/instantSnapshotGroups/INSTANT_SNAPSHOT_GROUP_NAME"
```
Replace the following:
- INSTANT_SNAPSHOT_GROUP_NAME: the name of thesource consistency group of snapshots, for example,snapshot-group-1.
- REGION: the target region, for example,us-west1.

REST

To retrieve a list of the instant snapshots in a specific consistency group,make aGET request to theinstantSnapshots.listmethod.

Use thefilter=sourceInstantSnapshotGroup query parameter to specify thename of the consistency group of instant snapshots.

List the instant snapshots in a consistency group formed from a group ofzonal disks:
```
GET https://compute.googleapis.com/compute/beta/projects/PROJECT_ID/zones/SOURCE_ZONE/instantSnapshots?filter=sourceInstantSnapshotGroup:'https://www.googleapis.com/compute/beta/projects/PROJECT_ID/zones/SOURCE_ZONE/instantSnapshotGroups/INSTANT_SNAPSHOT_GROUP_NAME'
```
Replace the following:
- PROJECT_ID: the ID of the project.
- SOURCE_ZONE: the target zone, for example,us-west1-a.
- INSTANT_SNAPSHOT_GROUP_NAME: the name of thesource consistency group of snapshots, for example,snapshot-group-1.
List the instant snapshots in a consistency group formed from a group ofregional disks:
```
GET https://compute.googleapis.com/compute/beta/projects/PROJECT_ID/regions/SOURCE_REGION/instantSnapshots?filter=sourceInstantSnapshotGroup:'https://www.googleapis.com/compute/beta/projects/PROJECT_ID/regions/SOURCE_REGION/instantSnapshotGroups/INSTANT_SNAPSHOT_GROUP_NAME'
```
Replace the following:
- PROJECT_ID: the ID of the project.
- SOURCE_REGION: the target region, for example,us-west1.
- INSTANT_SNAPSHOT_GROUP_NAME: the name of thesource consistency group of snapshots, for example,snapshot-group-1.

View information about instant snapshots

You can retrieve detailed information about a single instant snapshot, or aconsistency group of instant snapshots(Preview).

View information about an instant snapshot

Retrieve detailed information about an instant snapshot, such as its location,source disk, and size by using the gcloud CLI, Google Cloud console,or REST.

Console

In the Google Cloud console, go to theSnapshots page.
Go to the Snapshots page
Click theInstant snapshots tab. The list of instant snapshots appears.
In theName column, click the name of the instant snapshot. TheInstant snapshot details page for the selected snapshot appears,showing its properties.

gcloud

To view information about an instant snapshot, use thegcloud compute instant-snapshots describecommand.

If the snapshot is of a zonal disk, specify the zone with the--zone flag:

  gcloud compute instant-snapshots describeINSTANT_SNAPSHOT_NAME
       --zone=ZONE

Replace the following with the corresponding values:

+`INSTANT_SNAPSHOT_NAME`:thenameoftheinstantsnapshot.+`ZONE`:thezonewheretheinstantsnapshotwascreated,forexample,`us-west1-a`.

If the snapshot is of a regional disk, specify the region with the--region flag:
```
  gcloud compute instant-snapshots describeINSTANT_SNAPSHOT_NAME
    --region=REGION
```
Replace the following with the corresponding values:
- INSTANT_SNAPSHOT_NAME: the name of the instantsnapshot.
- REGION: the region where the snapshot wascreated, for example,us-central1.

REST

The API method request you use depends on whether you'reworking with a regional or zonal instant snapshot.

Zonal instant snapshot

Make aGET request to theinstantSnapshots.getmethod by specifying the zone in the request:

GET https://compute.googleapis.com/compute/v1/projects/PROJECT_ID/zones/ZONE/instantSnapshots/INSTANT_SNAPSHOT_NAME

Replace the following with the corresponding values:

PROJECT_ID: the name of the project containingthe instant snapshot.
ZONE: the zone where the instant snapshot was created.
INSTANT_SNAPSHOT_NAME: the name of the instant snapshot.

Regional instant snapshot

Make aGET request to theinstantSnapshots.getmethod by specifying the region in the request:

GET https://compute.googleapis.com/compute/v1/projects/PROJECT_ID/regions/REGION/instantSnapshots/INSTANT_SNAPSHOT_NAME

Replace the following with the corresponding values:

PROJECT_ID: the name of the projectcontaining the instant snapshot.
REGION: the region where the instant snapshotwas created.
INSTANT_SNAPSHOT_NAME: the name of the instant snapshot.

View information about a consistency group of instant snapshots

Preview

Retrieve detailed information about a consistency group of instant snapshots,such as its source consistency group and size, by using thegcloud CLI or REST.

gcloud

To view information about a consistency group of instant snapshots, use thegcloud beta compute instant-snapshot-groups describecommand.

Get information about a consistency group of instant snapshots that wascreated from a group of zonal disks:
```
gcloud beta compute instant-snapshot-groups describeINSTANT_SNAPSHOT_NAME \ --zone=ZONE
```
Replace the following with the corresponding values:
- INSTANT_SNAPSHOT_GROUP_NAME: the name of theconsistency group of instant snapshots.
- ZONE: the zone where the consistency group ofinstant snapshots was created.
Get information about a consistency group of instant snapshots that wascreated from a group of regional disks:
```
gcloud beta compute instant-snapshot-groups describeINSTANT_SNAPSHOT_NAME \ --region=REGION
```
Replace the following with the corresponding values:
- INSTANT_SNAPSHOT_GROUP_NAME: the name of theconsistency group of instant snapshots.
- REGION: the region where the consistency groupof instant snapshots was created.

REST

To view information about a consistency group of instant snapshots, make aGET request to theinstantSnapshotGroups.getmethod.

Get information about a consistency group of instant snapshots that wascreated from a group of zonal disks:
```
GET https://compute.googleapis.com/compute/beta/projects/PROJECT_ID/zones/ZONE/instantSnapshotGroups/INSTANT_SNAPSHOT_GROUP_NAME
```
Replace the following with the corresponding values:
- PROJECT_ID: the name of the project containingthe consistency group of instant snapshots.
- ZONE: the zone where the consistency group ofinstant snapshots was created.
- INSTANT_SNAPSHOT_GROUP_NAME: the name of theconsistency group of instant snapshots.
Get information about a consistency group of instant snapshots that wascreated from a group of regional disks:
```
GET https://compute.googleapis.com/compute/beta/projects/PROJECT_ID/regions/REGION/instantSnapshotGroups/INSTANT_SNAPSHOT_GROUP_NAME
```
Replace the following with the corresponding values:
- PROJECT_ID: the name of the project containingthe consistency group of instant snapshots.
- REGION: the region where the consistency groupof instant snapshots was created.
- INSTANT_SNAPSHOT_GROUP_NAME: the name of theconsistency group of instant snapshots.

Delete instant snapshots

To reduce your storage costs, you can delete your snapshots when you no longerneed them.

Delete an instant snapshot

You can delete an instant snapshot by using the gcloud CLI,Google Cloud console, or REST.

Warning: Deleting an instant snapshot is irreversible. You can't recover a deleted instant snapshot.

Console

In the Google Cloud console, go to theSnapshots page.
Go to the Snapshots page
Click theInstant snapshots tab.
Select one more snapshots to delete.
At the top of theSnapshots page, clickDelete.

gcloud

Delete an instant snapshot with thegcloud compute instant-snapshots deletecommand, specifying either the source zone or the source region.

Delete an instant snapshot of a zonal disk:
```
gcloud compute instant-snapshots deleteINSTANT_SNAPSHOT_NAME \    --zone=ZONE
```
Replace the following with the corresponding values:
- ZONE: the name of the zone.
- INSTANT_SNAPSHOT_NAME: the name of the instant snapshot.
Delete an instant snapshot of a regional disk:
```
gcloud compute instant-snapshots deleteINSTANT_SNAPSHOT_NAME \   --region=REGION
```
Replace the following:
- REGION: the name of the region.
- INSTANT_SNAPSHOT_NAME: the name of the instant snapshot.

REST

Delete an instant snapshot with aDELETE request to theinstantSnapshots.deletemethod:

Delete an instant snapshot of zonal disk:
```
DELETE https://compute.googleapis.com/compute/v1/projects/PROJECT_ID/zones/ZONE/instantSnapshots/INSTANT_SNAPSHOT_NAME
```
Replace the following with the corresponding values:
- PROJECT_ID: the ID of the project.
- ZONE: the name of the zone.
- INSTANT_SNAPSHOT_NAME: the name of the instant snapshot.
Delete an instant snapshot of a regional disk:
```
DELETE https://compute.googleapis.com/compute/v1/projects/PROJECT_ID/regions/REGION/instantSnapshots/INSTANT_SNAPSHOT_NAME
```
Replace the following with the corresponding values:
- PROJECT_ID: the ID of the project.
- REGION: the name of the region.
- INSTANT_SNAPSHOT_NAME: the name of the instant snapshot.

Delete a consistency group of instant snapshots

Preview

You can delete a consistency group of instant snapshots by using thegcloud CLI or REST. Deletinga consistency group of instant snapshots also deletes all instant snapshotswithin the consistency group.

To delete a single snapshot from a consistency group, follow the steps inDelete an instant snapshot.

Warning: Deleting a consistency group of instant snapshots is irreversible. Youcan't recover deleted instant snapshots.

gcloud

Delete an instant snapshot with the gcloud beta compute instant-snapshot-groups deletecommand, specifying either the source zone or the source region.

Delete a consistency group of instant snapshots that was formed from agroup of zonal disks:
```
gcloud beta compute instant-snapshot-groups deleteINSTANT_SNAPSHOT_GROUP_NAME \   --zone=ZONE
```
Replace the following:
- INSTANT_SNAPSHOT_GROUP_NAME: the name of theconsistency group of instant snapshots.
- ZONE: the name of the source zone.
Delete a consistency group of instant snapshots that was formed from agroup of regional disks:
```
gcloud beta compute instant-snapshot-groups deleteINSTANT_SNAPSHOT_GROUP_NAME \   --region=REGION
```
Replace the following:
- INSTANT_SNAPSHOT_GROUP_NAME: the name of theconsistency group of instant snapshots.
- REGION: the name of the source region.

REST

To delete a consistency group of instant snapshots, make aDELETE requestto theinstantSnapshotGroups.deletemethod.

Delete a consistency group of instant snapshots that was formed from agroup of zonal disks:
```
DELETE https://compute.googleapis.com/compute/beta/projects/PROJECT_ID/zones/ZONE/instantSnapshotGroups/INSTANT_SNAPSHOT_GROUP_NAME
```
Replace the following with the corresponding values:
- PROJECT_ID: the ID of the project.
- ZONE: the name of the zone.
- INSTANT_SNAPSHOT_GROUP_NAME: the name of theconsistency group of instant snapshots.
Delete a consistency group of instant snapshots that was formed from agroup of regional disks:
```
DELETE https://compute.googleapis.com/compute/beta/projects/PROJECT_ID/regions/REGION/instantSnapshotGroups/INSTANT_SNAPSHOT_GROUP_NAME
```
Replace the following with the corresponding values:
- PROJECT_ID: the ID of the project.
- REGION: the name of the region.
- INSTANT_SNAPSHOT_GROUP_NAME: the name of theconsistency group of instant snapshots.

Change the storage location of instant snapshots

Instant snapshots are always stored in the same location as their source disk.You can't make instant snapshots accessible from a different zone or region.Instead, you must create standard snapshots.

To change the storage location of a single instant snapshot,create a standard snapshot from the instant snapshotand use the standard snapshot.

Troubleshooting

SeeTroubleshooting instant snapshotsto resolve problems you encounter working with instant snapshots.

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Last updated 2026-02-18 UTC.

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Before you begin

Console

gcloud

REST

Required roles and permissions

Required permissions

Limitations

Create instant snapshots

Create an instant snapshot of a disk

Console

gcloud

Zonal disk

Regional disk

REST

Request response

Create instant snapshots of a group of disks

gcloud

REST

Request response

Restore instant snapshots

View instant snapshots

View the instant snapshots in a project or location

Console

gcloud

REST

View the instant snapshots for a disk

Console

gcloud

REST

View the instant snapshots in a consistency group

gcloud

REST

View information about instant snapshots

View information about an instant snapshot

Console

gcloud

REST

Zonal instant snapshot

Regional instant snapshot

View information about a consistency group of instant snapshots

gcloud

REST

Delete instant snapshots

Delete an instant snapshot

Console

gcloud

REST

Delete a consistency group of instant snapshots

gcloud

REST

Change the storage location of instant snapshots

Troubleshooting

Create and manage instant snapshots