---
description: Save and restore Container filesystems with the Durable Object scheduling policy.
title: Use snapshots
image: https://developers.cloudflare.com/containers/guides/snapshots/og.png?v=74144dfc758483da
---

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# Use snapshots

Last updated Sep 30, 2026|Copy as Markdown| [View as Markdown](https://developers.cloudflare.com/containers/guides/snapshots/index.md)| [Agent setup](https://developers.cloudflare.com/agent-setup/)

Snapshots let you save point-in-time filesystem state from a running [Container](https://developers.cloudflare.com/containers/). The examples on this page use the [Durable Object Container API](https://developers.cloudflare.com/containers/api/durable-object-container/).

Scheduling policy requirement

Snapshots are only supported by Container applications that use the [`durable_object` scheduling policy](https://developers.cloudflare.com/containers/configuration/scheduling-policy/#use-the-durable-object-scheduling-policy). Applications that use the `default` scheduling policy cannot create or restore snapshots.

## Create a container snapshot

Use `snapshotContainer()` to capture the full container filesystem. Snapshots are immutable. If you restore a snapshot and then change files, create a new snapshot to persist those changes.

Snapshot image compatibility

Snapshots capture the Container's complete filesystem state, but not its memory or running processes. A snapshot is tied to the Container image version it was created from and is not portable to a different image. After updating the image, create a new snapshot from a Container running that image.

The returned snapshot handle is a plain data object. You can store it and restore it later, including from another Durable Object:

*src/index.jsjs*

```js
import { DurableObject } from "cloudflare:workers";

export class MyDurableObject extends DurableObject {
	async saveContainer() {
		const containerSnapshot = await this.ctx.container.snapshotContainer({
			name: "before-upgrade",
		});

		await this.ctx.storage.put("containerSnapshot", containerSnapshot);
	}
}
```

*src/index.tsts*

```ts
import { DurableObject } from "cloudflare:workers";

export class MyDurableObject extends DurableObject {
	async saveContainer() {
		const containerSnapshot = await this.ctx.container.snapshotContainer({
			name: "before-upgrade",
		});

		await this.ctx.storage.put("containerSnapshot", containerSnapshot);
	}
}
```

## Restore a container snapshot

Load the saved snapshot handle. Then, pass it to `this.ctx.container.start()` when you start another container:

*src/index.jsjs*

```js
import { DurableObject } from "cloudflare:workers";

export class MyDurableObject extends DurableObject {
	async restoreContainer() {
		const containerSnapshot = await this.ctx.storage.get("containerSnapshot");

		if (!containerSnapshot) {
			return;
		}

		this.ctx.container.start({ containerSnapshot, enableInternet: false });
	}
}
```

*src/index.tsts*

```ts
import { DurableObject } from "cloudflare:workers";

export class MyDurableObject extends DurableObject {
	async restoreContainer() {
		const containerSnapshot =
			await this.ctx.storage.get<ContainerSnapshot>("containerSnapshot");

		if (!containerSnapshot) {
			return;
		}

		this.ctx.container.start({ containerSnapshot, enableInternet: false });
	}
}
```

## Understand retention

Snapshots have an implicit [30-day time-to-live](https://developers.cloudflare.com/containers/platform/limits/#snapshot-limits). Each restore refreshes that time-to-live.

You cannot set a custom time-to-live yet.

## Related resources

- [Scheduling Policies](https://developers.cloudflare.com/containers/configuration/scheduling-policy/) - Choose how Container instances are configured and updated
- [Durable Object Container API](https://developers.cloudflare.com/containers/api/durable-object-container/) - Full `ctx.container` API reference
- [Lifecycle of a Container](https://developers.cloudflare.com/containers/concepts/architecture/) - Understand startup, sleep, and shutdown behavior

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