# Neon CLI command: snapshots

Create, list, restore, and schedule branch snapshots from the terminal

The `snapshots` command creates, lists, updates, deletes, and restores snapshots of your Neon branches, and manages the automatic backup schedule of a branch. A snapshot captures the state of a branch at a point in time, so you can restore it later. For background on the feature, plans, and limits, see [Backup and restore](/guides/resilience-architecture-guides-backup-restore).

If `--project-id` is omitted, the CLI resolves it from your [context file](/guides/apis-sdks-cli-link), auto-selects when your account has only one project, and otherwise asks you to pass `--project-id`.

Subcommands: [create](/guides/apis-sdks-cli-snapshots#neon-snapshots-create), [delete](/guides/apis-sdks-cli-snapshots#neon-snapshots-delete), [finalize](/guides/apis-sdks-cli-snapshots#neon-snapshots-finalize), [get](/guides/apis-sdks-cli-snapshots#neon-snapshots-get), [list](/guides/apis-sdks-cli-snapshots#neon-snapshots-list), [restore](/guides/apis-sdks-cli-snapshots#neon-snapshots-restore), [schedule](/guides/apis-sdks-cli-snapshots#snapshot-schedule), [update](/guides/apis-sdks-cli-snapshots#neon-snapshots-update)

## neon snapshots create

Creates a snapshot from a branch. By default, it snapshots the head of the branch from your context or the project's default branch. Use `--lsn` or `--timestamp` to capture an earlier point within the branch's [history window](/guides/postgres-backup-restore-history-window); the two options are mutually exclusive.

```bash
neon snapshots create [options]
```

| Option           | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | Type   | Default | Required |
| ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------ | ------- | :------: |
| `--branch`, `-b` | Branch id or name to snapshot. Defaults to the branch in your context, or the project's default branch.                                                                                                                                    | string | —       |    No    |
| `--expires-at`   | When the snapshot is automatically deleted (RFC 3339, e.g. 2025-12-31T23:59:59Z). Omit to keep it indefinitely.                                                                                                                            | string | —       |    No    |
| `--lsn`          | Take the snapshot at this LSN (e.g. 0/1F3C8A0). Must fall within the branch's restore window. Mutually exclusive with --timestamp.                                                                                                         | string | —       |    No    |
| `--name`         | A name for the snapshot                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | string | —       |    No    |
| `--slug`         | User-defined resource ID, unique in the project (1-63 characters: start with a lowercase letter, then lowercase letters, digits, or hyphens, ending with a letter or digit). Omit to let the API generate one. It cannot be changed later. | string | —       |    No    |
| `--timestamp`    | Take the snapshot at this point in time (RFC 3339, e.g. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z). Must fall within the branch's restore window. Mutually exclusive with --lsn.                                                                                | string | —       |    No    |
| `--project-id`   | Project ID                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | string | —       |    No    |

Snapshot the head of a branch with a name:

```bash
neon snapshots create --branch main --name pre-migration
```

Snapshot a branch at a specific LSN and set an expiration:

```bash
neon snapshots create --branch main --lsn 0/1F3C8A0 --expires-at 2027-12-31T23:59:59Z
```

Snapshot a branch at a point in time:

```bash
neon snapshots create --branch main --timestamp 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z
```

Set a slug to give the snapshot a stable ID you choose, which you can then pass to `get`, `delete`, `update`, and `restore` in place of the generated ID:

```bash
neon snapshots create --branch main --name "Before migration" --slug before-migration
```

```text filename="Output"
Id                snap-crimson-pond-12345678
Name              Before migration
Slug              before-migration
Source Branch Id  br-sweet-dew-12345678
Created At        2026-09-26T01:40:01Z
```

You can then reference the snapshot by that slug:

```bash
neon snapshots get before-migration
```

Timestamps and expiration times use RFC 3339 format. `--timestamp` must be in the past and `--expires-at` in the future. Omit `--expires-at` to keep the snapshot until you delete it; a manual snapshot's expiration has no maximum, unlike the 35-day cap on [scheduled snapshots](/guides/apis-sdks-cli-snapshots#neon-snapshots-schedule-set). Snapshot names must be unique within a project. A `--slug` is also unique within a project: it must be 1-63 characters, start with a lowercase letter, contain only lowercase letters, digits, or hyphens, end with a letter or digit, and can't be changed after creation. Omit it to let the API generate one.

## neon snapshots list

Lists the snapshots in a project.

```bash
neon snapshots list [options]
```

| Option         | Description | Type   | Default | Required |
| -------------- | ----------- | ------ | ------- | :------: |
| `--project-id` | Project ID  | string | —       |    No    |

```bash
neon snapshots list
```

## neon snapshots get

Retrieves a snapshot by ID, name, or slug.

```bash
neon snapshots get <id> [options]
```

| Option         | Description | Type   | Default | Required |
| -------------- | ----------- | ------ | ------- | :------: |
| `--project-id` | Project ID  | string | —       |    No    |

```bash
neon snapshots get snap-1234
```

## neon snapshots update

Renames a snapshot or changes its expiration. Use `--clear-expiration` to keep a snapshot indefinitely; it's mutually exclusive with `--expires-at`.

```bash
neon snapshots update <id> [options]
```

| Option               | Description                                                                           | Type    | Default | Required |
| -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------- | ------- | :------: |
| `--clear-expiration` | Clear the expiration so the snapshot is kept indefinitely.                            | boolean | —       |    No    |
| `--expires-at`       | Set when the snapshot expires (RFC 3339). Mutually exclusive with --clear-expiration. | string  | —       |    No    |
| `--name`             | Rename the snapshot                                                                   | string  | —       |    No    |
| `--project-id`       | Project ID                                                                            | string  | —       |    No    |

Rename a snapshot:

```bash
neon snapshots update snap-1234 --name pre-migration
```

Clear a snapshot's expiration:

```bash
neon snapshots update snap-1234 --clear-expiration
```

## neon snapshots delete

Deletes a snapshot by ID, name, or slug.

```bash
neon snapshots delete <id> [options]
```

| Option         | Description | Type   | Default | Required |
| -------------- | ----------- | ------ | ------- | :------: |
| `--project-id` | Project ID  | string | —       |    No    |

```bash
neon snapshots delete snap-1234
```

## neon snapshots restore

Restores a snapshot into a branch. By default, the restore is left un-finalized so you can inspect the restored branch first, then swap it in with [snapshots finalize](/guides/apis-sdks-cli-snapshots#neon-snapshots-finalize). Pass `--finalize` to move computes onto the restored branch and swap it in for the target immediately.

```bash
neon snapshots restore <id> [options]
```

| Option            | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | Type    | Default | Required |
| ----------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------- | ------- | :------: |
| `--finalize`      | Finalize the restore immediately: move computes onto the restored branch and swap it in for the target. Without this, the restore is left un-finalized so you can inspect it first, then run `snapshots finalize <branch>`. | boolean | `false` |    No    |
| `--name`          | Name for the newly restored branch. Auto-generated when omitted.                                                                                                                                                            | string  | —       |    No    |
| `--target-branch` | Branch id or name to restore the snapshot onto. Defaults to the snapshot's source branch. Recommended when you intend to finalize (replace an existing branch).                                                             | string  | —       |    No    |
| `--project-id`    | Project ID                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | string  | —       |    No    |

Restore a snapshot to a new branch:

```bash
neon snapshots restore snap-1234 --name recovered
```

Restore onto an existing branch un-finalized to preview, then finalize:

```bash
neon snapshots restore snap-1234 --target-branch main
```

Restore onto a branch and swap it in immediately:

```bash
neon snapshots restore snap-1234 --target-branch main --finalize
```

## neon snapshots finalize

Finalizes a previewed snapshot restore, swapping the restored branch in for the target. Use this after running `snapshots restore` without `--finalize`. The argument is the ID of the restored branch that `snapshots restore` created, not the target branch. The `restore` command prints the exact `finalize` command to run.

```bash
neon snapshots finalize <branch> [options]
```

| Option         | Description                                                          | Type   | Default | Required |
| -------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------ | ------- | :------: |
| `--name`       | Name to give the replaced (old) branch. Auto-generated when omitted. | string | —       |    No    |
| `--project-id` | Project ID                                                           | string | —       |    No    |

```bash
neon snapshots finalize br-summer-water-au2msxjn
```

The replaced (old) branch is kept under an auto-generated name unless you set one with `--name`.

## Snapshot schedule

The `snapshots schedule` subcommands get and set the automatic snapshot (backup) schedule of a branch.

Subcommands: [get](/guides/apis-sdks-cli-snapshots#neon-snapshots-schedule-get), [set](/guides/apis-sdks-cli-snapshots#neon-snapshots-schedule-set)

### neon snapshots schedule get

Gets a branch's automatic snapshot schedule.

```bash
neon snapshots schedule get [options]
```

| Option           | Description                                                                                 | Type   | Default | Required |
| ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------ | ------- | :------: |
| `--branch`, `-b` | Branch id or name. Defaults to the branch in your context, or the project's default branch. | string | —       |    No    |
| `--project-id`   | Project ID                                                                                  | string | —       |    No    |

```bash
neon snapshots schedule get --branch main
```

### neon snapshots schedule set

Sets a branch's automatic snapshot schedule. Build a single-entry schedule with `--frequency` and its companion flags, or pass a full JSON schedule with `--schedule` for a multi-entry schedule (this overrides the single-entry flags).

Pick one `--frequency`; that choice determines which of `--day` and `--hour` you must also set. The supported frequencies are:

| `--frequency` | Also required     | `--day` range       |
| ------------- | ----------------- | ------------------- |
| `daily`       | `--hour` (0-23)   | not used            |
| `weekly`      | `--day`, `--hour` | 1-7 (Monday-Sunday) |
| `monthly`     | `--day`, `--hour` | 1-31                |

The server enforces these combinations, so a schedule missing a value its frequency needs is rejected with an error such as `daily schedules must specify the hour of the day`.

Use `--retention` with any frequency to set how long each snapshot is kept.

```bash
neon snapshots schedule set [options]
```

| Option           | Description                                                                                                                                               | Type   | Default | Required |
| ---------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------ | ------- | :------: |
| `--branch`, `-b` | Branch id or name. Defaults to the branch in your context, or the project's default branch.                                                               | string | —       |    No    |
| `--day`          | Day of the week/month (1-31) to take the snapshot (used with --frequency).                                                                                | number | —       |    No    |
| `--frequency`    | How often to take snapshots. Combine with --hour, --day, and --retention to build a single-entry schedule. Possible values: `daily`, `weekly`, `monthly`  | string | —       |    No    |
| `--hour`         | Hour of the day (0-23) to take the snapshot (used with --frequency).                                                                                      | number | —       |    No    |
| `--month`        | Month of the year (1-12) to take the snapshot (used with --frequency).                                                                                    | number | —       |    No    |
| `--retention`    | How long to keep each snapshot, in seconds (min 3600). Omit to keep indefinitely.                                                                         | number | —       |    No    |
| `--schedule`     | Full schedule as JSON, for multi-entry schedules, e.g. '\[{"frequency":"daily","hour":3,"retention\_seconds":604800}]'. Overrides the single-entry flags. | string | —       |    No    |
| `--project-id`   | Project ID                                                                                                                                                | string | —       |    No    |

Of the options above, `--month` is the exception: none of the supported frequencies read it, so setting it has no effect on when snapshots are taken.

Set a daily 03:00 snapshot kept for 7 days (604800 seconds):

```bash
neon snapshots schedule set --branch main --frequency daily --hour 3 --retention 604800
```

Set a weekly snapshot on Mondays at 04:00:

```bash
neon snapshots schedule set --branch main --frequency weekly --day 1 --hour 4
```

Set a multi-entry schedule with JSON:

```bash
neon snapshots schedule set --branch main --schedule '[{"frequency":"daily","hour":3},{"frequency":"weekly","day":1,"hour":4}]'
```

`--retention` is in seconds, from 3600 (1 hour) to 3024000 (35 days). Omit it and scheduled snapshots are kept for 35 days, the maximum. Manual snapshots created with [snapshots create](/guides/apis-sdks-cli-snapshots#neon-snapshots-create) follow the opposite rule: they never expire unless you set `--expires-at`. See [Snapshot retention](/guides/resilience-architecture-guides-backup-restore#snapshot-retention).

## Related pages

- [Neon CLI command: diff](./apis-sdks-cli-diff.md)
- [Neon CLI command: projects](./apis-sdks-cli-projects.md)
- [Neon CLI command: branches](./apis-sdks-cli-branches.md)
- [Neon CLI command: databases](./apis-sdks-cli-databases.md)
- [Neon CLI command: roles](./apis-sdks-cli-roles.md)
- [Neon CLI command: operations](./apis-sdks-cli-operations.md)

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