What is Shadow Copy and How to Use It Correctly on Windows 11/10

Backups can always save us from unfortunate events, such as accidentally deleting files or losing important documents. To complement the Windows environment, Microsoft offers the Shadow Copy feature, which you can create on external or local volumes to assist with backup copies.

Here, you will get to know all the aspects and working of Shadow Copies. You can easily enable it and restore any deleted files or folders from it.

Please continue reading to understand it in more detail, so you can address its issues more effectively.

What are Shadow Copies?

Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) was introduced by Windows in 2003, and it provides a mechanism for various components to communicate with each other so they can work together harmoniously. When all VSS components collaborate, it aids in creating backups of application data without shutting down applications. It is also responsible for coordinating the operations required to create consistent VSS snapshots or point-in-time copies.

How do shadow copies work?

To set up a functional VSS (assuming you mean “vehicle subscription service” or “version control system”), you would need certain key components, such as:

• The VSS service ensures better communication between components and with the work being done.
• A VSS requester is software that helps create requests related to the actual creation of a VSS.
• A VSS writer is a component that ensures data consistency in the backup set.
• A VSS provider is another component that aids in creating and maintaining shadow copies. It uses copy-on-write functionality.

Functions

In addition to creating application-consistent data backups, VSS has other capabilities that include the following:

• LUN recovery, including swapping and resynchronization.
• Data mining with portable shadow copies.
• Recovery of individual files from a shared folder shadow copy.

Advantages:

• It facilitates creation of access and copy while a file is in use, locked, or open.
• You can modify a shadow copy while accessing/copying it without disrupting your work.

Disadvantages:

• You must allow time to create the shadow copy before you begin copying files.

Even though Microsoft has the Volume Shadow Copy Service set to run by default, if you suspect that it might be disabled for some reason, or you simply want to make sure, read on. In this article, we'll show you how to properly use VSS in Windows 10.

How to Use Volume Shadow Copy Properly in Windows 10

You can enable Shadow Copy in any of the following ways:

• Method 1: Enable Shadow Copy Service using System Restore Points
• Method 2: Enable Shadow Copy Service using Task Scheduler

Method 1: Enable Shadow Copies using a System Restore Point

You can set restore points for Shadow Copy, for example, daily, weekly, or monthly, depending on your preference.

Usage Steps:

Step 1: Find the search box, type "Create a restore point," and select it. Then, in the System Properties window, choose "Select drive" and click on "Configure."

Enable System Protection

Step 2: Next, check the box for "Turn on system protection." Click "Apply" to activate this feature.

Step 3: Click on “Create” to enable Shadow Copies on your Windows 10.

If System Restore is not working, you can read the articles below to fix the problem.

Windows 10/8/7 System Restore Points Not Working

When System Restore fails to work on Windows, it usually happens after a system update, app installation, or when the PC is infected by malware or viruses.

Method 2: Turn on the Shadow Copy Service with Task Scheduler

If you'd like to customize Volume Shadow Copy in Windows 10, you can use the Task Scheduler to achieve this. Follow these steps to enable and configure Volume Shadow Copy: 1. Open the Control Panel: Press Win + X and choose "Control Panel." 2. In the Control Panel, select "System and Security." 3. Click on " Administrative Tools." 4. In the "Administrative Tools" window, double-click "Services" to open it. 5. In the "Services" list, find and double-click "Volume Shadow Copy." 6. In the "Volume Shadow Copy" Properties window, ensure the "Startup Type" is set to "Automatic" or "Manual." If it's set to "Disabled," change it to "Automatic." 7. If the service isn't running, click the "Start" button to start the service. 8. Close the "Services" window. Next, create a scheduled task using the Task Scheduler to perform Volume Shadow Copy at your preferred time: 1. Press Win + R to open the "Run" dialog, type "taskschd.msc," and press Enter to open Task Scheduler. 2. In the Task Scheduler Library, right-click on the blank area and choose "Create Basic Task." 3. Enter a task name and description, then click "Next." 4. Choose a trigger (e.g., daily, weekly, or one-time), then click "Next." 5. Set the specific time, then click "Next." 6. Under "Action," select "Start a program," then click "Next." 7. In the "Program or Script" field, type "vssadmin.exe," and in the "Add arguments (optional)" field, enter "create Shadow /for=C: /bootable:yes," where "C:" is the drive you want to create a shadow copy of. Then click "Next." 8. Review the settings and click "Finish." Now, the Task Scheduler will create a shadow copy according to the schedule you've set. Note that Volume Shadow Copy requires administrator privileges, so you might be prompted for admin credentials when the task runs.

Usage:

Step 1. First, open the Task Scheduler. Click on "Start," then type in Task Scheduler, and select it from the list.

Step 2. Click Create Job, and give your job a name.

Step 3. Next, create a new trigger. Click on the "Triggers" tab, then down below, click on "New." From there, choose to set it for one time, daily, weekly, or monthly.

Step 4. Next, enable Shadow Copy. You can also click the "Actions" tab and choose "New." Under "Script" or "Program," type in wmic, and in the empty field to its right, enter the parameter "shadow copy call create Volume=C:\".

How do I use Shadow Copy to back up files?

With VSS enabled, you can use it to back up volumes or files. While this is the default, there's an option to review if you need a clearer explanation.

Usage:

Step 1. First, open the "Backup and Restore" option on Windows 10 by clicking the "Start" button. Then click "Control Panel," followed by "System and Maintenance," and then "Backup and Restore."

Step 2. Tap on the "Set up Backup" option.

Click the “Set up backup” option.

Step 3: Now, choose the location where you want to save your backup and click on “Next.”

Step 4. Choose “Let Windows choose” or “Let me choose.” Then, click on “Next.” Finally, uncheck the box for System Image Backup if it is selected by default.

Select Backup Files

Step 5: You can also review your backup settings and make sure everything is correct. Then, click on the “Save settings and run backup” option.

Sometimes you might notice that VSS is slow. It's designed only to back up files on NTFS partitions, and it lacks advanced features, such as backing up multiple Windows PCs.

A Better Way to Backup: Todo Backup

If you don't want to do it manually, the Todo Backup tools can cater to your needs by creating centralized backup options. The application comes with a bunch of features that work to its advantage.

• It saves effort and time by creating flawless system backups.
• It minimizes downtime to protect business data.
• It initiates automated backup.
• It aids in quick configuration and deployment of Windows on your PC.
• It is a backup and recovery software for Windows 10.
• It is suitable for home users, businesses, Mac users, and service providers.

Here are the steps for using this wonderful program.

Step1. Launch Todo Backup, on the home screen, choose “Create a backup”, and then click “Select backup content”.

Step 2: Click on "OS" among the four options to start the backup process.

Step 3: The system partition will be selected automatically, you just have to choose the location.

Create System Backup Step 3

Step 4. You can choose to save the backup file on your local drive, cloud storage, or NAS. You can also connect an external hard drive to save the system backup.

Create System Backup Step 5

Step 5: You can customize the settings in the Options on the bottom left. Then, click Backup Now, and the backup process will start.

* After the backup is completed, you can right-click on the backup task on the left to check the backup status, restore, open, or delete the backup.

Final Award

In this article, we aided you in enabling Shadow Copy through various manual methods. We also offered an alternative reliable solution, using Todo Backup, a tool that supports VSS for backing up your files. This helps overcome the issue of VSS deletion due to high disk usage. Additionally, Todo Backup provides opportunities for home users, businesses, and professionals to utilize the tool appropriately based on their device requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions About Shadow Copies

After reading this article, you might have some questions. Let's find the answers here!

1. Can I delete shadow copies?

Yes, you can delete them if Shadow Copies are taking up a lot of space on your computer. You can do this using System Properties or the Command Prompt.

2. Where are shadow copies stored?

You can find the shadow copies alongside the data in your file system. Your shadow copies also reside within your file system backups, taking up significant storage capacity on your system.

Is VSS enabled by default?

Yes, Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) is enabled by default on Microsoft systems.