What Is Shadow Copy and How to Use Shadow Copy Windows 10?

This article will introduce you much information about Shadow Copy Windows 10. It will tell you what Shadow Copy is and teach you how to enable/disable Shadow Copy. Finally, this article will also show you how to back up your system to keep it safe.

About Shadow Copy

What Is Shadow Copy?

Shadow Copy is a technology included in Microsoft Windows, also known as Volume Shadow Copy Service, Volume Snapshot Service or VSS. With this technology, you can create backup snapshots or copies of computer volumes/files whether you are in use or not. In order to create/restore shadow copies, file system type of NTFS is needed. Thus, only volumes that are formatted with NTFS can be protected with Shadow Copy technology.

Windows component which uses Shadow Copy technology can create Show Copies on local and external volumes. You can create Shadow Copies with Backup and Restore as well as System Restore points in Windows 7/8/10. Meanwhile, you can do this work with file history function in Windows 8/10.

Meanwhile, you can also use this technology to restore lost files. In Windows 10, you can choose to use Shadow Explorer. With it, you can first look through your old Shadow Copies and then restore your lost files.

Besides, Shadow Copy can also be used to restore the system. As long as a system point is created, you will have a valid Shadow Copy. When Windows 10 system doesn’t work normally, you can restore Windows 10 to the previous normal state with a system restore point.

You can click to see more information about Shadow Copy.

Shadow Copy is such a useful service, but do you know how to use it? Read the following part carefully. It will show you how to enable/disable Shadow Copy Windows 10 in detail.

Enable Shadow Copy in Windows 10

If you want to turn on Shadow Copy Windows 10, a more accurate way is to use Task Scheduler. With this function, you can choose a specific time you want to create a Shadow Copy. Read this part carefully, it will show you how to enable shadow copy in Windows 10.

Step 1: You need to type task scheduler in the search bar and then click Task Scheduler to enter its interface.

Step 2: Now you should click Create Task… to continue and then you could name this task under General section.

Step 3: You need to click Trigger first and then click New… to create a new trigger. Now you can make settings according to your needs. Click OK to continue.

Step 4: You need to click Actions first and then click New… to specify what action this task will perform.

Step 5: Now you should type vmic under the Program/script: part and then type shadowcopy call create Volume=C:\ at the right side of the Add arguments (optional): part. Click OK to back to the Actions interface and then click OK to finish the settings.

After you complete all steps above, you can successfully turn on Shadow Copy Windows 10.

Disable Shadow Copy in Windows 10 for System Restore

If you don’t want to use Shadow Copy Windows 10, how to disable it? Here is the instruction.

Step 1: Type control panel in the search bar and click Control Panel to enter its interface.

Step 2: Now you can select System with the way View by Small icons.

Step 3: You need to click Advanced system settings to continue.

Step 4: Under the System Properties section, you need to select System Protection.

Step 5: Now you should choose a drive which you have turned on system protection and then click Configure… to continue.

Step 6: You need to click Disable system protection and click Apply.

Step 7: You will receive a warning message. Read it carefully and click Yes to continue. And then click OK to exit this window.

After you finish all steps above, you can disable Shadow Copy in Windows 10.

If you receive a Volume Shadow Copy Service error when you are using it, you may find solutions from this post: Quick Solved Volume Shadow Copy Service Errors (for Windows 10/8/7).

Tip: Volume Shadow Copy enables you to create a snapshot of a computer file or volume, but it can’t replace backup. For example, the shadow copy of the volume is stored in the original volume, and if the volume crashes, the shadow copy will not work. Thus, if you want to keep your system and data safe, you need to create a backup image instead of Shadow Copy.

I want to turn on Shadow Copy in my Windows 10, but I don’t know how to use it. Thankfully, this article shows me the clear steps and I successfully enable Shadow Copy.Click to Tweet

Powerful Backup Software for Windows 10

MiniTool ShadowMaker is a powerful backup software which helps you do this work to protect your system and data.

With MiniTool ShadowMaker, you are allowed to back up files/folders, partitions, disks and OS. The copy of backup enables you to restore data if a disaster occurs. It also allows you to create bootable media. When your computer can’t boot correctly, you can restore your system to the previous state.

Take backing up Windows 10 system as an example. The following part will show you how to perform a backup with MiniTool ShadowMaker.

Step 1: Run MiniTool ShadowMaker to enter its interface first. Now click Connect from the Local section.

Step 2: Choose the Source module to continue. System partitions are selected by default. You can also choose a source type – Disk and Partitions or Folders and Files by clicking the Source tab. Click OK to continue.

Step 3: Click the Destination module to continue and then select the destination path where you want to save your system image. Click OK to continue.

Step 4: Click Back up Now and then click Yes to perform system backup operation immediately.

MiniTool ShadowMaker also offers you multiple backup schemes. Click to see more information: 3 Types of Backup: Full, Incremental, Differential – MiniTool.

Conclusion

To sum up, this article has shown you much information about Shadow Copy Windows 10. It also introduced you how to perform backup to keep your system and data safe with MiniTool ShadowMaker.

If you encounter any question or have any suggestion, feel free to contact us via the email support@minitool.com.

Shadow Copy Windows 10 FAQ

What is a shadow copy Windows 10?

Volume Shadow Copy is a built-in feature in Windows. It can help create snapshots of disk volumes. It is available in Windows 10/8/7. Shadow copies can be created or stored on local disk, external hard drive or network drive. Remember that Shadow Copy requires the NTFS file.

Where are shadow copies stored?

Shadow copies stored are stored locally, at the root of the Windows volume in the System Volume Information folder.

How do I turn off VSS?

Open the services app.
Find the service “Volume Shadow Copy” and double-click to open its properties window.
Under the Service status section, click Stop and click OK.

How do I delete shadow copies?

Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
Type this command: vssadmin delete shadows /for=c: /oldest.

This will wipe the oldest shadow copies on drive C:.

About The Author

Echo

Position: Columnist

Echo is a technology enthusiast, has published many professional technical articles. She previously specialized in backup and recovery of data, files, disk partition, and system. Now she writes mostly about YouTube expertise. As an enthusiastic technical writer, Echo believes that technology makes our life better and she has been trying to make her technical articles easier to understand and help more people. You must benefit a lot from reading her article. On her spare time, she likes listening to songs and hiking.