Hyper-V checkpoint is good for data recovery but too many checkpoints can also bring problems. This post will let you know better about Hyper-V checkpoints and how to delete checkpoints in Hyper-V Manager.
Updated by Nick Zhao on 2025/01/27
In virtualization technology, Hyper-V is a powerful virtualization platform provided by Microsoft, widely used in enterprise virtualized environments. Hyper-V allows users to create virtual machines and configure multiple checkpoints for the virtual machines, providing data protection and disaster recovery.
By using checkpoints, users can save the current state of a virtual machine and restore it to a previous point in time when needed. However, mastering the method of deleting unnecessary checkpoints is also crucial, as will be explained in the next section.
A Hyper-V checkpoint refers to saving the state of a virtual machine at a specific point in time, including the virtual machine’s hard disk, memory, and configuration information. It functions similarly to a snapshot, allowing users to roll back the virtual machine to a specific state whenever necessary, which is useful for system recovery during testing, upgrades, or operational errors. There are two types of Hyper-V checkpoints:
Standard Checkpoint: Saves the virtual machine’s operating system and application states.
Production Checkpoint: More efficient than standard checkpoints, it only saves the contents of the virtual machine's disk and does not save the memory state, making it suitable for production environments.
Although checkpoints provide flexibility in managing virtual machines, accumulating too many checkpoints can consume significant disk space and impact system performance. Therefore, it is essential to regularly delete unnecessary checkpoints.
Also, you can merge the Hyper-V checkpoints to release storage.
The process of deleting a checkpoint in Hyper-V Manager is relatively simple. Below are the detailed steps:
1. Open Hyper-V Manager
First, launch Hyper-V Manager. You can do this by clicking the Start menu and searching for “Hyper-V Manager”
2. Select the Virtual Machine
In Hyper-V Manager, select the virtual machine from which you want to delete checkpoints. Right-click on the virtual machine and choose the Checkpoints to view all the checkpoints created for that virtual machine.
3. Delete Unnecessary Checkpoints
In Checkpoints, find the checkpoint you want to delete. Right-click on the checkpoint and select the Delete Checkpoint. The system will prompt you to confirm the deletion. Click Yes to confirm the operation.
4. Clean Up Storage
After deleting the checkpoint, Hyper-V will automatically merge the related virtual hard disk files and release any unnecessary space. You can check the disk space usage by right-clicking the virtual machine and selecting Inspect Virtual Machine’s Disk Files.
In a virtualized environment, backing up virtual machine data and states is crucial for ensuring business continuity and disaster recovery. Although Hyper-V checkpoints can restore data, they are often not as effective as full backups in many cases.
For environments such as Hyper-V, VMware, Proxmox, XCP-ng, XenServer, oVirt, OLVM, and others, Vinchin offers an efficient and reliable virtual machine backup solution that helps businesses perform comprehensive data protection for virtual machines, preventing data loss due to hardware failure, operational errors, or disaster events.
The method for backing up data is simple, and creating a backup task for a Hyper-V virtual machine requires just 4 steps:
1. Select the Hyper-V VM
2. Select the storage
3. Select the strategies
4. Submit the job
Vinchin is the next-generation backup solution for virtual machines, and you can also try this advanced backup solution with a 60-day full-featured free trial by clicking the button below to get the installation package and license.
1. Are deleted checkpoints recoverable?
No, once a checkpoint is deleted, it cannot be recovered. Make sure you no longer need it before deleting.
2. How can you prevent accumulating too many checkpoints?
Implement regular checkpoint management by setting up backup schedules and deleting old or unnecessary checkpoints after each successful backup or system update.
3. Can I delete checkpoints while the VM is running?
Yes, checkpoints can be deleted while the virtual machine is running, but the deletion may take longer if the VM is active.
Deleting Hyper-V checkpoints is an important step in managing virtual machines in a virtualized environment. By removing unnecessary checkpoints, you not only free up storage space but also improve system performance. Regularly checking and cleaning up checkpoints ensures the efficient operation of the virtualization environment. Hopefully, the steps outlined in this article will help you better manage Hyper-V virtual machine checkpoints.
Share on:
