How to enable Shadow Copies in Windows Server 2019/2016

Step 1: Open the File and Storage Services
- Log in to your Windows Server 2019/2016 as an administrator.
- Open Server Manager.
- In the left-hand pane, go to File and Storage Services > Volumes.
Step 2: Access Volume Properties
- Locate the volume where you want to enable Shadow Copies (e.g.,
C:\
orD:\
). - Right-click the volume and select Configure Shadow Copies from the context menu.
Step 3: Enable Shadow Copies
- In the Shadow Copies window, select the volume from the list.
- Click the Enable button.
- You will see a prompt asking to confirm enabling Shadow Copies. Click Yes.
Step 4: Configure Shadow Copy Settings
- After enabling, click Settings to adjust the configuration:
- Storage Area Location: Select where the shadow copies will be stored (default is on the same volume).
- Maximum Size: Set the limit for shadow copy storage. Use No Limit if the volume has sufficient space, or specify a limit if space is a concern.
- Schedule: Configure the schedule for when Shadow Copies will automatically be created.
- Once you've configured the settings, click OK to save them.
Step 5: Test Shadow Copies
- Create a test file or folder on the configured volume.
- Wait for a scheduled shadow copy or manually create one by clicking Create Now in the Shadow Copies window.
- Right-click the test file or folder and select Restore Previous Versions to verify that Shadow Copies are functioning properly.
Notes:
- Ensure you have enough disk space for shadow copies. By default, 10% of the volume's free space is allocated.
- Shadow Copies work best for data volumes. Enabling Shadow Copies on system drives (e.g.,
C:\
) may impact performance. - Use Shadow Copies for quick restores but always maintain a proper backup strategy for disaster recovery.