---
title: Creating a snapshot
description: Snapshots provide a convenient way to export policy and Trust Framework data into a separate Policy Editor instance. You can create a full or partial snapshot.
component: pingauthorize
version: 11.0
page_id: pingauthorize:pingauthorize_policy_administration_guide:paz_generate_snapshots
canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingauthorize/11.0/pingauthorize_policy_administration_guide/paz_generate_snapshots.html
revdate: June 17, 2025
section_ids:
  creating-a-full-snapshot: Creating a full snapshot
  steps: Steps
  result: Result:
  creating-a-partial-snapshot: Creating a partial snapshot
  steps-2: Steps
---

# Creating a snapshot

Snapshots provide a convenient way to export policy and Trust Framework data into a separate Policy Editor instance. You can create a full or partial snapshot.

Learn more about creating branches by loading exported snapshots in [Importing a snapshot](paz_create_branch.html#importing_snapshot_as_branch).

## Creating a full snapshot

A full snapshot contains all the Trust Framework and policy data from a branch commit or the branch's **Uncommitted Changes** head.

### Steps

1. Go to **Branch Manager > Version Control**.

2. Select a branch.

3. In the **Options** column, click the hamburger menu for the commit you want to export, and select **Export Snapshot**.

   ![Screen capture of the Commits table with the Export snapshot highlighted for a specific commit.](_images/paz-export-snapshot.png)

4. Specify a name for the snapshot.

5. Click **Export**.

   ### Result:

   A snapshot file is downloaded to your computer.

## Creating a partial snapshot

Create and export a partial snapshot of selected entities from the Trust Framework, policy sets, and the Library.

### Steps

1. Click **Branch Manager**.

2. Click **Export Partial Snapshot**.

3. In the **Available entities** list, select an entity to include in the snapshot.

   ![Screen capture of the Available entites list on the Export Partial Snapshot tab.](_images/paz-select-entities-snapshot.png)

4. Click **Add selection to Snapshot**.

   This step adds the entity to the **Selected entities** list. The exported snapshot automatically includes dependencies for each selected entity.

5. Select the **Include Children** checkbox for an entity to include that entity's children in the partial snapshot.

6. Click **Export**.