---
title: How to create an image from a snapshot
description: This page explains how to create an image from a snapshot of a Scaleway Instance.
tags: image backup snapshot instance
dates:
  validation: 2025-11-26
  posted: 2021-08-05
---
import Requirements from '@macros/iam/requirements.mdx'


<Requirements />

- A Scaleway account logged into the [console](https://console.scaleway.com)
- [Owner](/iam/concepts/#owner) status or [IAM permissions](/iam/concepts/#permission) allowing you to perform actions in the intended Organization
- An [Instance](/instances/how-to/create-an-instance/)
- At least one [snapshot](/block-storage/how-to/create-a-snapshot/)

## Creating an image from a snapshot via the Scaleway console

1. Click **CPU & GPU Instances** in the **Compute** section of the side menu. The [Instances page](https://console.scaleway.com/instance/servers) displays.
2. Select the Availability Zone (AZ) from the drop-down menu (e.g., `PAR1`) to view resources in the selected AZ.
3. Click the **Images** tab. A list of your images displays.
4. Click **+ Create image**. The image creation page displays.
5. Choose the **Availability Zone** in which you want your image to be created.
6. Enter a **name** for your image and select the image architecture.
    <Message type="note">
      Your image's name can only contain alphanumeric characters and dashes.
    </Message>
7. Select the snapshot from which you want to create your image in the drop-down box.
8. Click **Create image** to create your image.

<Message type="tip">
  You can also create an image from the **Snapshots** dashboard by clicking <Icon name="more"/> next to the snapshot from which you want to create an image. Click **Image from snapshot**. A new tab opens: enter a name for your image. Then click **Create image from snapshot**.
</Message>

## Creating an image via the Scaleway CLI

You can also create an image using the [Scaleway CLI](/scaleway-cli/quickstart/). Use the following command:

```bash
scw instance image create snapshot-id="$SCW_VOLUME_ID_1" additional-volumes.0.id="$SCW_VOLUME_ID_2" arch="x86_64"
```

- Replace `$SCW_VOLUME_ID_1` with the ID of the snapshot or volume you want to use as the root volume.
- Replace `$SCW_VOLUME_ID_2` with the ID of any additional volume to be included.
- Ensure the architecture (`arch`) is set to a valid value (e.g., `x86_64`).

<Message type="note">
  Supported arguments for the image create command include:
  ```
  ARGS:
    [name=<generated>]                         Name of the image
    snapshot-id                                UUID of the snapshot that will be used as root volume in the image
    arch                                       Architecture of the image (unknown_arch | x86_64 | arm | arm64)
    [additional-volumes.{index}.id]            UUID of the snapshot to add
    [additional-volumes.{index}.name]          Name of the additional snapshot
    [additional-volumes.{index}.size]          Size of the additional snapshot
    [additional-volumes.{index}.volume-type]   Underlying volume type of the additional snapshot (l_ssd | unified | scratch | sbs_volume | sbs_snapshot)
    [additional-volumes.{index}.project-id]    Project ID that own the additional snapshot
    [project-id]                               Project ID to use. If none is passed the default project ID will be used
    [tags.{index}]                             Tags of the image
    [public]                                   True to create a public image
    [organization-id]                          Organization ID to use. If none is passed the default organization ID will be used
    [zone=fr-par-1]                            Zone to target. If none is passed will use default zone from the config (fr-par-1 | fr-par-2 | fr-par-3 | nl-ams-1 | nl-ams-2 | nl-ams-3 | pl-waw-1 | pl-waw-2 | pl-waw-3)
  ```
</Message>

## Creating an image via the Scaleway API

You can also create an image using the [Scaleway API](https://www.scaleway.com/en/developers/api/instances/#path-images-create-an-instance-image). Use the following `curl` command:

```bash
curl --location "https://api.scaleway.com/instance/v1/zones/$SCW_AVAILABILITY_ZONE/images" \
--header "Content-Type: application/json" \
--header "X-Auth-Token: $SCW_SECRET_KEY" \
--data '{
    "root_volume": "'$SCW_VOLUME_ID_1'",
    "arch": "x86_64",
    "name": "image_name",
    "extra_volumes": {
        "1": {"id":"'$SCW_VOLUME_ID_2'"}
    },
    "project": "'$SCW_PROJECT_ID'"
}'
```

- Replace `$SCW_VOLUME_ID_1` with the ID of the snapshot or volume to use as the root volume.
- Replace `$SCW_VOLUME_ID_2` with the ID of any additional volume.
- Use `$SCW_PROJECT_ID` for the ID of your project.
- Ensure the architecture (`arch`) is set to a valid value (e.g., `x86_64`).

<Message type="tip">
  Supported volume IDs include:
  - Local Storage volumes (`l_ssd`)
  - Block Storage Low Latency volumes (`sbs_volume`)
</Message>