How to Apply a Hyper-V Checkpoint in Windows 10

Hyper-V checkpoints let you return a virtual machine to an earlier state. They are useful before software changes, updates, or testing, but they are not a replacement for a proper backup strategy.

Windows 10 support note: Windows 10 reached end of normal support on October 14, 2025. Microsoft still documents the same checkpoint workflow for Hyper-V on Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Apply an existing checkpoint

1. Open Hyper-V Manager.
2. Under Virtual Machines, select the VM.
3. In the Checkpoints section, find the checkpoint you want to use.
4. Right-click that checkpoint and select Apply.
5. Choose one of the available actions:
   • Create Checkpoint and Apply — saves the VM’s current state as a new checkpoint before applying the older one.
   • Apply — applies the selected checkpoint without first saving the current state.
   • Cancel — makes no change.

After a production checkpoint is applied, the VM may be in an off state and need to be started again.

PowerShell option

To list checkpoints:

Get-VMCheckpoint -VMName "VMName"

To apply one:

Restore-VMCheckpoint -Name "Checkpoint Name" -VMName "VMName" -Confirm:$false

Be certain you selected the intended checkpoint before restoring, because applying it changes the VM’s state.

Official reference

Microsoft Learn: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/virtualization/hyper-v/checkpoints