Use snapshots in the History panel

Last updated on Oct 28, 2025

Learn how to preserve different states of your image in Adobe Photoshop using snapshots in the History panel.

Snapshots in Photoshop let you save temporary copies of your image at different editing stages. They remain accessible in the History panel throughout your session till you close the document. With snapshots, you can easily compare versions, revert to a specific state, or experiment with edits without increasing file size or creating extra files.

Create new snapshots

Select Window > History.

Select Create New Snapshot from the History panel.

In the New Snapshot dialog box, enter a descriptive name for your snapshot.

Choose the snapshot contents from the From dropdown menu:

  • Full Document: Captures all layers in the image.
  • Merged Layers: Merges all layers in the image.
  • Current Layer: Captures only the currently selected layer.
Note

Selecting a snapshot and changing the image deletes all the states currently listed in the History panel, unless you have selected Allow Non-Linear History option.

Select OK to create the snapshot.

Note

If you have turned on Automatically Create New Snapshot When Saving from History Options, a snapshot is created when you save the file.

Snapshot actions

You can perform the following snapshot actions in the History panel:

  • Apply: Select a snapshot to switch to that state of your image.
  • Rename: Double-click the snapshot and enter a new one.
  • Delete: Select a snapshot and then select Delete current state . Confirm to delete.
  • Create file: Select Create a new document from current state to generate a new file. 
The History panel in Photoshop showing a list of snapshots, highlighting the icon to create a new snapshot.
Use the History panel to apply, rename, delete, or create a new document from snapshots.