---
title: "View a Database Snapshot (SQL Server) | Microsoft Docs"
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ms.date: "03/14/2017"
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---
# View a Database Snapshot (SQL Server)
  This topic explains how to view a [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] database snapshot using [!INCLUDE[ssManStudioFull](../../includes/ssmanstudiofull-md.md)].  
  
> [!NOTE]  
>  To create, revert to, or delete a database snapshot, you must use [!INCLUDE[tsql](../../includes/tsql-md.md)].  
  
 **In This Topic**  
  
-   **To view a database snapshot, using:**  
  
     [SQL Server Management Studio](#SSMSProcedure)  
  
     [Transact-SQL](#TsqlProcedure)  
  
##  <a name="SSMSProcedure"></a> Using SQL Server Management Studio  
 **To view a database snapshot**  
  
1.  In Object Explorer, connect to the instance of the [!INCLUDE[ssDEnoversion](../../includes/ssdenoversion-md.md)] and then expand that instance.  
  
2.  Expand **Databases.**  
  
3.  Expand **Database Snapshots**, and select the snapshot you want to view.  
  
##  <a name="TsqlProcedure"></a> Using Transact-SQL  
 **To view a database snapshot**  
  
1.  Connect to the [!INCLUDE[ssDE](../../includes/ssde-md.md)].  
  
2.  From the Standard bar, click **New Query**.  
  
3.  To list the database snapshots of the instance of [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)], query the **source_database_id** column of the [sys.databases](../../relational-databases/system-catalog-views/sys-databases-transact-sql.md) catalog view for non-NULL values.  
  
##  <a name="RelatedTasks"></a> Related Tasks  
  
-   [Create a Database Snapshot &#40;Transact-SQL&#41;](../../relational-databases/databases/create-a-database-snapshot-transact-sql.md)  
  
-   [Revert a Database to a Database Snapshot](../../relational-databases/databases/revert-a-database-to-a-database-snapshot.md)  
  
-   [Drop a Database Snapshot &#40;Transact-SQL&#41;](../../relational-databases/databases/drop-a-database-snapshot-transact-sql.md)  
  
## See Also  
 [Database Snapshots &#40;SQL Server&#41;](../../relational-databases/databases/database-snapshots-sql-server.md)