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Restore table snapshots
This document describes how to create a writeable table from a
table snapshot by using the Google Cloud console, a CREATE TABLE CLONE query, a
bq cp command, or the jobs.insert API.
It is intended for users who are familiar with
table snapshots.
To create a writeable table from a snapshot, specify the table snapshot that you
want to copy and the destination table. The destination table can be a new
table, or you can overwrite an existing table with the table snapshot.
Restore to a new table
You can restore a table snapshot into a new table by using one of the following options:
Console
In the Google Cloud console, go to the BigQuery page.
SNAPSHOT_PROJECT_ID: the project ID of the
project that contains the snapshot you are restoring from.
SNAPSHOT_DATASET_NAME: the name of the dataset
that contains the snapshot you are restoring from.
SNAPSHOT_NAME: the name of the snapshot
you are restoring from.
TABLE_PROJECT_ID: the project ID of the
project in which to create the new table.
TABLE_DATASET_NAME: the name of the dataset
in which to create the new table.
NEW_TABLE_NAME: the name of the new table.
If an expiration is not specified, then the destination table expires after the
default table expiration time for the dataset that contains the destination
table.
Overwrite an existing table
You can overwrite an existing table with a table snapshot by using one of the
following options:
Console
In the Google Cloud console, go to the BigQuery page.
SNAPSHOT_PROJECT_ID: the project ID of the
project that contains the snapshot you are restoring from.
SNAPSHOT_DATASET_NAME: the name of the dataset
that contains the snapshot you are restoring from.
SNAPSHOT_NAME: the name of the snapshot
you are restoring from.
TABLE_PROJECT_ID: the project ID of the
project in which to create the new table.
TABLE_DATASET_NAME: the name of the dataset
that contains the table you are overwriting.
TABLE_NAME: the name of the table you
are overwriting.
If an expiration is not specified, then the destination table expires after the
default table expiration time for the dataset that contains the destination
table.
[[["Easy to understand","easyToUnderstand","thumb-up"],["Solved my problem","solvedMyProblem","thumb-up"],["Other","otherUp","thumb-up"]],[["Hard to understand","hardToUnderstand","thumb-down"],["Incorrect information or sample code","incorrectInformationOrSampleCode","thumb-down"],["Missing the information/samples I need","missingTheInformationSamplesINeed","thumb-down"],["Other","otherDown","thumb-down"]],["Last updated 2025-08-25 UTC."],[[["\u003cp\u003eThis document details the process of creating a writeable table from a table snapshot in Google Cloud, providing guidance for users familiar with table snapshots.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eCreating a writeable table from a snapshot requires specific IAM permissions such as \u003ccode\u003ebigquery.tables.get\u003c/code\u003e, \u003ccode\u003ebigquery.tables.getData\u003c/code\u003e, \u003ccode\u003ebigquery.tables.restoreSnapshot\u003c/code\u003e, and \u003ccode\u003ebigquery.tables.create\u003c/code\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eYou can restore a table snapshot to either a new table or overwrite an existing one using the Google Cloud console, SQL's \u003ccode\u003eCREATE TABLE CLONE\u003c/code\u003e statement, \u003ccode\u003ebq cp\u003c/code\u003e command, or the \u003ccode\u003ejobs.insert\u003c/code\u003e API.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eTo overwrite an existing table, ensure you use \u003ccode\u003eCREATE OR REPLACE TABLE\u003c/code\u003e in SQL or include the \u003ccode\u003e--force\u003c/code\u003e flag in the \u003ccode\u003ebq cp\u003c/code\u003e command, or use \u003ccode\u003e"writeDisposition": "WRITE_TRUNCATE"\u003c/code\u003e in the API call.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eThe user needs the appropriate predefined roles in order to copy the table snapshot, such as \u003ccode\u003ebigquery.dataEditor\u003c/code\u003e, \u003ccode\u003ebigquery.dataOwner\u003c/code\u003e, or \u003ccode\u003ebigquery.admin\u003c/code\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n"]]],[],null,["# Restore table snapshots\n=======================\n\nThis document describes how to create a writeable table from a\ntable snapshot by using the Google Cloud console, a `CREATE TABLE CLONE` query, a\n`bq cp` command, or the `jobs.insert` API.\nIt is intended for users who are familiar with\n[table snapshots](/bigquery/docs/table-snapshots-intro).\n\nPermissions and roles\n---------------------\n\nThis section describes the\n[Identity and Access Management (IAM) permissions](/bigquery/docs/access-control#bq-permissions)\nthat you need to create a writeable table from a table snapshot, and the\n[predefined IAM roles](/bigquery/docs/access-control#bigquery)\nthat grant those permissions.\n\n### Permissions\n\nTo create a writeable table from a table snapshot, you need the following\npermissions:\n\n### Roles\n\nThe predefined BigQuery roles that provide the required\npermissions are as follows:\n\nRestore a table snapshot\n------------------------\n\nTo create a writeable table from a snapshot, specify the table snapshot that you\nwant to copy and the destination table. The destination table can be a new\ntable, or you can overwrite an existing table with the table snapshot.\n\n### Restore to a new table\n\nYou can restore a table snapshot into a new table by using one of the following options: \n\n### Console\n\n1. In the Google Cloud console, go to the **BigQuery** page.\n\n [Go to BigQuery](https://console.cloud.google.com/bigquery)\n2. In the **Explorer** pane, expand the project and dataset nodes of the\n table snapshot you want to restore from.\n\n3. Click the name of the table snapshot.\n\n4. In the table snapshot pane that appears, click **Restore**.\n\n5. In the **Restore snapshot** pane that appears, enter the **Project** ,\n **Dataset** , and **Table** information for the new table.\n\n6. Click **Save**.\n\n### SQL\n\nUse the\n[`CREATE TABLE CLONE` DDL statement](/bigquery/docs/reference/standard-sql/data-definition-language#create_table_clone_statement):\n\n\u003cbr /\u003e\n\n\u003cbr /\u003e\n\n1. In the Google Cloud console, go to the **BigQuery** page.\n\n [Go to BigQuery](https://console.cloud.google.com/bigquery)\n2. In the query editor, enter the following statement:\n\n ```googlesql\n CREATE TABLE TABLE_PROJECT_ID.TABLE_DATASET_NAME.NEW_TABLE_NAME\n CLONE SNAPSHOT_PROJECT_ID.SNAPSHOT_DATASET_NAME.SNAPSHOT_NAME;\n ```\n\n\n Replace the following:\n - \u003cvar translate=\"no\"\u003eTABLE_PROJECT_ID\u003c/var\u003e: the project ID of the project in which to create the new table.\n - \u003cvar translate=\"no\"\u003eTABLE_DATASET_NAME\u003c/var\u003e: the name of the dataset in which to create the new table.\n - \u003cvar translate=\"no\"\u003eNEW_TABLE_NAME\u003c/var\u003e: the name of the new table.\n - \u003cvar translate=\"no\"\u003eSNAPSHOT_PROJECT_ID\u003c/var\u003e: the project ID of the project that contains the snapshot you are restoring from.\n - \u003cvar translate=\"no\"\u003eSNAPSHOT_DATASET_NAME\u003c/var\u003e: the name of the dataset that contains the snapshot you are restoring from.\n - \u003cvar translate=\"no\"\u003eSNAPSHOT_NAME\u003c/var\u003e: the name of the snapshot you are restoring from.\n\n \u003cbr /\u003e\n\n3. Click play_circle **Run**.\n\n \u003cbr /\u003e\n\nFor more information about how to run queries, see [Run an interactive query](/bigquery/docs/running-queries#queries).\n\n### bq\n\nEnter the following command in the Cloud Shell:\n\n[Go to Cloud Shell](https://console.cloud.google.com/bigquery?cloudshell=true) \n\n```bash\nbq cp \\\n--restore \\\n--no_clobber \\\nSNAPSHOT_PROJECT_ID:SNAPSHOT_DATASET_NAME.SNAPSHOT_NAME \\\nTABLE_PROJECT_ID:TABLE_DATASET_NAME.NEW_TABLE_NAME\n```\n\nReplace the following:\n\n- \u003cvar translate=\"no\"\u003eSNAPSHOT_PROJECT_ID\u003c/var\u003e: the project ID of the project that contains the snapshot you are restoring from.\n- \u003cvar translate=\"no\"\u003eSNAPSHOT_DATASET_NAME\u003c/var\u003e: the name of the dataset that contains the snapshot you are restoring from.\n- \u003cvar translate=\"no\"\u003eSNAPSHOT_NAME\u003c/var\u003e: the name of the snapshot you are restoring from.\n- \u003cvar translate=\"no\"\u003eTABLE_PROJECT_ID\u003c/var\u003e: the project ID of the project in which to create the new table.\n- \u003cvar translate=\"no\"\u003eTABLE_DATASET_NAME\u003c/var\u003e: the name of the dataset in which to create the new table.\n- \u003cvar translate=\"no\"\u003eNEW_TABLE_NAME\u003c/var\u003e: the name of the new table.\n\n\u003cbr /\u003e\n\nThe `--no_clobber` flag instructs the command to fail if the destination table\nalready exists.\n\n### API\n\nCall the\n[`jobs.insert`](/bigquery/docs/reference/rest/v2/jobs/insert)\nmethod with the following parameters:\n\nReplace the following:\n\n- \u003cvar translate=\"no\"\u003eSNAPSHOT_PROJECT_ID\u003c/var\u003e: the project ID of the project that contains the snapshot you are restoring from.\n- \u003cvar translate=\"no\"\u003eSNAPSHOT_DATASET_NAME\u003c/var\u003e: the name of the dataset that contains the snapshot you are restoring from.\n- \u003cvar translate=\"no\"\u003eSNAPSHOT_NAME\u003c/var\u003e: the name of the snapshot you are restoring from.\n- \u003cvar translate=\"no\"\u003eTABLE_PROJECT_ID\u003c/var\u003e: the project ID of the project in which to create the new table.\n- \u003cvar translate=\"no\"\u003eTABLE_DATASET_NAME\u003c/var\u003e: the name of the dataset in which to create the new table.\n- \u003cvar translate=\"no\"\u003eNEW_TABLE_NAME\u003c/var\u003e: the name of the new table.\n\n\u003cbr /\u003e\n\nIf an expiration is not specified, then the destination table expires after the\ndefault table expiration time for the dataset that contains the destination\ntable.\n\n### Overwrite an existing table\n\nYou can overwrite an existing table with a table snapshot by using one of the\nfollowing options: \n\n### Console\n\n1. In the Google Cloud console, go to the **BigQuery** page.\n\n [Go to BigQuery](https://console.cloud.google.com/bigquery)\n2. In the **Explorer** pane, expand the project and dataset nodes of the\n table snapshot you want to restore from.\n\n3. Click the name of the table snapshot.\n\n4. In the table snapshot pane that appears, click **Restore**.\n\n5. In the **Restore snapshot** pane that appears, enter the **Project** ,\n **Dataset** , and **Table** information for the existing table.\n\n6. Select **Overwrite table if it exists**.\n\n7. Click **Save**.\n\n### SQL\n\nUse the\n[`CREATE TABLE CLONE` DDL statement](/bigquery/docs/reference/standard-sql/data-definition-language#create_table_clone_statement):\n\n\u003cbr /\u003e\n\n\u003cbr /\u003e\n\n1. In the Google Cloud console, go to the **BigQuery** page.\n\n [Go to BigQuery](https://console.cloud.google.com/bigquery)\n2. In the query editor, enter the following statement:\n\n ```googlesql\n CREATE OR REPLACE TABLE TABLE_PROJECT_ID.TABLE_DATASET_NAME.TABLE_NAME\n CLONE SNAPSHOT_PROJECT_ID.SNAPSHOT_DATASET_NAME.SNAPSHOT_NAME;\n ```\n\n\n Replace the following:\n - \u003cvar translate=\"no\"\u003eTABLE_PROJECT_ID\u003c/var\u003e: the project ID of the project in which to create the new table.\n - \u003cvar translate=\"no\"\u003eTABLE_DATASET_NAME\u003c/var\u003e: the name of the dataset that contains the table you are overwriting.\n - \u003cvar translate=\"no\"\u003eTABLE_NAME\u003c/var\u003e: the name of the table you are overwriting.\n - \u003cvar translate=\"no\"\u003eSNAPSHOT_PROJECT_ID\u003c/var\u003e: the project ID of the project that contains the snapshot you are restoring from.\n - \u003cvar translate=\"no\"\u003eSNAPSHOT_DATASET_NAME\u003c/var\u003e: the name of the dataset that contains the snapshot you are restoring from.\n - \u003cvar translate=\"no\"\u003eSNAPSHOT_NAME\u003c/var\u003e: the name of the snapshot you are restoring from.\n\n \u003cbr /\u003e\n\n3. Click play_circle **Run**.\n\n \u003cbr /\u003e\n\nFor more information about how to run queries, see [Run an interactive query](/bigquery/docs/running-queries#queries).\n\n### bq\n\nEnter the following command in the Cloud Shell:\n\n[Go to Cloud Shell](https://console.cloud.google.com/bigquery?cloudshell=true) \n\n```bash\nbq cp \\\n--restore \\\n--force \\\nSNAPSHOT_PROJECT_ID:SNAPSHOT_DATASET_NAME.SNAPSHOT_NAME \\\nTABLE_PROJECT_ID:TABLE_DATASET_NAME.TABLE_NAME\n```\n\nReplace the following:\n\n- \u003cvar translate=\"no\"\u003eSNAPSHOT_PROJECT_ID\u003c/var\u003e: the project ID of the project that contains the snapshot you are restoring from.\n- \u003cvar translate=\"no\"\u003eSNAPSHOT_DATASET_NAME\u003c/var\u003e: the name of the dataset that contains the snapshot you are restoring from.\n- \u003cvar translate=\"no\"\u003eSNAPSHOT_NAME\u003c/var\u003e: the name of the snapshot you are restoring from.\n- \u003cvar translate=\"no\"\u003eTABLE_PROJECT_ID\u003c/var\u003e: the project ID of the project in which to create the new table.\n- \u003cvar translate=\"no\"\u003eTABLE_DATASET_NAME\u003c/var\u003e: the name of the dataset that contains the table you are overwriting.\n- \u003cvar translate=\"no\"\u003eTABLE_NAME\u003c/var\u003e: the name of the table you are overwriting.\n\n\u003cbr /\u003e\n\n### API\n\nCall the\n[`jobs.insert`](/bigquery/docs/reference/rest/v2/jobs/insert)\nmethod with the following parameters:\n\nReplace the following:\n\n- \u003cvar translate=\"no\"\u003eSNAPSHOT_PROJECT_ID\u003c/var\u003e: the project ID of the project that contains the snapshot you are restoring from.\n- \u003cvar translate=\"no\"\u003eSNAPSHOT_DATASET_NAME\u003c/var\u003e: the name of the dataset that contains the snapshot you are restoring from.\n- \u003cvar translate=\"no\"\u003eSNAPSHOT_NAME\u003c/var\u003e: the name of the snapshot you are restoring from.\n- \u003cvar translate=\"no\"\u003eTABLE_PROJECT_ID\u003c/var\u003e: the project ID of the project in which to create the new table.\n- \u003cvar translate=\"no\"\u003eTABLE_DATASET_NAME\u003c/var\u003e: the name of the dataset that contains the table you are overwriting.\n- \u003cvar translate=\"no\"\u003eTABLE_NAME\u003c/var\u003e: the name of the table you are overwriting.\n\n\u003cbr /\u003e\n\nIf an expiration is not specified, then the destination table expires after the\ndefault table expiration time for the dataset that contains the destination\ntable.\n\nWhat's next\n-----------\n\n- [List the table snapshots of a specified base table](/bigquery/docs/table-snapshots-list#list_the_table_snapshots_of_a_specified_base_table)."]]