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# Checkpoints

The Checkpoints window displays and manages all checkpoints associated with a selected virtual machine in VirtualProg.

> 📸 Screenshot:

Checkpoints let you capture the current state of a virtual machine instantly — without copying the entire disk. Only the changes since the last checkpoint are stored, making them fast to create and storage-efficient. They are ideal for iterative workflows where you want to save progress frequently and roll back quickly.

> ⚠️ Checkpoints require macOS 27 Golden Gate or later. External bookmarked disks are not covered and continue writing directly to their base image.

## Access

You can open the Checkpoints window by right-clicking a VM in the Control Center and selecting Checkpoints, or by clicking the Checkpoints icon in the Virtual Machine toolbar (when the VM is stopped).

## Checkpoints vs Snapshots

| Checkpoints | Snapshots
--- | --- | ---
Creation speed | Instant — no disk copy | Full disk copy (slower)
Storage | Delta writes only | Full disk image
Structure | Sequential chain | Independent copies
Restore | Rolls back in chain order | Restore any, any order
OS requirement | macOS 27+ | Any
Disk requirement | Any internal disk (Dynamic or Fixed) | Any

Use Checkpoints for fast, frequent save-points during active development. Use Snapshots for long-term backups or when you need independent, portable copies of VM state.

## 🔝 Top Toolbar

From left to right:

1. ★ Favorites
   Mark or unmark the selected checkpoint as a favorite.

2. 🏷 Tag Colors
   Assign or remove a color tag to visually organize checkpoints.

3. ℹ️ Quick Info
   View a summary of the VM configuration in a popover.

4. ✏️ Edit
   Edit the selected checkpoint's name and notes.

5. ↺ Restore
   Restore the VM to the selected checkpoint's state. Disabled for the Current (topmost) checkpoint — it already represents the live state.

6. 🗑 Delete
   Delete the most recent checkpoint. Only the topmost checkpoint can be deleted to preserve chain integrity.

7. 📸 Take Snapshot
   Take a full-copy snapshot of the current VM state for long-term preservation.

8. ➕ Create Checkpoint
   Capture the current VM state as a new checkpoint. The VM must be stopped.

9. ❓ Help
   Checkpoints Help

## 🖱️ Right-Click Context Menu

- Edit: Rename the checkpoint or update notes.
- Delete: Delete the selected checkpoint. Only available for the topmost checkpoint.
- Restore: Revert the virtual machine to this checkpoint's state. Disabled for the topmost checkpoint.
- Take Snapshot: Take a full-copy snapshot of the current VM state.
- Show Overlay in Finder: Reveal the checkpoint's overlay file in Finder.
- Tag Colors: Apply or remove a color tag.

## Checkpoint List Items

Each checkpoint entry displays its name and the date it was created.

- The topmost checkpoint is badged Current — it represents the live state of the VM and cannot be restored to (it already is the current state) or deleted unless it is the most recent.
- On the right side of each item, there is a Restore button ↺. Clicking this reverts the VM to that checkpoint's state. It is disabled for the Current checkpoint.
- Enable Extra Details (bottom toolbar) to show the overlay file size for each checkpoint.

## ⬇️ Bottom Toolbar

From left to right:

1. 📄 All – Show all checkpoints
2. ⭐ Favorites – Show only favorites
3. 🎨 Tag Color Filter – Filter by tag color
4. 📃 List View – Display in a vertical list
5. 🧩 Grid View – Display in a grid layout
6. 🔍 Search – Show or hide the search bar
7. 📦 Extras – Show or hide overlay file sizes
8. ↑↓ Sort – Sort by oldest first or newest first

> 💡 Checkpoints are ideal for saving progress at each step of a complex installation, configuration change, or software build — letting you roll back in seconds without losing the whole VM state.