Is there an error in insufficient VSS storage space when Windows backup and restore? MiniTool provides you with solutions! This article will guide you how to add shadow copy storage space on Windows 10/11 systems to resolve backup failures.

Insufficient storage space for shadow copying

Volume Shadow Copy is a built-in technology for Microsoft Windows that allows you to create backups or snapshots of computer volumes or files. Sometimes, you may not be able to create a backup due to insufficient VSS storage space and the following prompt appears:

Detailed error: Error - Error occurred in the shadow copy service operation: There is insufficient available storage space when creating shadow copy storage files or other shadow copy data. VSS_E_INSUFFICIENT_STORAGE

Causes of this problem include:

• The maximum size defined by VSS is less than the size required to complete a backup or snapshot.
• The storage space of relevant partitions, including system reserved partitions, is insufficient.
• Assign a drive letter to the MSR or OEM partition.

How to fix insufficient VSS storage space on Windows 10/11?

Method 1: Delete the old shadow copy

If there is insufficient storage space on the relevant partition, you can delete the old shadow copy to make more space. The operation steps are as follows:

Step 1. Type cmd in the search bar, locate the command prompt , and select Run as administrator .

Step 2. In the command window, type vssadmin list shadowstorage and press Enter to display the shadow storage space.

Step 3. Run vssadmin delete shadows /for=c: /all to delete all shadow copies on a specific volume.

Run vssadmin delete shadows /shadow=[Shadow ID] to delete a specific shadow copy on any volume.

Alternatively, run vssadmin delete shadows /for=c: /oldest to delete the oldest shadow copy on a specific volume.

Step 4. After completing this process, close the command prompt to see if the problem of insufficient VSS storage space still exists.

Method 2: Allocate more storage space

If the disk space of the relevant partition is sufficient, but the maximum definition of the VSS volume size is limited, you can use some command lines to allocate more storage space. The operation steps are as follows:

Step 1. Run the command prompt with administrator privileges.

Step 2. Type vssadmin list shadowstorage and press Enter to list your shadow storage space.

Step 3. In the command window, type the following command to increase the storage space to 20 GB and press Enter . Remember to replace 20GB with the amount of storage you want to allocate.

vssadmin resize shadowstorage /For=C: /On=C: /MaxSize=20GB

Method 3: Delete the drive letter of the MSR or OEM partition

If the OEM or MSR partition has a drive letter, deleting the drive letter for that partition is another way to solve insufficient disk space.

Step 1. Right-click the Start menu and select Disk Management from the shortcut menu.

Step 2. Right-click on a specific partition and select Change drive letter and path .

Step 3. Click Delete to confirm the operation and wait for the process to complete.

Suggestions: Use MiniTool ShadowMaker to back up important data

In addition to the backup utility built in Windows, it is wise to use PC backup software like MiniTool ShadowMaker. This free software is designed to back up a variety of projects, including files, folders, systems, partitions, and disks. Backup or restore your data in just a few clicks. Now let's see how to create a backup using this tool:

Step 1. Launch MiniTool ShadowMaker to enter its main interface.

Step 2. On the Backup page, you can select the backup source and destination.

Step 3. After that, click Backup now to start the process. To configure more backup settings, such as backup plan or backup plan, click the options in the lower right corner.

Conclusion

If the space is not enough to create a VSS snapshot or backup, the above 3 solutions may help you increase your storage space. At the same time, we also recommend a free backup tool called MiniTool ShadowMaker for you. It's super easy to use even for those who aren't good at computers. If you are interested in this, give it a try.

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