---
title: "Create VM backup (top-level)"
method: POST
path: "/virtual_machine_backups"
tags: ["Virtual machine backups"]
---

# Create VM backup (top-level)

`POST /virtual_machine_backups`

Triggers a backup of the Virtual Machine referenced in the body.

## Request body

- VirtualMachineBackupPayload
  - `data` object
    - `type` 'virtual_machine_backups'
    - `attributes` object
      - `virtual_machine` string, required — Virtual machine id to back up. Required on the top-level `POST /virtual_machine_backups`; taken from the path when nested under a VM.

## Response `201`

Created

## Other responses

- `403` — Forbidden
- `404` — Not Found

## Changes

- **2026-08-20** `437c7a97e596` — 1 warning, 1 info
  - removed the optional property `data/attributes/team/limits/prefix` from the response with the `201` status
  - added the optional property `data/attributes/team/limits/public_network` to the response with the `201` status
- **2026-08-05** `ae7dcb22727c` — 1 info
  - added the optional property `data/attributes/team/limits/prefix` to the response with the `201` status
- **2026-08-04** `018cb742936f` — 2 breaking
  - the request property `data/attributes/virtual_machine` became required (media type: application/json)
  - the request property `data/attributes/virtual_machine` became required (media type: application/vnd.api+json)
- **2026-07-21** `885dec47dd47` — 3 info
  - added the optional property `data/attributes/project/stats/databases` to the response with the `201` status
  - added the optional property `data/attributes/project/stats/storages` to the response with the `201` status
  - added the optional property `data/attributes/project/stats/virtual_machines` to the response with the `201` status

[Change history](https://skmtc.dev/latitude/apis/latitude-sh-api/changes/virtual_machine_backups/post.md)

---

[API](https://skmtc.dev/latitude/apis/latitude-sh-api.md) · [All operations](https://skmtc.dev/latitude/apis/latitude-sh-api/llms.txt) · [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc-service-production.skmtc.workers.dev/v1/apis/latitude/latitude-sh-api/revisions/437c7a97e596/schema)