---
title: Free tool for diagnosing and repairing volume shadow copy service issues
description: Acronis VSS Doctor helps you quickly identify and efficiently fix the most common Volume Shadow Copy Service issues for free.
canonical_url: https://www.acronis.com/en/products/vss-doctor/
locale: en
last_updated: 2026-10-11
---

# Free tool for diagnosing and repairing volume shadow copy service issues

[Download](https://www.acronis.com/en/products/vss-doctor/?utm_webteam=product-header#download)

Looking for help?

## Frequently asked questions

### Is there any functional difference between .NET 3.5 and .NET 4.5 versions?

No, both versions are identical. The different versions of .NET Framework were simply built in order to avoid the additional installation of a specific version.

### Why does the list of errors in the Event Log section change from run to run?

The list of errors in the Event Log section is a subset of Windows Event Log items, which only contain errors and warnings that have been logged during last 24 hours. Older items are removed as time passes and fresh items replace them.

## What is VSS?

[Volume Shadow Copy Service](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_Copy) (aka VSS, Shadow Copy, or Volume Snapshot Service) is a built-in Windows technology that allows snapshots of PC files or volumes to be taken, even when they are in use. Most backup software programs rely on VSS to perform backup and recovery operations.  
 There are many reasons VSS might not work properly, causing your backup software to fail. But diagnosing the problem can be tricky given the number of system components involved.

![Image 2: Embedded thumbnail for Backing up Your files](https://staticfiles.acronis.com/images/content/f3908392191dbb84e42e9208c71b2141.png)

## Benefits

Running VMware vCloud? Stop losing money when data or critical applications are unavailable. Ensure quick failover to the cloud, making your infrastructure resilient and cost-efficient.

![Image 3: Diagnoses](https://staticfiles.acronis.com/images/content/9d2d97e48c5f0289a73c359e52bde21a.png)

### Diagnoses

Diagnoses all VSS components with one click

![Image 4: Generates a report](https://staticfiles.acronis.com/images/content/377f61b99aaf6620d4c68f3e3754e697.png)

### Generates a report

Generates a report with the results of the tests performed

![Image 5: Automatically collects data](https://staticfiles.acronis.com/images/content/1d7aac555f1a8b29bf764fbc78aa59f4.png)

### Automatically collects data

Automatically collects data from scattered sources into a single report

![Image 6: Fixes issues with one-click](https://staticfiles.acronis.com/images/content/825b8d341bbf075af4b1dca519bf69f6.png)

### Fixes issues with one-click

Fixes issues with one-click when a pre-defined solution is available

![Image 7: Easily spots the weak places](https://staticfiles.acronis.com/images/content/42d71d6e8225317366dc2fb8df2d75aa.png)

### Easily spots the weak places

Easily spots the weak places in the VSS infrastructure

## Features

Diagnose and repair

*   Configuration and status of VSS-related services: Volume Shadow Copy, Microsoft Software Shadow Copy Provider, COM+ Event System
*   VSS COM-interface registration (not supported for Windows XP)
*   Configuration of VSS providers
*   Access rights for VSS (not supported for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003)
*   Configuration of VSS shadow storages (not supported for Windows XP)
*   Access rights for NTFS volumes

![Image 8: Diagnose and repair](https://staticfiles.acronis.com/images/content/aedf0ee90b5c1f283bb7553cea4cf068.png)

Diagnose only

*   Free space available on disks. Provides drive letter assignment for “hidden” volumes
*   Current I/O load of disks
*   List of VSS-related errors/warnings from Windows Event Log
*   List of faulted VSS writers

![Image 9: Diagnose only](https://staticfiles.acronis.com/images/content/5fd22c09e491d5599a214bf87d9f0aa5.png)

Report generation

*   Diagnostics results can be saved as a plain-text report for sharing or future analysis

![Image 10: Report generation](https://staticfiles.acronis.com/images/content/dc032a6564387cf071b20a337c1d36ed.png)

## VSS Doctor

Free Tool for Diagnosing and Repairing Volume Shadow Copy Service Issues

It’s Free. Forever

For Windows 7/XP/Vista, Windows Server 2003/2008

[Download](https://download.acronis.com/tools/AcronisVSSDoctor-net35.exe)

Compatible with .NET Framework 3.5

For Windows 8/10, Windows Server 2012 and later

[Download](https://download.acronis.com/tools/AcronisVSSDoctor-net45.exe)

Compatible with .NET Framework 4.5

## How to use VSS Doctor Tool

*   Download the Free VSS repair tool  
[For Windows XP/Vista/7, Windows Server 2003/2008](https://download.acronis.com/tools/AcronisVSSDoctor-net35.exe)  
[For Windows 8 and later, Windows Server 2012 and later](https://download.acronis.com/tools/AcronisVSSDoctor-net45.exe)   
*   Launch the tool (local administrator rights are required). 
*   Click **Start diagnostic** and wait until it finishes. 
*   Check out sections marked as **(!)** 
*   Click **Save log** if you want to save diagnostic results as a plain-text report. 
*   If a **Fix issues** button is available, click on it to see the exact solutions proposed by the tool and proceed if you agree. 
*   After fixing the found issues, click **Start diagnostic** again to check if all the issues were corrected. 
*   Click **Back up now** to retry the backup operation that failed.