# What happens when you delete a VM group

When you delete a VM group in Commvault, backup activity stops, but existing backup data and snapshots are retained and managed according to retention rules.

This page explains how deletion affects:

- Backup data

- Snapshots

- VM clients

## Backup behavior after deletion

- No new backups are performed for the VM clients in the deleted VM group.

- Existing backup data is retained and aged based on the retention settings defined in the associated plan.

## VM client behavior

- VM clients remain visible on the Virtual machines page.

- Deleting a VM group does not delete the VM clients.

To remove all associated data and snapshots, you must individually delete the VM clients.

## Snapshot behavior

Snapshot handling depends on the backup type.

### IntelliSnap VM groups

- If retention is based on recovery points, that many number of snapshots will always be retained.

- If retention is based on days, once the retention period is met, all snapshots are deleted except the latest one, which is retained for CBT (Changed Block Tracking).

- If a snapshot backup is skipped or fails to create a backup copy, then that snapshot is not aged.

### Streaming VM groups

- The most recent snapshot is always retained to support CBT.

- Older snapshots are aged according to retention rules.

## Snapshot visibility and cleanup

- Existing snapshots remain visible in the Command Center after the VM group is deleted.

- Snapshots are not automatically removed when the VM group is deleted.

To remove unused snapshots:

- Manually delete the snapshots, or

- Delete the associated VM client

## Important considerations

- Deleting a VM group does not remove existing backup data immediately.

- Snapshot retention follows plan settings and backup success conditions.

- Manual cleanup may be required to remove snapshots that are no longer needed.

- Deleting a VM client removes all associated snapshots.

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