HighLevel snapshots explained: what they copy and don't

A HighLevel snapshot is a saved copy of an account’s setup (workflows, funnels, forms, calendars, pipelines and similar assets) that you can load into other sub-accounts. It copies configuration, not people or history: contacts, conversations and appointments stay behind [1]. Agencies use snapshots to start every new client from the same build, and SaaS mode can apply one automatically at checkout. This guide covers what snapshots include and exclude, how to share, import, load and update them, and the mistakes to avoid. Everything comes from HighLevel’s own help pages, read on 2026-10-31.

How we researched this

We have not built or sold snapshots and does not claim to. This guide summarises HighLevel’s help center; the modified date HighLevel shows for each page is in the source list. One page (marketplace snapshots in SaaS plans) is dated December 2024, so we limit what we take from it. We earn a commission if you sign up through our links.

What is a HighLevel snapshot?

Snapshots are “reusable templates that capture selected configuration from a source sub-account” for use in new or existing sub-accounts [1]. You choose which assets to include when you create one: go to Agency View, Account Snapshots, click Create New Snapshot, name it, pick the source sub-account, select assets and click Create [1].

What snapshots include

HighLevel groups the assets into categories: advertising, AI and automation, calendar and services, CRM and data structure, marketing and content, reporting and dashboards, memberships and learning, brand and design, documents and knowledge, reputation and reviews, communication templates, and websites [1]. Examples include workflows, funnels, forms, calendars, pipelines, custom fields and dashboards [1].

Some items arrive but need work. Smart Lists transfer as configuration, not the records they display. WhatsApp templates need integration and approval. Voice AI agents need a phone number assigned [1].

What do snapshots not copy?

Does not transfer	Source
Contacts, appointments, conversations, messages, conversation history	[1]
Reputation data and live account activity	[1]
Stripe connections and integrations	[1]
Assigned Voice AI phone numbers; LinkedIn Lead Gen Forms	[1][3]
Private dashboards	[1]
WordPress plugin or theme licences that need re-authentication	[1]
Contact-to-contact associations	[1]
Assets protected by another creator’s Assets Protected setting	[1][4]

LinkedIn ad campaigns always import as Draft, even when LinkedIn is not connected [3]. Write these gaps into your client onboarding checklist, because the new account will not be fully live without them.

How to create, load and update

Load into a sub-account

1. In the Agency Dashboard open Sub-Accounts, the three-dot menu, then Manage Client.
2. Click Actions, then Load Snapshot. If it is missing, check Snapshot access under User, Roles and Permissions.
3. Pick the snapshot, choose assets (select all, a category or individual items) and resolve conflicts.
4. Type “confirm” and proceed. HighLevel emails you when the transfer finishes [3].

For conflicts you choose Override, which replaces the existing item with the snapshot version, or Skip, which keeps the current one [3]. You can also create a new sub-account from a snapshot [1].

Keep snapshots current

Snapshots do not update by themselves. Refresh the snapshot after changing the source account, then push updates to eligible linked sub-accounts and choose which refreshed assets to send [1][2]. Manage Linked Assets controls which assets stay linked for future pushes [1].

Sharing and importing

Sharing, importing and loading are three separate actions, and sharing needs the “Share/Import Snapshots” permission [2].

Link type	Who can import	Best use
Permanent	Anyone with the active URL	Repeated distribution
One-Time	Anyone with the URL, until one successful import	A single recipient
Email	Only the intended email recipient	Single-use delivery
Agency-Restricted	Agencies with specified relationship numbers	Approved agencies only
Sub-Account Restricted	Only the designated sub-account	One specific destination
Marketplace Share	Eligible buyers via the App Marketplace listing	Marketplace distribution

Table source: [2]. The recipient imports the snapshot into their agency library, then loads it where they need it [2]. If a recipient is missing your newest assets, the snapshot was probably not refreshed before you shared again [2].

Private versus marketplace

A private snapshot is one you share by link or keep inside your agency. A Marketplace snapshot is distributed through the App Marketplace, and Assets Protection is applied automatically to Marketplace shares [2]. HighLevel’s SaaS plan article says Marketplace snapshots can be attached to a SaaS plan and added to new client accounts automatically, though that page dates from December 2024 and we did not re-verify the screens [5]. It also warns that changing a snapshot’s distribution type, uninstalling the app, payment problems or disabling the snapshot can remove it from your plans [5].

The share article says selling starts from Agency View, Account Snapshots, with the Sell on Marketplace action [2]. We have not found a HighLevel help page on Marketplace fees or revenue terms and make no claim about them.

Assets Protected snapshots

Assets Protected (formerly “IP Protected”) keeps assets reusable inside the receiving agency but blocks redistribution or resale to another agency. “The protection boundary is the agency” [4]. In an external share, protected assets are left out and the rest can still be shared [2][4]. Reusing protected assets inside your own agency does not remove the protection [4]. Review which assets will be excluded before you complete an external share [2].

Snapshots and SaaS mode

When a customer buys a SaaS plan, HighLevel creates the sub-account and applies the snapshot you attached to the plan [6]. That is the main reason agencies keep a clean “customer starter” account. SaaS mode sits on the $497 Founder plan; the pricing page FAQ calls it the “Pro Plan ($497/mo)” [7]. If that is your route, see the Founder plan on HighLevelaffiliate (opens HighLevel in a new tab). See the SaaS mode guide and how to sell HighLevel SaaS.

Common pitfalls

• Expecting data to move. Contacts and conversations do not [1].
• Overriding by accident. An override cannot be undone through the snapshot load [3]. Review the conflict list before you proceed.
• Stacking snapshots. Loading several snapshots with overlapping assets can cause unintended overrides [3].
• Forgetting to refresh. New edits are not in the snapshot until you refresh it [1].
• Assuming shared copies update. Other agencies must import your refreshed share [2].
• Missing permission. No “Load Snapshot” or share option usually means a roles setting [2][3].
• Dashboards. When a load includes dashboards, you can mark one as the sub-account’s default; if you mark none, HighLevel uses the snapshot’s existing default dashboard [3].

Who benefits, and who does not

Snapshots help agencies that repeat the same setup across clients, and they are central to SaaS mode. If you run one business in one account, you may never need one. Using a purchased snapshot from a third party carries its own risks, so check what it contains before loading it into a live account. HighLevel’s pages differ here: the load article says you cannot preview a snapshot “directly” and suggests loading selectively [3], while the newer overview lists a View Snapshot Assets action for inspecting contents before loading [1]. For the plan and cost picture, see HighLevel pricing: which plan fits, and the white-label guide for the branding side.

HighLevel’s pricing page offers a 14-day free trial on any plan, with billing starting automatically at the end unless you cancel [7]. To try snapshots, start the 14-day trial on HighLevelaffiliate (opens HighLevel in a new tab), build a small source account, and load it into a test sub-account before using it with a client.