> This page is part of the [Customer.io documentation](https://docs.customer.io). For the complete index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.customer.io/llms.txt).
> Last updated: October 21, 2026
> To take actions in Customer.io from an agent, use the [Customer.io CLI](https://docs.customer.io/ai/cli/get-started.md) or the [MCP server](https://docs.customer.io/ai/mcp/get-started.md).

# Snapshot segments

A snapshot segment is like a photograph—it reflects a point-in-time and doesn't automatically update after you take it. You might create a snapshot segment to capture the audience you want to reach with a one-time send or to save a history of metrics for a specific group of people.

The process of [creating a snapshot segment](#take-a-snapshot) is the same as a data-driven segment; you specify one or more conditions to build a group of people. Then you can assign this segment as the trigger for an automation, the audience for a one-time send, and more. What’s different is that the membership of snapshots don’t update automatically. Instead, you can manually [refresh snapshot segments](#refresh-your-snapshot) to update segment membership.

## Take a snapshot

To create a snapshot segment, ask your agent to create one with your desired conditions or go to *Segments* to get started.

 ![](https://docs.customer.io/images/snapshot-example.png)

1.  Click **Create segment**.
2.  Click **Snapshot**.
3.  Click *Unnamed segment* at the top to enter a *Name* and *Description* for the segment. These help you find the segment—both in the list of segments, and when selecting the segment in an automation, broadcast, etc.
4.  [Leverage AI to build your segment](https://docs.customer.io/messaging/segmentation/segment-builder/) or manually add the [conditions that people must meet to join the segment.](https://docs.customer.io/messaging/segmentation/data-driven-segments/#conditions)
5.  Click **Save changes**.

When you save a snapshot segment, it may take a bit of time to determine the membership of the segment. The more people in your workspace and the more complex your segment conditions, the longer it takes to build the segment membership. You can monitor the build process by clicking and going to your workspace’s *Tasks* list.

 ![](https://docs.customer.io/images/snapshot-build.png)

## Refresh your snapshot

From your snapshot segment page, you can find the date and time you created the snapshot:

 ![](https://docs.customer.io/images/snapshot-date-time.png)

If you want the segment to reflect the latest audience, click **Refresh** to rebuild the segment. The timestamp will update to reflect the latest run.

## Track changes to membership

Like with data-driven segments, you can track membership changes over time through the Overview chart. Click the *Change* tab to check the count of people who entered or left due to your refreshes.

 ![](https://docs.customer.io/images/snapshot-refresh-change.png)

You can also export the change in membership to CSV. For example, if you refresh the segment on a weekly basis and exported the last seven days, your export might look like this:

 ![](https://docs.customer.io/images/snapshot-change-in-membership.png)

In this CSV, the snapshot was first taken on Oct 13 and 113,085 people matched the conditions. Then on Oct 19, you refreshed the segment. No one newly matched your conditions, but five people stopped matching them so they left. Now your snapshot audience includes 113,080 people.

## Edit your snapshot’s conditions

If you edit the conditions of a snapshot and save, the segment automatically refreshes and updates membership accordingly.

Keep in mind, we surface changes in membership between refreshes, but we don’t keep track of when specifically membership changes correlated to changes in conditions. If that’s important, create a new segment instead of updating the conditions of a snapshot segment.

Editing the name, description, or tags of a snapshot segment does not cause the segment to refresh.

## Delete a snapshot

1.  Go to *Segments*.
2.  Click the segment that you want to delete.
3.  Click and choose **Delete Segment**.

You can also select one or more segments on the *Segments* page then click **Delete**.

If one of your workflows depends on the segment, we won’t let you delete the segment so your automations and other actions don’t break. Find where your segment’s referenced under *Usage* and make sure it’s removed from all locations:

*   An automation, unsent one-time send, or API-triggered broadcast: your segment could be part of the trigger, recipient conditions, or other workflow conditions
*   A form
*   A SQL import
*   Another active segment (*Active* means it’s not [archived](https://docs.customer.io/messaging/segmentation/segments/#view-archived-segments).)

## Duplicate a snapshot

You might want to copy a segment as a starting place for the conditions in a new segment.

1.  Go to *Segments*.
2.  Click to open the segment you want to duplicate.
3.  Click and choose **Duplicate segment**.

The duplicate contains “COPY” in the name.

## Review snapshot segments

On the *Segments* page, you can filter by segment type to find snapshot segments.

 ![](https://docs.customer.io/images/snapshot-filter.png)

You can also tell at a glance which segments are snapshots by this icon under *Type*: .