---
name: "zfs-promote"
section: "8"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/zfs-promote"
---

# zfs-promote(8)

promote clone dataset to no longer depend on origin snapshot

## NAME

**zfs-promote** – promote clone dataset to no longer depend on origin snapshot

## SYNOPSIS

**zfs** **promote** *clone*

## DESCRIPTION

The **zfs** **promote** command makes it possible to destroy the dataset that the clone was created from. The clone parent-child dependency relationship is reversed, so that the origin dataset becomes a clone of the specified dataset.

The snapshot that was cloned, and any snapshots previous to this snapshot, are now owned by the promoted clone. The space they use moves from the origin dataset to the promoted clone, so enough space must be available to accommodate these snapshots. No new space is consumed by this operation, but the space accounting is adjusted. The promoted clone must not have any conflicting snapshot names of its own. The **zfs** **rename** subcommand can be used to rename any conflicting snapshots.

## EXAMPLES

### Example 1 : No Promoting a ZFS Clone

The following commands illustrate how to test out changes to a file system, and then replace the original file system with the changed one, using clones, clone promotion, and renaming:

```
# zfs create pool/project/production
  populate /pool/project/production with data
# zfs snapshot pool/project/production@today
# zfs clone pool/project/production@today pool/project/beta
  make changes to /pool/project/beta and test them
# zfs promote pool/project/beta
# zfs rename pool/project/production pool/project/legacy
# zfs rename pool/project/beta pool/project/production
  once the legacy version is no longer needed, it can be destroyed
# zfs destroy pool/project/legacy
```

## SEE ALSO

[zfs-clone(8)](/zfs-clone/8.md), [zfs-rename(8)](/zfs-rename/8.md)