How to reset SQL server VSS writer without rebooting the server ?

Advait Mohammad 40 Reputation points
2026-10-05T16:54:54.7+00:00

Hi all

Our nightly VM backups are failing because the SQL Server VSS Writer occasionally enters a Failed state, which prevents the backup process from completing successfully. I’d like to understand the safest way to reset or restart the affected VSS writers and restore the backup functionality without having to reboot the entire server. Are there any specific services or commands we should use to recover the SQL Server VSS Writer, and what should we check afterward to confirm that the VSS writers are back to a Stable state ?

Windows for business | Windows 365 Business
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  1. AI answer

    2026-10-05T16:55:11.89+00:00

    The supported recovery path is to restart the SQL Writer service rather than reboot the server.

    1. Open Services.
    2. Locate SQL Writer.
    3. Open its properties.
    4. Verify Startup type is set to Automatic.
    5. Select Start if it is stopped, or restart the service if it is running.

    Important checks for SQL Server VSS Writer:

    • The SQL Writer service should run under the Local System account.
    • The SQL Server NT SERVICE\SQLWriter account should be a member of the sysadmin role.

    After restarting the service, confirm VSS activity and writer state:

    • Run vssadmin list writers.
    • Confirm the SQL-related writer is no longer reporting a failed condition.
    • For broader VSS issues, check the Application event log first, especially entries from SQLWRITER and VSS.
    • If backup failures continue, check SqlWriterLogger.txt at C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Shared\ for SQL Writer backup, restore, and OnIdentify events triggered by vssadmin list writers.

    If Windows Server Backup is failing with VSS error 0x800423F4 and the Application log shows many SQLWriter and SQLVDI errors, the SQL VSS writer is the component causing the backup job to fail.

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  2. Scott Nguyen 2,135 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-10-05T17:41:52.5033333+00:00

    Hi Advait Mohammad,

    First, I don't think you have to reboot the server, because SqlServerWriter is hosted by the SQL Server VSS Writer (SQLWriter) service, restart that service from an elevated Command Prompt:
    net stop SQLWriter
    net start SQLWriter
    Microsoft specifically recommends restarting the service that hosts a failed VSS writer when the writer continues returning errors, and restarting SQLWriter does not restart the SQL Server Database Engine.

    Afterward, run vssadmin list writers and confirm that SqlServerWriter reports State: [1] Stable and Last error: No error before retrying the VM backup. If it fails again, check Event Viewer > Windows Logs > Application for VSS/SQLWriter errors and review C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Shared\SqlWriterLogger.txt

    For additional details, see Microsoft's SQL Server SQL writer documentation and the VSS Writer Errors and Vetoes documentation.

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