Cannot delete checkpoint through Hyper-V Manager GUI

A checkpoint was automatically created during a VM backup (using Veeam in this instance), but as the backup was interrupted the checkpoint was not merged, and the .AVHDX file began to grow (using disk space in addition to the static VHDX disk obviously). The normal approach to delete a checkpoint, and trigger a merge of the differencing file into the original, is to right-click on the checkpoint in Hyper-V Manager and select Delete Checkpoint; the merge should the commence automatically.

However, as this checkpoint was created as part of an interrupted backup (and not within Hyper-V directly), the Delete Checkpoint option was not available within the GUI. This is described as a ‘lingering checkpoint’. Fortunately you can perform the same actions using PowerShell:

Run Windows PowerShell ‘As Administrator’ and identify the full checkpoint name by entering the command:

Get-VMSnapshot

Provide the VMName when prompted. Then run the command:

Get-VM -Name <VMName> | Get-VMSnapShot -Name <CheckpointName> | Remove-VMSnapshot

The checkpoint should be removed (from the GUI), and the merge of the AVHDX back into the VHDX will begin. The status of the VM will update in the GUI to indicate progress. You can verify that the checkpoint has been successfully deleted by re-running the command:

Get-VMSnapshot