diff --git a/CHANGES.md b/CHANGES.md
index cc64a3c353..661a227bd9 100644
--- a/CHANGES.md
+++ b/CHANGES.md
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@
     latest gc was called on. (#2110, @icristescu)
   - Add `split` to create a new suffix chunk. Subsequent writes will append to
     this chunk until `split` is called again. (#2118, @icristescu)
+  - Add `create_one_commit_store` to create a new store from the existing one,
+    containing only one commit. (#2125, @icristescu)
 
 ### Changed
 
diff --git a/src/irmin-pack/unix/errors.ml b/src/irmin-pack/unix/errors.ml
index e9b88db383..18588cc9a6 100644
--- a/src/irmin-pack/unix/errors.ml
+++ b/src/irmin-pack/unix/errors.ml
@@ -71,7 +71,8 @@ type base_error =
   | `Invalid_read_of_gced_object of string
   | `Inconsistent_store
   | `Split_forbidden_during_batch
-  | `Multiple_empty_chunks ]
+  | `Multiple_empty_chunks
+  | `Forbidden_during_gc ]
 [@@deriving irmin ~pp]
 (** [base_error] is the type of most errors that can occur in a [result], except
     for errors that have associated exceptions (see below) and backend-specific
diff --git a/src/irmin-pack/unix/ext.ml b/src/irmin-pack/unix/ext.ml
index bb0c8529e6..92b4888906 100644
--- a/src/irmin-pack/unix/ext.ml
+++ b/src/irmin-pack/unix/ext.ml
@@ -243,24 +243,26 @@ module Maker (Config : Conf.S) = struct
                 cancelled
             | None -> false
 
-          let start ~unlink ~use_auto_finalisation t commit_key =
+          let direct_commit_key t key =
+            let state : _ Pack_key.state = Pack_key.inspect key in
+            match state with
+            | Direct _ -> Ok key
+            | Indexed h -> (
+                match Commit.CA.index_direct_with_kind t.commit h with
+                | None ->
+                    Error
+                      (`Commit_key_is_dangling
+                        (Irmin.Type.to_string XKey.t key))
+                | Some (k, _kind) -> Ok k)
+
+          let start ~unlink ~use_auto_finalisation ~new_files_path t commit_key
+              =
             let open Result_syntax in
             [%log.info "GC: Starting on %a" pp_key commit_key];
             let* () =
               if t.during_batch then Error `Gc_forbidden_during_batch else Ok ()
             in
-            let* commit_key =
-              let state : _ Pack_key.state = Pack_key.inspect commit_key in
-              match state with
-              | Direct _ -> Ok commit_key
-              | Indexed h -> (
-                  match Commit.CA.index_direct_with_kind t.commit h with
-                  | None ->
-                      Error
-                        (`Commit_key_is_dangling
-                          (Irmin.Type.to_string XKey.t commit_key))
-                  | Some (k, _kind) -> Ok k)
-            in
+            let* commit_key = direct_commit_key t commit_key in
             let root = Conf.root t.config in
             let* () =
               if not (File_manager.gc_allowed t.fm) then Error `Gc_disallowed
@@ -271,19 +273,21 @@ module Maker (Config : Conf.S) = struct
             let gc =
               Gc.v ~root ~generation:next_generation ~unlink
                 ~dispatcher:t.dispatcher ~fm:t.fm ~contents:t.contents
-                ~node:t.node ~commit:t.commit commit_key
+                ~node:t.node ~commit:t.commit ~new_files_path commit_key
             in
             t.running_gc <- Some { gc; use_auto_finalisation };
             Ok ()
 
-          let start_exn ?(unlink = true) ~use_auto_finalisation t commit_key =
+          let start_exn ?(unlink = true) ~use_auto_finalisation ~new_files_path
+              t commit_key =
             match t.running_gc with
             | Some _ ->
                 [%log.info "Repo is alreadying running GC. Skipping."];
                 Lwt.return false
             | None -> (
                 let result =
-                  start ~unlink ~use_auto_finalisation t commit_key
+                  start ~unlink ~use_auto_finalisation ~new_files_path t
+                    commit_key
                 in
                 match result with
                 | Ok _ -> Lwt.return true
@@ -346,6 +350,43 @@ module Maker (Config : Conf.S) = struct
                       Pack_key.v_direct ~offset ~length ~hash:entry.hash
                     in
                     Some key)
+
+          let create_one_commit_store t commit_key path =
+            let () =
+              match Io.classify_path path with
+              | `Directory -> ()
+              | `No_such_file_or_directory ->
+                  Io.mkdir path |> Errs.raise_if_error
+              | _ -> Errs.raise_error `Invalid_layout
+            in
+            let commit_key =
+              direct_commit_key t commit_key |> Errs.raise_if_error
+            in
+            let* launched =
+              start_exn ~use_auto_finalisation:false ~new_files_path:path t
+                commit_key
+            in
+            let () =
+              if not launched then Errs.raise_error `Forbidden_during_gc
+            in
+            let* latest_gc_target_offset, suffix_start_offset =
+              match t.running_gc with
+              | None -> assert false
+              | Some { gc; _ } -> Gc.finalise_without_swap gc
+            in
+            let generation = File_manager.generation t.fm + 1 in
+            let config = Irmin.Backend.Conf.add t.config Conf.Key.root path in
+            let () =
+              File_manager.create_one_commit_store t.fm config ~generation
+                ~latest_gc_target_offset ~suffix_start_offset commit_key
+              |> Errs.raise_if_error
+            in
+            let branch_path = Irmin_pack.Layout.V4.branch ~root:path in
+            let* branch_store =
+              Branch.v ~fresh:true ~readonly:false branch_path
+            in
+            let* () = Branch.close branch_store in
+            Lwt.return_unit
         end
 
         let batch t f =
@@ -533,6 +574,7 @@ module Maker (Config : Conf.S) = struct
     let flush = X.Repo.flush
     let fsync = X.Repo.fsync
     let split = X.Repo.split_exn
+    let create_one_commit_store = X.Repo.Gc.create_one_commit_store
 
     module Gc = struct
       type msg = [ `Msg of string ]
@@ -563,13 +605,18 @@ module Maker (Config : Conf.S) = struct
         `Msg err_msg
 
       let finalise_exn = X.Repo.Gc.finalise_exn
-      let start_exn = X.Repo.Gc.start_exn ~use_auto_finalisation:false
+
+      let start_exn ?unlink t =
+        let root = Irmin_pack.Conf.root t.X.Repo.config in
+        X.Repo.Gc.start_exn ?unlink ~use_auto_finalisation:false
+          ~new_files_path:root t
 
       let start repo commit_key =
+        let root = Irmin_pack.Conf.root repo.X.Repo.config in
         try
           let* started =
-            X.Repo.Gc.start_exn ~unlink:true ~use_auto_finalisation:true repo
-              commit_key
+            X.Repo.Gc.start_exn ~unlink:true ~use_auto_finalisation:true
+              ~new_files_path:root repo commit_key
           in
           Lwt.return_ok started
         with exn -> catch_errors "Start GC" exn
diff --git a/src/irmin-pack/unix/file_manager.ml b/src/irmin-pack/unix/file_manager.ml
index f305d7e859..8a0d7866dd 100644
--- a/src/irmin-pack/unix/file_manager.ml
+++ b/src/irmin-pack/unix/file_manager.ml
@@ -796,4 +796,62 @@ struct
     let chunk_start_idx = pl.chunk_start_idx in
     let chunk_num = pl.chunk_num in
     cleanup ~root ~generation ~chunk_start_idx ~chunk_num
+
+  let create_one_commit_store t config ~generation ~latest_gc_target_offset
+      ~suffix_start_offset commit_key =
+    let open Result_syntax in
+    let src_root = t.root in
+    let dst_root = Irmin_pack.Conf.root config in
+    (* Step 1. Copy the dict *)
+    let src_dict = Irmin_pack.Layout.V4.dict ~root:src_root in
+    let dst_dict = Irmin_pack.Layout.V4.dict ~root:dst_root in
+    let* () = Io.copy_file ~src:src_dict ~dst:dst_dict in
+    (* Step 2. Create an empty suffix and close it. *)
+    let* suffix =
+      Suffix.create_rw ~root:dst_root ~overwrite:false
+        ~auto_flush_threshold:1_000_000 ~auto_flush_procedure:`Internal
+        ~start_idx:1
+    in
+    let* () = Suffix.close suffix in
+    (* Step 3. Create the control file and close it. *)
+    let status =
+      Payload.Gced
+        {
+          suffix_start_offset;
+          generation;
+          latest_gc_target_offset;
+          suffix_dead_bytes = Int63.zero;
+        }
+    in
+    let dict_end_poff = Io.size_of_path dst_dict |> Errs.raise_if_error in
+    let pl =
+      {
+        Payload.dict_end_poff;
+        suffix_end_poff = Int63.zero;
+        checksum = Int63.zero;
+        status;
+        upgraded_from_v3_to_v4 = false;
+        chunk_num = 1;
+        chunk_start_idx = 1;
+      }
+    in
+    let path = Irmin_pack.Layout.V4.control ~root:dst_root in
+    let* control = Control.create_rw ~path ~overwrite:false pl in
+    let* () = Control.close control in
+    (* Step 4. Create the index. *)
+    let* index =
+      let log_size = Conf.index_log_size config in
+      let throttle = Conf.merge_throttle config in
+      Index.v ~fresh:true ~flush_callback:Fun.id ~readonly:false ~throttle
+        ~log_size dst_root
+    in
+    (* Step 5. Add the commit to the index, close the index. *)
+    let () =
+      match Pack_key.inspect commit_key with
+      | Pack_key.Direct { hash; offset; length } ->
+          Index.add index hash (offset, length, Pack_value.Kind.Commit_v2)
+      | Indexed _ -> assert false
+    in
+    let* () = Index.close index in
+    Ok ()
 end
diff --git a/src/irmin-pack/unix/file_manager_intf.ml b/src/irmin-pack/unix/file_manager_intf.ml
index 66cf6ee928..215a44fe4e 100644
--- a/src/irmin-pack/unix/file_manager_intf.ml
+++ b/src/irmin-pack/unix/file_manager_intf.ml
@@ -256,6 +256,19 @@ module type S = sig
   val generation : t -> int
   val gc_allowed : t -> bool
   val split : t -> (unit, [> Errs.t ]) result
+
+  val create_one_commit_store :
+    t ->
+    Irmin.Backend.Conf.t ->
+    generation:int ->
+    latest_gc_target_offset:int63 ->
+    suffix_start_offset:int63 ->
+    Index.key Pack_key.t ->
+    (unit, [> open_rw_error | close_error ]) result
+  (** [create_one_commit_store t conf generation new_store_root key] is called
+      when creating a new store at [new_store_root] from the existing one,
+      containing only one commit, specified by the [key]. Ths new store will use
+      configuration options from [conf] and set to [generation]. *)
 end
 
 module type Sigs = sig
diff --git a/src/irmin-pack/unix/gc.ml b/src/irmin-pack/unix/gc.ml
index 8445fd275e..fc97dd6c0b 100644
--- a/src/irmin-pack/unix/gc.ml
+++ b/src/irmin-pack/unix/gc.ml
@@ -42,8 +42,8 @@ module Make (Args : Gc_args.S) = struct
     latest_gc_target_offset : int63;
   }
 
-  let v ~root ~generation ~unlink ~dispatcher ~fm ~contents ~node ~commit
-      commit_key =
+  let v ~root ~new_files_path ~generation ~unlink ~dispatcher ~fm ~contents
+      ~node ~commit commit_key =
     let new_suffix_start_offset, latest_gc_target_offset =
       let state : _ Pack_key.state = Pack_key.inspect commit_key in
       match state with
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ module Make (Args : Gc_args.S) = struct
     let task =
       Async.async (fun () ->
           Worker.run_and_output_result root commit_key new_suffix_start_offset
-            ~generation)
+            ~generation ~new_files_path)
     in
     let partial_stats =
       Gc_stats.Main.finish_current_step partial_stats "before finalise"
@@ -282,6 +282,16 @@ module Make (Args : Gc_args.S) = struct
           | `Running -> Lwt.return_ok `Running
           | #Async.outcome as status -> go status)
 
+  let finalise_without_swap t =
+    let* status = Async.await t.task in
+    match status with
+    | `Success ->
+        Lwt.return (t.latest_gc_target_offset, t.new_suffix_start_offset)
+    | _ ->
+        let gc_output = read_gc_output ~root:t.root ~generation:t.generation in
+        let r = gc_errors status gc_output |> Errs.raise_if_error in
+        Lwt.return r
+
   let on_finalise t f =
     (* Ignore returned promise since the purpose of this
        function is to add asynchronous callbacks to the GC
diff --git a/src/irmin-pack/unix/gc.mli b/src/irmin-pack/unix/gc.mli
index cd5836f6fe..2d5ea7f22d 100644
--- a/src/irmin-pack/unix/gc.mli
+++ b/src/irmin-pack/unix/gc.mli
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ module Make (Args : Gc_args.S) : sig
 
   val v :
     root:string ->
+    new_files_path:string ->
     generation:int ->
     unlink:bool ->
     dispatcher:Args.Dispatcher.t ->
@@ -51,5 +52,12 @@ module Make (Args : Gc_args.S) : sig
       finalises. *)
 
   val cancel : t -> bool
+
+  val finalise_without_swap : t -> (int63 * int63) Lwt.t
+  (** Waits for the current gc to finish and returns immediately without
+      swapping the files and doing the other finalisation steps from [finalise].
+
+      It returns the [latest_gc_target_offset] and the
+      [new_suffix_start_offset]. *)
 end
 with module Args = Args
diff --git a/src/irmin-pack/unix/gc_worker.ml b/src/irmin-pack/unix/gc_worker.ml
index 6d1c6c4cd5..9c1b70d22a 100644
--- a/src/irmin-pack/unix/gc_worker.ml
+++ b/src/irmin-pack/unix/gc_worker.ml
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ module Make (Args : Gc_args.S) = struct
 
   type gc_output = (gc_results, Args.Errs.t) result [@@deriving irmin]
 
-  let run ~generation root commit_key new_suffix_start_offset =
+  let run ~generation ~new_files_path root commit_key new_suffix_start_offset =
     let open Result_syntax in
     let config =
       Irmin_pack.Conf.init ~fresh:false ~readonly:true ~lru_size:0 root
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ module Make (Args : Gc_args.S) = struct
         stats := Gc_stats.Worker.add_file_size !stats "mapping" mapping_size
       in
       (fun f ->
-        Mapping_file.create ~report_file_sizes ~root ~generation
+        Mapping_file.create ~report_file_sizes ~root:new_files_path ~generation
           ~register_entries:f ()
         |> Errs.raise_if_error)
       @@ fun ~register_entry ->
@@ -230,7 +230,9 @@ module Make (Args : Gc_args.S) = struct
       (* Step 4. Create the new prefix. *)
       stats := Gc_stats.Worker.finish_current_step !stats "prefix: start";
       let prefix =
-        let path = Irmin_pack.Layout.V4.prefix ~root ~generation in
+        let path =
+          Irmin_pack.Layout.V4.prefix ~root:new_files_path ~generation
+        in
         Ao.create_rw_exn ~path
       in
       let () =
@@ -262,7 +264,9 @@ module Make (Args : Gc_args.S) = struct
         Dispatcher.read_exn dispatcher accessor buf
       in
       let prefix =
-        let path = Irmin_pack.Layout.V4.prefix ~root ~generation in
+        let path =
+          Irmin_pack.Layout.V4.prefix ~root:new_files_path ~generation
+        in
         Io.open_ ~path ~readonly:false |> Errs.raise_if_error
       in
       Errors.finalise_exn (fun _outcome ->
@@ -357,11 +361,12 @@ module Make (Args : Gc_args.S) = struct
 
   (* No one catches errors when this function terminates. Write the result in a
      file and terminate. *)
-  let run_and_output_result ~generation root commit_key new_suffix_start_offset
-      =
+  let run_and_output_result ~generation ~new_files_path root commit_key
+      new_suffix_start_offset =
     let result =
       Errs.catch (fun () ->
-          run ~generation root commit_key new_suffix_start_offset)
+          run ~generation ~new_files_path root commit_key
+            new_suffix_start_offset)
     in
     let write_result = write_gc_output ~root ~generation result in
     write_result |> Errs.log_if_error "writing gc output"
diff --git a/src/irmin-pack/unix/gc_worker.mli b/src/irmin-pack/unix/gc_worker.mli
index d7e359502c..540986ec45 100644
--- a/src/irmin-pack/unix/gc_worker.mli
+++ b/src/irmin-pack/unix/gc_worker.mli
@@ -23,7 +23,12 @@ module Make (Args : Gc_args.S) : sig
   module Args : Gc_args.S
 
   val run_and_output_result :
-    generation:int -> string -> Args.key -> int63 -> unit
+    generation:int ->
+    new_files_path:string ->
+    string ->
+    Args.key ->
+    int63 ->
+    unit
 
   type suffix_params = {
     start_offset : int63;
diff --git a/src/irmin-pack/unix/io.ml b/src/irmin-pack/unix/io.ml
index 29cfa7af17..2c4d44f9fe 100644
--- a/src/irmin-pack/unix/io.ml
+++ b/src/irmin-pack/unix/io.ml
@@ -267,6 +267,12 @@ module Unix = struct
       Ok ()
     with Sys_error msg -> Error (`Sys_error msg)
 
+  let copy_file ~src ~dst =
+    let cmd = Filename.quote_command "cp" [ "-p"; src; dst ] in
+    match Sys.command cmd with
+    | 0 -> Ok ()
+    | n -> Error (`Sys_error (Int.to_string n))
+
   let mkdir path =
     match (classify_path (Filename.dirname path), classify_path path) with
     | `Directory, `No_such_file_or_directory -> (
diff --git a/src/irmin-pack/unix/io_errors.ml b/src/irmin-pack/unix/io_errors.ml
index 9dee4b415e..fd1dd736d6 100644
--- a/src/irmin-pack/unix/io_errors.ml
+++ b/src/irmin-pack/unix/io_errors.ml
@@ -75,7 +75,8 @@ module Make (Io : Io.S) : S with module Io = Io = struct
     | `Ro_not_allowed
     | `Io_misc of Io.misc_error
     | `Split_forbidden_during_batch
-    | `Multiple_empty_chunks ]
+    | `Multiple_empty_chunks
+    | `Forbidden_during_gc ]
   [@@deriving irmin]
 
   let raise_error = function
diff --git a/src/irmin-pack/unix/io_intf.ml b/src/irmin-pack/unix/io_intf.ml
index f33aa1d635..23e4ac77f5 100644
--- a/src/irmin-pack/unix/io_intf.ml
+++ b/src/irmin-pack/unix/io_intf.ml
@@ -78,6 +78,9 @@ module type S = sig
   val move_file :
     src:string -> dst:string -> (unit, [> `Sys_error of string ]) result
 
+  val copy_file :
+    src:string -> dst:string -> (unit, [> `Sys_error of string ]) result
+
   val mkdir : string -> (unit, [> mkdir_error ]) result
   val unlink : string -> (unit, [> `Sys_error of string ]) result
 
diff --git a/src/irmin-pack/unix/s.ml b/src/irmin-pack/unix/s.ml
index 527b6516a2..2e0dbf14bd 100644
--- a/src/irmin-pack/unix/s.ml
+++ b/src/irmin-pack/unix/s.ml
@@ -53,6 +53,15 @@ module type S = sig
 
       TODO: Detail exceptions raised. *)
 
+  val create_one_commit_store : repo -> commit_key -> string -> unit Lwt.t
+  (** [create_one_commit_store t key path] creates a new store at [path] from
+      the existing one, containing only one commit, specified by the [key]. Note
+      that this operation is blocking.
+
+      It requires that the files existing on disk when the operation is
+      launched, remain on disk until the operation completes. In particular, a
+      Gc running in a different process could remove files from disk. *)
+
   module Gc : sig
     (** GC *)
 
diff --git a/test/irmin-pack/test_gc.ml b/test/irmin-pack/test_gc.ml
index 1547cc196c..9f9b3c9221 100644
--- a/test/irmin-pack/test_gc.ml
+++ b/test/irmin-pack/test_gc.ml
@@ -1133,3 +1133,68 @@ module Split = struct
       tc "Test commits and splits during GC" commits_and_splits_during_gc;
     ]
 end
+
+module Snapshot = struct
+  let export t commit =
+    let commit_key = S.Commit.key commit in
+    S.create_one_commit_store t.repo commit_key
+
+  let snapshot_rw () =
+    let* t = init () in
+    let* t, c1 = commit_1 t in
+    let root_snap = Filename.concat t.root "snap" in
+    let* () = export t c1 root_snap in
+    [%log.debug "store works after export"];
+    let* t = checkout_exn t c1 in
+    let* t, c2 = commit_2 t in
+    let* () = check_1 t c1 in
+    let* () = check_2 t c2 in
+    let* () = S.Repo.close t.repo in
+    [%log.debug "open store from import in rw"];
+    let* t = init ~readonly:false ~fresh:false ~root:root_snap () in
+    let* t = checkout_exn t c1 in
+    let* () = check_1 t c1 in
+    let* () = check_not_found t c2 "c2 not commited yet" in
+    let* t, c2 = commit_2 t in
+    let* () = check_2 t c2 in
+    S.Repo.close t.repo
+
+  let snapshot_import_in_ro () =
+    let* t = init () in
+    let* t, c1 = commit_1 t in
+    let root_snap = Filename.concat t.root "snap" in
+    let* () = export t c1 root_snap in
+    let* () = S.Repo.close t.repo in
+    [%log.debug "open store from import in ro"];
+    let* t = init ~readonly:true ~fresh:false ~root:root_snap () in
+    let* t = checkout_exn t c1 in
+    let* () = check_1 t c1 in
+    S.Repo.close t.repo
+
+  let snapshot_export_in_ro () =
+    let* t = init () in
+    let* t, c1 = commit_1 t in
+    let* () = S.Repo.close t.repo in
+    [%log.debug "open store in readonly to export"];
+    let* t = init ~readonly:false ~fresh:false ~root:t.root () in
+    let root_snap = Filename.concat t.root "snap" in
+    let* () = export t c1 root_snap in
+    [%log.debug "store works after export in readonly"];
+    let* t = checkout_exn t c1 in
+    let* () = check_1 t c1 in
+    let* () = S.Repo.close t.repo in
+    [%log.debug "open store from snapshot"];
+    let* t = init ~readonly:false ~fresh:false ~root:root_snap () in
+    let* t = checkout_exn t c1 in
+    let* t, c2 = commit_2 t in
+    let* () = check_1 t c1 in
+    let* () = check_2 t c2 in
+    S.Repo.close t.repo
+
+  let tests =
+    [
+      tc "Import/export in rw" snapshot_rw;
+      tc "Import in ro" snapshot_import_in_ro;
+      tc "Export in ro" snapshot_export_in_ro;
+    ]
+end
diff --git a/test/irmin-pack/test_gc.mli b/test/irmin-pack/test_gc.mli
index 3b145a55f3..b36357043e 100644
--- a/test/irmin-pack/test_gc.mli
+++ b/test/irmin-pack/test_gc.mli
@@ -26,6 +26,10 @@ module Split : sig
   val tests : unit Alcotest_lwt.test_case list
 end
 
+module Snapshot : sig
+  val tests : unit Alcotest_lwt.test_case list
+end
+
 module Store : sig
   module S : Irmin_pack.S
 
diff --git a/test/irmin-pack/test_pack.ml b/test/irmin-pack/test_pack.ml
index eab5829cce..97e941b4fa 100644
--- a/test/irmin-pack/test_pack.ml
+++ b/test/irmin-pack/test_pack.ml
@@ -553,4 +553,5 @@ let misc =
     ("layout", Layout.tests);
     ("dispatcher", Test_dispatcher.tests);
     ("corrupted", Test_corrupted.tests);
+    ("snapshot_gc", Test_gc.Snapshot.tests);
   ]