In this article, we will explain about how to delete old time machine backups on Mac with using 3 incredible easier methods. In the end, you will say that it is easy task and I can do it!!
Time Machine is an amazing in-built app that allows you to automatically incremental back up files on your Mac and Macbook to an external drive and internal drive. Due to incremental backup, your Time Machine is able to keep several versions of files, and easier to undo changes or restore removed files and folders.
Before going to ahead, you should be known that Apple removes all oldest backups on your external and internal hard drive if you are getting to worry about to lose space. So you don’t have to need to remove these files manually.
Why Delete Old Time Machine Backups on Your Mac?
Deleting old Time Machine backups on your Mac is typically done to free up storage space on your backup drive. Time Machine is a built-in backup feature on macOS that automatically backs up your entire system, including system files, applications, documents, and settings.
Here are some reasons why you might consider deleting old Time Machine backups:
Limited Storage Space: If your Time Machine backup drive is running out of space, you may need to delete older backups to make room for new ones. Time Machine typically manages this automatically, but if your backup drive is small or if you have a lot of data changes, you may need to intervene.
Obsolete Data: As your files change over time, older backups may contain data that is no longer relevant. For example, if you delete large files or folders from your Mac, those files will still be present in older backups, even though they are no longer on your current system. Deleting these older backups can help free up space.
Backup Drive Maintenance: If you’re using an external drive for Time Machine backups, it’s good practice to perform regular maintenance, including deleting old backups. This ensures that your backup drive doesn’t fill up completely and allows Time Machine to continue its backup schedule without interruptions.
How to Delete Old Time Machine Backups on Mac?
If you are using macOS Time Machine App for backups then your files are stored into two different locations in your Mac. First, actual backup files are stored into your external hard drive, and other second local snapshots, which are grabbing every day, are stored in your internal hard drive.
Here, we will guide you both about how to delete old time machine backups on Mac’s external hard drive and internal hard drive. How’s here?
Why Delete Old Time Machine Backups on Your Mac?
Delete Backups Using ‘Time Machine App’
Delete Time Machine Backups Using ‘Terminal’
Delete Backups on a Mac Using ‘Finder’
How to Delete Time Machine Snapshots?
Getting to Turn off Automatic Backups
What Are Time Machine Backups and Snapshots the Same?
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Is it ok to delete Time Machine backups?
How can i turn off automatic backups?
How do i recover the deleted Time Machine backup?
How to transfer Time Machine backups to another Mac?
How do I remove Time Machine backup from external hard drive?
How do I remove Time Machine backup from external hard drive?
Let’s Get Started!!
Delete Backups Using ‘Time Machine App’
It is incredible easier method to remove old backups from your Mac with using of <Time Machine app>. It allows you to remove backups at a certain date or specific file across all dates. How’s here?
Firstly you have to connect your external backup drive with your Mac and Macbook
Now open <Time Machine> app. For this, launch Launchpad or Spotlight and then type <Time Machine> in their search bar.
Next you can choose your backups which you want to remove at a certain backup date or file name.
Backup date: You can use timeline on the right side of your screen otherwise having to navigate with using arrows to backup date.
File or Folder Name: Using <Finder window> to navigate your files or folders which you want to discard.
Once you have been selected data or file which you want to remove, and then hit on <…> three dot ellipsis button in your Finder and can be selected Delete Backup or Delete All Backups of [Your File].
Now it will ask you as confirm to delete backup, and then you have to introduce Mac administrator’s password.
Delete Time Machine Backups Using ‘Terminal’
If you are getting to problem while removing backups from your Trash, then we will suggest you for using Terminal command.
Firstly you have to launch <Terminal>. To do this, press <command + space> on your keyboard and write <ter> then hit on Enter key or choose <app> from elevated search result.
Now write <sudo rm -rf ~/.Trash/> command in the command line and then hit on “Enter” for getting to execute it.
Next you will get pop up window for putting administrator password and then mention it in and hit <Enter> to validate for confirmation. If it is doing to work properly then you will view new line for putting commands.
This command is used for getting to empty your trash through Root user, but it needs administrative privileges.
NOTE: If your command line option gets to fails with showing , and then you have to need provide terminal <Full Disk Access>
But you don’t forget to reset <Full Disk Access> option back to for Terminal. If you wish to maintain original protection settings then visit to change it, as presenting in image above.
Delete Backups on a Mac Using ‘Finder’
Finder also allows you simple interface to remove your backup on Mac and Macbook. How’s here?
Firstly open your Finder app from your Dock otherwise at the top Menu bar.
Now getting to connect your external storage device (hard drive) and then having to wait for it to view in your device section that is located at the left sidebar.
Next go to <backupdb> along with your drive, and then have to go into subfolder labelled with Mac’s name.
In this window, you will see subfolders with organized by their date. Then you can delete these folders which are linked with < Time Machine backup>, and make right click and choose <Move to Trash>.
Now you have to need empty your trash with making right clicking on trash icon in your Dock and then choosing <Empty Trash>.
How to Delete Time Machine Snapshots?
While getting to set up Time Machine on your Mac, local snapshots start getting to create automatically, once every 24 hours. These snapshots are kept in your internal hard drive until you are getting to low on storage space. If this situation is occurred then Mac will start remove automatically those oldest snapshots.
If you are getting to worry about these storage backup then you can do disable it and remove these file manually. How’s how?
Firstly open <Terminal> app on your Mac computer through your Finder or Spotlight search bar.
Now you have to enter this command into your Terminal like as: <sudo tmutil disablelocal>
And press <Enter> key
Now your all local snapshots will be deleted which are existed into your internal storage.
We highly suggest you to re-enable it, to do this:
Launch your Terminal App on Mac
And then type the command <sudo tmutil enablelocal> into your Terminal, and then press key.
Now your Time Machine again will be begun over keeping your local snapshots to your Mac’s internal storage area.
Getting to Turn off Automatic Backups
If you are getting to headache to clean up your storage and old and useless data and you can get to disable automatic backups. To do this:
Go to Apple icon and click on it
Next click on <System Preferences> option
Then you will see <Time Machine> and make double click on it.
Now you have to uncheck option for Automatic Backup on the left side in your window.
What Are Time Machine Backups and Snapshots the Same?
Time Machine backups and snapshots share some similarities, but they have distinct characteristics. Here’s some comparison, including:
Time Machine Backups
Automatic Backups: Time Machine is a built-in macOS feature that automatically backs up your entire system at regular intervals.
Complete System Backup: It backs up the entire content of your Mac, including system files, applications, documents, and settings.
Incremental Backups: Time Machine uses an incremental backup approach, meaning it only backs up files that have changed since the last backup, saving storage space.
Backup Frequency: It typically runs hourly backups, creating a historical timeline of your system changes.
External Drive Usage: Time Machine backups are often stored on an external drive, and it manages the storage by automatically deleting older backups when the disk becomes full.
Snapshots
Point-in-Time Copies: Snapshots are point-in-time copies of your file system, capturing the state of your data at a specific moment.
APFS (Apple File System): Snapshots are a feature of the APFS, the file system used by macOS. They are not exclusive to Time Machine but can be used in conjunction with it.
Local Snapshots: macOS creates local snapshots on the startup disk, providing a quick way to revert files to previous states even when an external Time Machine backup drive is not connected.
Space Management: Snapshots are managed by the file system, and older snapshots are automatically deleted as needed to free up space.
File-Level Restoration: While Time Machine is capable of restoring the entire system, snapshots are more focused on file-level restoration, allowing you to revert individual files or directories to previous states.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Is it ok to delete Time Machine backups?
Yes, it’s okay to delete old Time Machine backups to free up storage space on the backup drive. Ensure you have a recent backup before deletion for data safety.
How can i turn off automatic backups?
To disable automatic backups on macOS; you can follow few simplest steps:
Open System Preferences.
Select <Time Machine>
Uncheck the <Back Up Automatically>
Remember to manually initiate backups when necessary for data safety.
How do i recover the deleted Time Machine backup?
Recovering a deleted Time Machine backup is challenging. If you want to recover a deleted Time Machine backup, you can use recovery software like EaseUS. The Time Machine backup is saved in a folder named Backups with the extension of .backupdb. After scanning the backup disk, you can filter the results by the extension to quickly find and recover your Time Machine backup.
How to transfer Time Machine backups to another Mac?
To transfer Time Machine backups to another Mac, you can use Migration Assistant. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
Connect both Macs to the same Wi-Fi network.
On the new Mac, open a Finder window and click on the Time Machine drive.
If you don’t see the Time Machine drive, click on the “+” button to add it
On the old Mac, open a Finder window and click on the Time Machine drive.
If you don’t see the Time Machine drive, click on the “+” button to add it
On the old Mac, click on the Apple menu, then select “Migration Assistant“
On the new Mac, click on the Apple menu, then select “Migration Assistant“
Follow the on-screen instructions to transfer the Time Machine backup.
Keep in mind that the transfer process may take several hours to complete, depending on the size of the backup.
How do I remove Time Machine backup from external hard drive?
To remove a Time Machine backup from an external hard drive, open Time Machine preferences, click “Select Disk,” choose the backup disk, and click “Remove Disk.” Confirm the removal.
Can Time Machine delete old backups automatically?
Yes, Time Machine can automatically delete old backups to manage storage space. It does this by removing older backups when the backup drive reaches its capacity, ensuring the most recent backups are retained.
Final Remarks
Now we can hope that you have completely learnt about how to delete old time machine backups on Mac with using 3 incredible easier tricks. If this content is useful for you then share it along with your friends, family members or relatives over social media platforms like as Facebook, Instagram, Linked In, Twitter, and more.
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