Time Machine can save local snapshots on your Mac’s internal drive when your backup disk is unavailable. These snapshots help you recover recently changed or deleted files, but they can also appear to use a large amount of storage.
You can usually reclaim that space by connecting your Time Machine backup disk, turning off automatic backups temporarily, or deleting individual snapshots in Terminal. macOS also removes local snapshots automatically when storage is needed, so manual deletion is not always necessary.
Quick Answer
To see local Time Machine snapshots:
- Open Terminal from Applications > Utilities.
- Enter:
tmutil listlocalsnapshots /
- To delete one snapshot, use its exact date and time:
sudo tmutil deletelocalsnapshots 2025-01-15-123456
Replace the example identifier with the snapshot name shown on your Mac. Enter your administrator password when prompted. The cursor may not move while you type the password; this is normal.
Before deleting snapshots, make sure you do not need them to recover files. Local snapshots are not a replacement for a complete Time Machine backup.
What Are Local Time Machine Snapshots?
A local snapshot is a temporary, read-only record of files on your Mac’s internal storage. Time Machine creates these snapshots so you can restore an earlier version of a file even when your usual external backup drive or network backup destination is not connected.
They are stored on the startup disk and are generally managed automatically by macOS. Finder may not show them as ordinary files, and manually searching for them in folders will not remove them safely.
Local snapshots can be useful if you:
- Accidentally delete or change a file
- Need to restore an earlier version of a document
- Are away from your regular Time Machine backup disk
- Want to recover files from a recent point in time
They can also become confusing because macOS may include their reserved space in storage reports. In many cases, that space is available for the system to reclaim when another app needs it. A snapshot’s reported size does not always represent permanently unavailable storage.
If you need to recover files from a regular Time Machine backup, see How to Restore Files from a Time Machine Backup.
Check How Much Storage Is Available First
Before deleting anything, check whether snapshots are actually preventing you from using your Mac.
- Open the Apple menu.
- Select System Settings.
- Click General in the sidebar.
- Select Storage.
- Review the available storage and the categories listed.
On some Mac configurations, System Settings may report a large amount of space under System Data. This category can include local snapshots, caches, logs, and other files that macOS manages automatically. It does not prove that snapshots alone are using all the displayed space.
You can also open Disk Utility from Applications > Utilities and select your internal volume to review its available space. Avoid using third-party cleaning tools to remove Time Machine snapshots. They may not understand how macOS protects backup data.
Method 1: Connect the Time Machine Backup Disk
The safest first step is to connect the disk that Time Machine normally uses.
When the backup disk is available, Time Machine can transfer data from local snapshots to the backup destination and remove snapshots that are no longer needed. This lets macOS manage the process without requiring you to identify and delete snapshots manually.
- Connect your Time Machine backup disk to your Mac.
- If the disk does not appear, make sure its cable, adapter, or network connection is working.
- Open System Settings.
- Click General, then Time Machine.
- Confirm that the correct backup disk is selected.
- If automatic backups are enabled, allow Time Machine to complete a backup.
Do not disconnect the backup disk while a backup is running. Wait until the backup finishes, or use the Time Machine menu in the menu bar to confirm its status.
If you have not set up Time Machine yet, How to Back Up a Mac with Time Machine explains the basic process.
Method 2: Temporarily Turn Off Automatic Backups
Turning off automatic backups can encourage macOS to remove local snapshots. This method changes Time Machine’s backup behavior, so remember to turn automatic backups back on afterward if you rely on them.
Warning: Turning off automatic backups does not delete your existing external backups, but it stops scheduled backups until you re-enable the feature. Save your work before changing the setting, especially if you plan to restart your Mac afterward.
- Open the Apple menu.
- Select System Settings.
- Click General in the sidebar.
- Select Time Machine.
- Open the Options menu if it is available.
- Set the backup frequency or automatic backup option to disable automatic backups, following the controls shown on your Mac.
- Wait several minutes, then check General > Storage again.
- Re-enable automatic backups when you are finished.
The exact controls can vary depending on your macOS version and Time Machine setup. If you do not see an option to disable automatic backups, use Terminal instead.
Method 3: List Local Snapshots in Terminal
Terminal provides the clearest way to see local snapshots and their identifiers.
Warning: Terminal commands can change backup data and system behavior. Type each command exactly as shown. Do not delete a snapshot until you are certain you no longer need it for file recovery.
- Open Finder.
- Select Applications in the sidebar.
- Open the Utilities folder.
- Double-click Terminal.
- Enter this command and press Return:
tmutil listlocalsnapshots /
The output may contain entries similar to:
com.apple.TimeMachine.2025-01-15-123456.local
com.apple.TimeMachine.2025-01-16-081530.local
The date and time in each entry identify when the snapshot was created. If Terminal returns no results, your Mac may not currently have local snapshots, or they may be managed in a way that does not produce entries with this command.
To list all Time Machine snapshots visible to the system, you can also use:
tmutil listbackups
This command lists available backup dates, which may include backups on an external or network destination. It does not necessarily show only local snapshots.
Delete One Local Snapshot
Deleting one snapshot is the most controlled Terminal method. It lets you remove older snapshots while leaving newer recovery points in place.
- List the snapshots:
tmutil listlocalsnapshots /
- Identify the snapshot you want to remove.
- Copy the date-and-time identifier. Do not include the
com.apple.TimeMachine.prefix or the.localsuffix unless your Mac specifically displays the command in a different format. - Run the deletion command:
sudo tmutil deletelocalsnapshots 2025-01-15-123456
- Enter your administrator password and press Return.
- List the snapshots again to verify the result:
tmutil listlocalsnapshots /
The sudo command temporarily gives the deletion operation administrator privileges. The command changes only the snapshot identifier you specify; it does not erase your regular Time Machine backup disk.
If the command reports that the snapshot cannot be deleted, it may be required by macOS, already removed, mounted, or identified incorrectly. Do not repeatedly force deletion with unrelated commands.
Delete Local Snapshots by Reclaiming Space
Some versions of macOS support a tmutil command that asks Time Machine to delete local snapshots until it can reclaim a specified amount of space:
sudo tmutil thinlocalsnapshots / 20000000000 4
In this example:
/identifies the startup volume.20000000000is the requested amount in bytes, approximately 20 GB.4sets the thinning priority used by the command.
This does not guarantee that exactly 20 GB will be removed. macOS decides which snapshots can be deleted and how much space can safely be reclaimed.
Warning: Use this command only when you understand that it may remove multiple local snapshots. It can reduce the number of available restore points. Save open files first, and do not use it as a substitute for maintaining a complete backup.
If your Mac reports that the command is unavailable or returns an error, use the individual deletion method or let macOS manage snapshots automatically. Command availability and behavior can vary by macOS version.
Confirm That Storage Was Reclaimed
After deleting snapshots, storage information may not update immediately.
- Wait a few minutes.
- Empty the Trash if you also deleted unrelated files.
- Open System Settings > General > Storage.
- Check available storage again.
- Restart the Mac only if storage reporting remains unchanged and you have saved all work.
Do not expect the full apparent size of every snapshot to become available. Time Machine uses storage efficiently, and some snapshot data may share the same underlying blocks as current files. The amount reclaimed can therefore be smaller than the amount displayed by a storage utility.
Troubleshooting
The snapshots still appear after deletion
Run the listing command again:
tmutil listlocalsnapshots /
A newly created snapshot may appear after an older one is deleted. Connect your Time Machine backup disk and allow a backup to finish. Then check storage again.
Terminal says the snapshot was not found
The identifier may be incomplete or mistyped. Copy the date and time directly from the output of:
tmutil listlocalsnapshots /
Use the identifier format that your Mac displays. If the snapshot has already been removed automatically, there is nothing more to delete.
Terminal asks for a password but shows no characters
This is normal behavior for password entry in Terminal. Type your administrator password and press Return. If the password is rejected, confirm that the account has administrator privileges and try again.
The Mac says there is not enough storage
Free space by removing or moving large personal files that you no longer need, especially items in Downloads, large videos, and old installer files. Do not delete unknown files from system folders.
After creating room, restart Time Machine or connect the backup disk. macOS may then be able to complete backup maintenance and remove older snapshots.
Storage is still listed as System Data
System Data includes more than local Time Machine snapshots. It can contain caches, logs, app support files, virtual memory, and other managed data. Deleting snapshots may not make this category shrink immediately, and the category can be recalculated after a restart.
You deleted a snapshot and now need one of its files
Local snapshots are recovery points, not permanent archives. If the file is not in another snapshot, your regular Time Machine backup, iCloud Drive, or another backup, it may not be recoverable.
For important files, maintain a separate backup destination rather than relying on local snapshots alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete local Time Machine snapshots from Finder?
No. Local snapshots are managed by Time Machine and are not ordinary Finder files. Use Time Machine’s settings, connect the backup disk, or use the supported tmutil commands in Terminal.
Will deleting local snapshots delete my external Time Machine backup?
No. Deleting local snapshots removes recovery points stored on the Mac’s internal drive. It does not erase the backup history on an external or network Time Machine destination.
Does macOS delete local snapshots automatically?
Yes. macOS is designed to remove local snapshots when their space is needed. If your Mac has plenty of free storage, it may keep some snapshots available for recovery.
Is it safe to delete every local snapshot?
It is generally safe from a system-integrity perspective when you use Time Machine’s supported tools, but you will lose those local recovery points. Keep them if you may need to restore a recently changed or deleted file.
Do local snapshots count as a backup?
They provide limited local recovery, but they are not a complete backup. If the Mac’s internal drive fails, local snapshots stored on that drive may also be unavailable. Use an external or network backup for proper protection.
How often should I delete local snapshots?
Usually, you should not delete them on a schedule. Let macOS manage them, and remove them manually only when they are causing a real storage problem or you need to reclaim space immediately.
Final Thoughts
Local Time Machine snapshots are useful recovery points, but they can make storage usage look larger than expected. Start by connecting your Time Machine backup disk and allowing macOS to manage the snapshots. If you need immediate control, list them in Terminal and delete individual snapshots with tmutil.
Before removing anything, remember that local snapshots may be your only recent way to recover a changed or deleted file. Keep regular external or network backups so your data does not depend on storage maintained on the same Mac.