Time Machine can exclude specific files, folders, apps, and storage locations from future backups. Open System Settings, go to General > Time Machine, click Options, add the items you do not want backed up, and click Done.
Excluded items will not be copied during future Time Machine backups. Items already present on the backup disk are not automatically deleted.
Quick Answer
To exclude a file or folder from Time Machine:
- Click the Apple menu in the upper-left corner and choose System Settings.
- Select General in the sidebar, then click Time Machine.
- Click Options.
- Click the Add (+) button.
- Select the file or folder to exclude and click Exclude.
- Add any other items, then click Done.
You can return to the same screen later to remove an item from the exclusion list.
Why Exclude Items from Time Machine?
Time Machine is designed to create a broad backup of your Mac, but not every item needs to be included. Excluding certain data can be useful when:
- A folder contains temporary files that can be recreated.
- An app stores large caches or downloaded files.
- You keep a separate backup of a large media library.
- A folder contains files that change frequently but are not important.
- You want to reduce the amount of space used on the Time Machine backup disk.
- A folder contains test data or virtual machine files that would make backups much larger.
Be careful when excluding personal documents, photos, financial records, or other irreplaceable files. If an item is excluded and the original is lost, Time Machine will not have a copy to restore.
Exclude Files and Folders in System Settings
This is the standard method and is suitable for most Mac users.
1. Open Time Machine settings
- Click the Apple menu.
- Select System Settings.
- Click General in the sidebar.
- Select Time Machine.
2. Open the exclusion list
- Click Options.
- In the window that appears, look for the list of locations excluded from backups.
- Click the Add (+) button below the list.
3. Select the item to exclude
A Finder-style file selection window will open.
- Browse to the file or folder you want to exclude.
- Select it.
- Click Exclude.
You can add individual files, entire folders, external drives, and other storage locations that appear in the selection window.
4. Add more exclusions
Repeat the process for every item you want to omit. A folder exclusion generally applies to everything inside that folder, including subfolders and files added later.
For example, excluding a folder named Video Projects also excludes the files and subfolders stored inside it.
5. Save the changes
Click Done when you finish. Time Machine will use the updated list during future backups.
You do not normally need to start a backup manually. Time Machine will apply the exclusion the next time it runs. If you want to begin one immediately, click the Time Machine menu in the menu bar and choose Back Up Now, if that option is available.
Exclude an External Drive or Partition
You can exclude an entire external storage device if it is connected to your Mac and appears in the item selection window.
This can be useful when:
- The external drive already has its own backup system.
- It contains temporary working files.
- It stores media that you do not want included in the Mac backup.
- It is used for another Time Machine backup.
Before excluding the drive, verify that important files on it are protected elsewhere. Time Machine will not back up the excluded drive, so a failure of that drive could result in data loss.
If the drive contains multiple partitions, you may be able to exclude a specific partition rather than the entire device. Select the location you want to omit, then confirm the exclusion.
Remove an Item from the Exclusion List
Removing an item from the list allows Time Machine to back it up again during future backups.
- Open Apple menu > System Settings.
- Go to General > Time Machine.
- Click Options.
- Select the item in the exclusion list.
- Click the Remove (–) button.
- Click Done.
Time Machine will not necessarily add all previously omitted files to an existing backup immediately. The files become eligible for backup during the next backup process.
If an item has changed substantially or contains a large amount of data, the next backup may take longer and require more space.
What Happens to Existing Backups?
Excluding a file or folder changes future backups. It does not automatically remove older copies from the Time Machine backup disk.
For example, suppose you backed up a folder yesterday and exclude it today. Earlier Time Machine snapshots may still contain that folder. You may be able to browse those older backups and restore files from them.
If your goal is to remove existing data from the backup disk, that is a separate process. Deleting backup data can affect your ability to restore files, so do not remove older snapshots simply to reclaim space without first confirming that you no longer need them.
If you need a file from an earlier backup, see How to Restore Files from a Time Machine Backup.
Check Whether a Folder Is Excluded
Time Machine does not normally display a simple “excluded” label in Finder. To verify the setting:
- Open System Settings.
- Select General, then Time Machine.
- Click Options.
- Look for the folder or file in the exclusion list.
If the item appears there, it is excluded from future backups. If it does not appear, check whether you selected the correct folder or a parent folder that contains it.
A folder can also appear to be missing from a backup for other reasons, such as permissions, an interrupted backup, or a backup that predates the file’s creation. Check the exclusion list before investigating those possibilities.
Troubleshooting Time Machine Exclusions
The Add button is unavailable
Make sure you opened Time Machine through System Settings > General > Time Machine and then selected Options. The exclusion controls may not appear on other Time Machine screens.
If the settings window looks different, the exact layout may vary between macOS releases. Look for a button labeled Options, an exclusion list, or an Add (+) button.
The item does not appear in the selection window
Try navigating to the item manually rather than searching for it. In Finder, you can use Go > Go to Folder to open a known path, then return to the Time Machine exclusion window and browse to the same location.
If you are selecting a hidden system location, avoid excluding it unless you understand what it contains. System files can be important for troubleshooting, app operation, or recovery.
The item still appears in a Time Machine backup
Time Machine exclusions affect future backups, not older snapshots. The item may still be visible when you browse an earlier backup.
Also check whether you excluded a shortcut or alias instead of the original folder. If an app or workflow creates a new folder in a different location, that new location may not be excluded.
A previously excluded folder is being backed up
Open the exclusion list and confirm that the folder is still present. If it is missing, add it again.
Check whether the folder was moved or renamed. Time Machine exclusions generally apply to the selected file-system location, so moving or replacing an item can require a new exclusion.
You should also check whether the folder is inside another location that you removed from the exclusion list.
Time Machine is still using a lot of space
Excluding a folder does not immediately delete copies already stored on the backup disk. Older backups may continue to contain that data until those backups are removed according to Time Machine’s normal space-management behavior.
Other files may also be responsible for the space usage. Large photo libraries, videos, virtual machines, and device backups can consume substantial storage. Review your exclusions and backup history before deleting anything.
If local Time Machine snapshots are using space on your Mac rather than the backup disk, see How to Delete Local Time Machine Snapshots That Use Mac Storage. Be cautious: deleting snapshots changes available recovery history.
The next backup takes longer than expected
If you remove an item from the exclusion list, Time Machine may need to copy a large amount of data. The first backup after that change can take longer than usual.
Keep the backup disk connected and, if possible, leave the Mac connected to power until the backup finishes. Avoid moving or deleting the files while the backup is in progress.
Time Machine reports that there is not enough space
Excluding files can reduce the size of future backups, but it does not instantly free space occupied by older backups. You may need to use a larger backup disk or allow Time Machine to remove older backup versions as space is needed.
Do not delete random folders inside the Time Machine backup disk using Finder. Manual changes can make backups difficult to browse or restore.
Advanced Option: Using Terminal
Most people should use System Settings. Terminal can be useful for checking whether a specific file or folder has a Time Machine exclusion flag, but commands can be easy to misunderstand.
Before using Terminal, save your work. The commands below do not delete files, but changing file attributes incorrectly can affect how macOS treats them.
Check an item’s exclusion status
- Open Applications > Utilities > Terminal.
- Type
tmutil isexcluded, followed by a space. - Drag the file or folder from Finder into the Terminal window. This inserts its full path.
- Press Return.
The command will report whether the item is excluded from Time Machine.
tmutil isexcluded "/path/to/file-or-folder"
Replace the example path with the actual path on your Mac. Dragging the item into Terminal is safer than typing a path manually because it helps avoid mistakes involving spaces or special characters.
Temporarily add an exclusion with Terminal
The following command marks an item as excluded:
sudo tmutil addexclusion "/path/to/file-or-folder"
You may be asked to enter your administrator password. Terminal does not show characters while you type the password; press Return when finished.
This command changes the item’s Time Machine exclusion setting. It does not delete the item or remove existing copies from a backup.
Reverse the Terminal exclusion
To allow the item to be backed up again, use:
sudo tmutil removeexclusion "/path/to/file-or-folder"
After changing the setting, verify it:
tmutil isexcluded "/path/to/file-or-folder"
Use the System Settings method when possible because it provides a clearer list of exclusions and makes it easier to review what has been changed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does excluding a folder delete it from my Mac?
No. Excluding a folder only prevents Time Machine from copying it during future backups. The original folder and its contents remain on your Mac.
Does excluding a folder delete it from older backups?
No. Existing backup snapshots can still contain the folder. Exclusions affect future backups only.
Can I exclude a single file?
Yes. Add the individual file through System Settings > General > Time Machine > Options.
Can I exclude an entire drive?
Usually, yes. Select the external drive in the exclusion window. Confirm that important data on it is backed up somewhere else first.
Will excluded files be restored when I migrate to another Mac?
No. If the files are not included in a Time Machine backup, they cannot be restored from that backup or transferred through it. Keep another copy if you may need them later.
Can I exclude applications?
Yes, but do so carefully. An application may be replaceable, while its settings, licenses, documents, and supporting data may be stored elsewhere and still be important. Excluding an app does not necessarily exclude its related files.
How can I back up an excluded folder separately?
Use another backup method, such as a separate external drive or a dedicated backup service. The important point is to maintain at least one reliable copy of anything you cannot replace.
Final Thoughts
To exclude data from Time Machine, add the file, folder, or drive to Time Machine Options in System Settings. The change applies to future backups, while older backup snapshots may still contain the excluded item. Review each exclusion carefully, especially when it contains personal or irreplaceable files, and keep a separate backup for anything Time Machine will no longer protect.