How to Delete Old Time Machine Backups on Your Mac Featured Image

3 Best Ways to Delete Old Time Machine Backups on Your Mac

Get your space back: delete old backups.

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Last updated: February 5, 2025

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TL;DR

Here is how to delete old Time Machine backups on your Mac:

  1. Connect your external drive to your Mac.
  2. Open Time Machine from the Launchpad.
  3. Select the backup you want to delete.
  4. Click the gear icon and choose Delete Backup.
  5. Enter your admin password to confirm, and the backup will be deleted.

Tried and Tested ✅: The methods and steps mentioned in this article have been tried and tested firsthand by Ojash Yadav on his MacBook Pro M3 and rechecked for errors on Hashir’s MacBook Air M2.

Should I delete Mac Time Machine backups?

If your backup drive is full or you no longer need older backups, it’s okay to delete some to free up space. Just make sure to keep the most recent backups in case you need to restore your system.

Is your Mac constantly warning you about low storage? I faced the same issue and found out that outdated Time Machine backups were hogging a lot of space. In this post, I’ll share the simple methods I used to delete those backups and free up valuable storage on my Mac.

Before We Begin

If you want to free up space on your Mac, you don’t need to delete Time Machine backups as there are other ways to do that. For example, you can use MacKeeper to delete duplicate files on your Mac, which often take up significant space. You can also uninstall unnecessary apps on your Mac using MacKeeper.

Use MacKeeper to Free Up Space on Your Mac

Unused applications can take up valuable space on your hard drive. By removing them, you can create more room for important files, applications, and system updates.

With MacKeeper’s Smart Uninstaller, you can delete unwanted apps in just a few clicks. Follow these steps to uninstall apps on your Mac:

  1. Download and install MacKeeper on your Mac.
  2. After installation, launch MacKeeper and click the Smart Uninstaller in the left-hand menu.
MacKeeper interface showing Smart Uninstaller feature and scan options.
MacKeeper interface showing Smart Uninstaller feature and scan options.
  1. Click Start Scan.
MacKeeper Smart Uninstaller interface with Scan button for removing apps and leftover files.
MacKeeper Smart Uninstaller interface with Scan button for removing apps and leftover files.
  1. Select the applications you want to delete from the list and click Remove Selected.
MacKeeper Smart Uninstaller showing applications and remove selected button
MacKeeper Smart Uninstaller showing applications and remove selected button
  1. Tap the Remove button on the pop-up to confirm the deletion.
Confirmation dialog asking to remove selected items with 'Cancel' and 'Remove' buttons.
Confirmation dialog asking to remove selected items with ‘Cancel’ and ‘Remove’ buttons.
  1. MacKeeper will uninstall the apps and remove associated files and folders. You will get a Removal Completed notification. If you want to scan your Mac again, click Rescan.
MacKeeper Smart Uninstaller showing removal completed with 511 bytes cleared.
MacKeeper Smart Uninstaller showing removal completed with 511 bytes cleared.

Besides deleting unwanted apps, MacKeeper can also help you remove duplicate files on your hard drive. Here’s how to delete duplicate files on Mac using MacKeeper:

  1. Download and install MacKeeper on your Mac.
  2. Open MacKeeper on your Mac and click Duplicates Finder in the left sidebar.
MacKeeper Duplicates Finder feature ready for scanning Mac storage.
MacKeeper Duplicates Finder feature ready for scanning Mac storage.
  1. Click Start Scan.
MacKeeper's Duplicates Finder interface for removing duplicate files and photos.
MacKeeper’s Duplicates Finder interface for removing duplicate files and photos.
  1. Select a folder in the left menu to review duplicate files before deletion.
Screenshot manager displaying duplicates finder with file options.
Screenshot manager displaying duplicates finder with file options.
  1. Alternatively, you can click Check All and tap the Remove Selected button to remove all duplicate files at once.
Mac duplicates finder tool showing 24 files identified for removal
Mac duplicates finder tool showing 24 files identified for removal
  1. Tap the Remove button on the pop-up to confirm the deletion.
File removal confirmation dialog with cancel and remove buttons displayed.
File removal confirmation dialog with cancel and remove buttons displayed.
  1. This will remove the selected files, and you’ll get a Removal Completed notification. Click Finish to end the process.
Removal completed alert with pink donuts and confirmation message
Removal completed alert with pink donuts and confirmation message

What Else Can MacKeeper Do?

Besides uninstalling apps and deleting duplicates on your Mac, MacKeeper can free up RAM on your Mac, manage login items, and stop annoying ads. Read my detailed MacKeeper review to learn about its features in detail.

How to Delete Old Time Machine Backups on Your Mac

Why You Can Trust MacBook Journal verify badge We always conduct first-hand research and verify every method or solution we present, ensuring you receive reliable and effective advice. Learn more about our process.

Here’s how I safely delete old Time Machine Backups on Mac:

1. Using the Time Machine Menu

Use the Time Machine menu to easily delete old backups directly from your Mac. Follow these steps to delete your old Time Machine backups:

  1. Connect your external drive to your Mac.
  1. Open the Launchpad and type Time Machine in the search bar.
  2. Open the Time Machine app.
select the time machine app
  1. Select the backup you want to delete.
  2. Click the gear icon and choose Delete Backup.
  1. Confirm your decision by entering your admin password.
  2. This will remove the selected backup.

2. From Finder

Here is how you can delete old Time Machine backups on your Mac via Finder:

  1. Connect your external hard drive to your Mac.
  1. Open Finder on your Mac and find the external drive in the left sidebar.
click finder in your dock
  1. In the external drive, locate the Backups.backupdb folder.
  2. In this folder, look for a folder with the same name as your device.
  3. Here, you’ll find all backups created on your Mac with their respective creation dates.
  4. Right-click the backup you want to delete and select Move to Bin.
  5. Next, empty the Trash on your Mac by right-clicking the Bin icon in your Dock and selecting Empty Bin.
right click the bin and select empty bin

3. Using Terminal

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to delete Time Machine backups using Terminal:

  1. Open the Finder and navigate to Applications > Utilities > Terminal.
launch terminal from utilities
  1. Enter the following command in the Terminal and press Enter:
tmutil listbackups
type the tmutil listbackups command
  1. This command will display the available backups organized by date. Take note of the directory path of the backup you wish to delete.
  2. Next, use the following command in the Terminal and press Enter
sudo tmutil delete <backup_path>
type the sudo tmutil delete command

Here, replace <backup_path> with the actual directory path of the backup you want to remove.

  1. Once the command executes, it will delete the specified backup.

How to Disable Automatic Time Machine Backups?

You can also turn off automatic backups to manage backup frequency and save space on your external drive. It’s a straightforward process; here’s how:

  1. From the main Apple menu, navigate to System Settings.
click the apple icon and select system settings
  1. Click General and select Time Machine.
click general and select time machine
  1. Connect your external hard drive and wait for it to be recognized.
  1. Deselect the option for Automatic Backup.

If you decide to disable automatic backups, do not overlook this essential task. Backups are crucial for data security, so setting up a few calendar reminders can help you stay on track and backup your Mac data regularly.

Are Time Machine Backups and Snapshots the Same?

Time Machine backups and snapshots are similar but not the same. Backups save your entire system so you can restore everything if needed. Snapshots, on the other hand, are quick snapshots of your system at a specific time, stored on your Mac’s main drive. They help you recover files or undo changes when your backup drive isn’t connected.

How to Delete Time Machine Snapshots

Time Machine is designed to remove snapshots automatically, but this doesn’t always happen as expected. Here’s how you can use Terminal to remove snapshots:

  1. Open Terminal from Launchpad.
open terminal via launchpad
  1. Enter the command and press Enter:
tmutil listlocalsnapshots /
type the tmutil listlocalsnapshots command
  1. Find the snapshot you want to delete and note its name. Snapshots have names like com.apple.TimeMachine.2023-02-25-180515
  2. Type the following command and press Enter:
tmutil deletelocalsnapshots <snapshot-name>
type the tmutil deletelocalsnapshots command

Here, replace <snapshot-name> with the date of the snapshot you wish to remove, for example, 2023-02-25-180515.

Did You Know? “Time Machine not only backs up your files but also keeps hourly backups for the past 24 hours, daily backups for the past month, and weekly backups for all previous months. This means your drive can fill up quickly if not managed.

Delete Time Machine Backups to Free Up Space

Managing Time Machine backups is an essential task for every Mac user. Regular management can improve system performance and backup efficiency, so don’t hesitate to share your experiences and explore further resources.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I recover a deleted Time Machine backup?

You may be able to recover a deleted Time Machine backup from a local backup or another partition. It often requires specific technical steps or using specialized software. However, recovery may be more challenging or impossible if the backup was overwritten or securely deleted. You can consult an expert if needed.

How often should I delete old Time Machine backups on Mac?

You typically don’t need to manually delete old Time Machine backups on Mac, as the system manages this. Time Machine automatically deletes the oldest backups to make space for new ones when the backup disk is full. If specific management of backups is needed, consider expert advice or specific tools.

Can I transfer Time Machine backups to another Mac?

Yes, you can transfer Time Machine backups to another Mac by connecting the backup drive to the new Mac and using the Migration Assistant. This tool will allow you to select the Time Machine backup and choose the information you want to transfer to the new system.

Ojash

Author

Hi there! I'm Ojash, a tech journalist with over a decade of experience in the industry. I've had the privilege of contributing to some of the world's largest tech publications, making my mark as a respected Mac expert. My passion lies in exploring, using, and writing about MacBooks, and I enjoy sharing my expertise to help others make informed decisions and get the most out of their MacBook experience. Join me as we delve into the fascinating world of MacBooks together!

Hashir Ibrahim

Reviewer

Hello! I'm Hashir, a seasoned tech journalist with a unique blend of academic expertise and hands-on experience. With a bachelor's in IT, a master's in cybersecurity, and over a decade in the industry, I've built a reputation for demystifying complex Apple hardware. My work has been featured in top tech outlets like MakeUseOf and MakeTechEasier. As the senior writer at MacBook Journal, I write guides that help you solve any issues you have with your mac.

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