Time Machine files full deletion

Hi paol,

You can delete the Time Machine backup files from the external hard drive by erasing it. These steps remove all data from the hard drive.

NOTES:

• If you have any other data stored on the external hard drive, move it to a different drive before you erase it.
• If you want to prevent anyone from recovering the old backups or other data on the drive, encrypt the backup drive first. This could take a long time, depending on how much data is stored on the drive.

1. Connect the external hard drive to your Mac.
2. Open Disk Utility, located in Applications -> Utilities.
3. Click View -> Show All Devices.
4. Select the top level of the external backup drive and click Erase. Choose these options, then click Erase:
   1. Name: Whatever you want
   2. Format: Choose an appropriate format, discussed below.
   3. Scheme: GUID Partition Table/Map
5. When done, quit Disk Utility.

Formats:

• Use Mac OS Extended (Journaled) or Mac OS Extended (Journaled, Encrypted) if you intend to use the drive as a Time Machine backup drive for a Mac that's running macOS Catalina or earlier.
• Use APFS or APFS (Encrypted) if you intend to use the drive as a Time Machine backup drive for a Mac that's running macOS Big Sur.
• If you're planning to use the drive to back up a Windows PC, choose ExFAT so that both macOS and Windows can work with the drive. You'll then need to reformat the drive as NTFS in Windows.