local snapshots not being deleted

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Level 1

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local snapshots not being deleted

I am running my TimeMachine backup regularly. However, my local snapshots are not being deleted. Currently I have about 25 snapshots listed when I issue the command tmutil listlocalsnapshots / in Terminal.

I tried thinning them with tmutil thinlocalsnapshots / but that doesn't work.

I turned TM's Back up Automatically off as mentioned in a help document, waited for about 15 min but all the snapshots are still there.

I looked at "About this mac" on the upper left menu bar > Storage >Manage and I see 335.72 GB of "Other" storage which I assume are all these local snapshots.

How else can I eliminate those hourly snapshots? I know they aren't supposed to clutter my disc if space is needed, but why isn't it working as it should?

Here is a list of the local snapshots. My latest TimeMachine backup to my external drive was at 0915, just under an hour ago.

My Big Sur is appropriately updated.

<name>@<name>-iMac ~ % tmutil listlocalsnapshots /

Snapshots for disk /:

com.apple.TimeMachine.2021-07-17-101025.local

com.apple.TimeMachine.2021-07-17-111029.local

com.apple.TimeMachine.2021-07-17-121046.local

com.apple.TimeMachine.2021-07-17-131056.local

com.apple.TimeMachine.2021-07-17-141126.local

com.apple.TimeMachine.2021-07-17-151057.local

com.apple.TimeMachine.2021-07-17-161129.local

com.apple.TimeMachine.2021-07-17-181134.local

com.apple.TimeMachine.2021-07-17-191119.local

com.apple.TimeMachine.2021-07-17-201139.local

com.apple.TimeMachine.2021-07-17-211145.local

com.apple.TimeMachine.2021-07-17-221152.local

com.apple.TimeMachine.2021-07-17-231139.local

com.apple.TimeMachine.2021-07-18-001141.local

com.apple.TimeMachine.2021-07-18-011143.local

com.apple.TimeMachine.2021-07-18-021218.local

com.apple.TimeMachine.2021-07-18-031233.local

com.apple.TimeMachine.2021-07-18-041215.local

com.apple.TimeMachine.2021-07-18-051250.local

com.apple.TimeMachine.2021-07-18-061244.local

com.apple.TimeMachine.2021-07-18-071259.local

Here's what Manage Storage reports:

iMac Line (2012 and Later)

Posted on Jul 18, 2021 8:19 AM

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Answer 1

leroydouglas

Level 10

200,568 points

Jul 18, 2021 8:29 AM in response to snsok

snsok wrote:

I am running my TimeMachine backup regularly. However, my local snapshots are not being deleted. Currently I have about 25 snapshots listed when I issue the command tmutil listlocalsnapshots / in Terminal.

I tried thinning them with tmutil thinlocalsnapshots / but that doesn't work.

I turned TM's Back up Automatically off as mentioned in a help document, waited for about 15 min but all the snapshots are still there.

I looked at "About this mac" on the upper left menu bar > Storage >Manage and I see 335.72 GB of "Other" storage which I assume are all these local snapshots.

<snip>

My Big Sur is appropriately updated.

Local snapshots serve a purpose— if you delete them it defeats this purpose...

typically preserved 24-48 hours depending on disk space.

I see 7/17 and 7/18 how can this be an issue...(?)

See for https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/340905/how-to-delete-all-local-timemachine-snapshots

for thinning local snap

If you are concerned about storage I would look else where:

Empty your Trash — Delete files and folders on Mac - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/delete-files-and-folders-on-mac-mchlp1093/mac

How to free up storage space on your Mac - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT206996

See used and available storage space on your Mac

https://support.apple.com/guide/system-information/see-available-storage-space-syspf9b375b9/10.14/mac/10.15

User tip: "Other and What Can I Do About It ?"

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-5142

Try something like OmniDiskSweeper for a GUI to get a good look at itemized file size and location:

OmniDiskSweeper http://www.omnigroup.com/more

ref: About Time Machine local snapshots - Apple Support

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Answer 2

snsok Author

Level 1

30 points

Jul 18, 2021 8:42 AM in response to leroydouglas

@leroydouglas I thought the purpose was to create temporary backups when TimeMachine was not available. They are supposed to disappear within a day or so when Time Machine has subsequently backed up to its external disc. Do I have that wrong?

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local snapshots not being deleted

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