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How to remove data from Time Machine backup?

Is it possible to remove data from Time Machine backup? "Clean" the external disk? PS: It's an old TM Backup disk

iMac 27″, macOS 10.13

Posted on Jan 28, 2022 11:38 PM

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Posted on Jan 29, 2022 9:48 AM

If it is an old TM disk that you want to recycle, then use Disk Utility to erase it. If it is macOS Monterey or earlier, use macOS Extended with GUID partition scheme. If Catalina or later, I would suggest erasing it as APFS with GUID partition scheme.


Time Machine will create a backup.backupd folder in the HFS+ formatted drives, and in APFS format, a series of date/time folders for each backup.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jan 29, 2022 9:48 AM in response to kathompso19

If it is an old TM disk that you want to recycle, then use Disk Utility to erase it. If it is macOS Monterey or earlier, use macOS Extended with GUID partition scheme. If Catalina or later, I would suggest erasing it as APFS with GUID partition scheme.


Time Machine will create a backup.backupd folder in the HFS+ formatted drives, and in APFS format, a series of date/time folders for each backup.

How to remove data from Time Machine backup?

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