Time Machine part of External SSD still full after deleting

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Time Machine part of External SSD still full after deleting

I have an external Sandisk 2TB SSD. It is formatted into two volumes. One is Time Machine, the other is a regular APFS Volume for folders and files and such.

I deleted the files inside Time Machine, but it still says that the same amount of space is being taken up within this Volume. (I now know you're not supposed to delete time machine folders, but its already happened). It seems deleting those files didn't actually work.

How can I clear the Time Machine Volume? If I use disk utility to erase it, will that ruin the other Volume within the external SSD?

I am asking because I can not risk deleting the files in the other Volume.

MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Jan 22, 2023 3:00 PM

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Answer 1

Jan 22, 2023 4:31 PM in response to gechols95

The only way to delete Time machines Backup files (which are a backup SET that can NOT be broken apart) is to erase that volume and start over.

Time machine takes care of itself, but the ideal Volume size is over 2.5 times the size of what is to be saved.

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Answer 2

Jan 22, 2023 6:27 PM in response to gechols95

By design, erasing one Volume is intended to not disturb any other Volume.

That said, any use of Disk Utility could uncover an error that causes a cascade of problems, leaving the drive in an odd state. In rare circumstances, even unusable.

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