mac studio volume does not update after file deletions

Storage with macOS APFS volumes is complicated. macOS utilizes APFS snapshots for Time Machine backups as do many third party backup apps. These APFS snapshots will retain your deleted data until the APFS snapshot has been deleted. These snapshots should be automatically deleted at some point once the backups have been successfully transferred to external media. macOS may keep one APFS snapshot available in order to offer a faster file restoration from backup and to offer a chance to restore from a backup if the external backup media is not available. TM and third party apps may also have configuration options to allow for keeping more than one snapshot for longer periods of time.

View APFS snapshots in Disk Utility on Mac - Apple Support

FYI, best not to delete any backup APFS snapshots unless you are certain they have been successfully transferred to external media, or you lose out on some of the backup for a particular revision of a document if a recent restoration is needed.

Plus, if you copied any data to another location on the same APFS volume, then that data may still be there since all links to (aka copies of that ) data must be deleted since macOS keeps only a single instance of any data that is copied to the same volume in order to conserve space on an SSD & to lessen the wear of the SSDs.

If you are using any cloud file syncing services, then perhaps that service is re-downloading the deleted items.

bellevue177 wrote:

I've had this problem for a while now, and it is definitely a bug.

Mac Studio Pro. Internal SSD.

Ventura 13.4.1

File System APFS

After deleting files and emptying the garbage can, the volume does not update so it can appear that the volume is full even though I've deleted hundreds of gigabytes of data and emptied the garbage can. Only way to show actual volume amount is to reboot the machine.

This is not normal behavior for Windows, Linux or Mac.

There is Purgeable Space and there is Empty Space.

Purgeable Space which is Controlled by the Operating System.

When the Operating Systems decides the computer needs additional Empty Space, it will move a portion of the Purgeable to Empty space

AFAIK - there is no User Actions to hasten this transition from Purgeable to Empty Space

It can day or longer before this will occur.

How to delete Time Machine snapshots on your Mac.  

Often caused if the Time Machine Drive has not been attached  to the computer and TM Backup is set to run on a Schedule. 

TM Backup will make Snap Shot on the Internal Drive awaiting the TM Backup Drive to be attached. 

Only then will the Snaps Shots be transferred to the External Drive and deleted the Snapshot from Internal Drive..

View APFS snapshots in Disk Utility on Mac - Apple Support (CA)

See used and available storage space on your Mac

Locate backups of your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch

Once you get this sorted >> Ventura 13.4.1

The current version is About the security content of macOS Ventura 13.6.7

One thing you can do to free up storage is to launch Disk Utility and check for local snapshots on the boot drive:

I check it about once a month and delete all but the latest local snapshot. As the screenshot indicates the first time I checked it I recovered a "bunch" of free space.

bellevue177 wrote:

I do appreciate the answers here. They're quite technical and give a good understanding of why. But I stand by my statement that this is not normal or good behavior for an OS. I understand that the remaining amount shown on a volume will not update until the trash is emptied, as those files are still recoverable. But once the trash is purged, the OS should update itself to show the user how much space is available. Needing to reboot a computer or wait overnight to see if it finally reflects the true amount of disk space that can be used and throwing errors if it's full when it is not is just poor programming. It's the only OS that does this. Even Windows, which has plenty of other problems can update volumes properly.

There are aspects of Apple's macOS that we the User have control over

Then there are aspects of Apple's macOS that we Users Do Not.

Knowing the difference between the two will save the sanity of we the Uses of Apple Computers running Apple's Operating Systems

Standing as one may on an earlier statement, will not change the fact that the Operating System, designed and built by Apple and for Apple will Control how and when Purgeable Space in handled

If this is not to the liking of the User >>

Then have a few suggestions ;

Start now and open an Apple Support Ticket as they are PAID  Apple Employees to deal will these types of issues . 

 Product Feedback - Apple and make it known to Apple regarding this ongoing issue