Ventura Time Machine: Exclude Macintosh HD, delete old backups

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Level 1

9 points

Ventura Time Machine: Exclude Macintosh HD, delete old backups

Ventura is running on my 27inch 5K iMac (2017), from an external SSD, because the Fusion Drive is too slow. However, Time Machine is backing up both my new external startup disc (USB connected SSD), and my Macintosh HD, which I don't need anymore, except for storage. Can I instruct Time Machine not to include Macintosh HD in its backups? Also, can I delete some of the earlier backups in Time Machine by dragging them into the Bin?

iMac 27″ 5K, macOS 13.7

Posted on Jun 19, 2026 3:51 AM

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Answer 1

Jun 19, 2026 8:06 PM in response to peterpatter

Our friend, @Owl-53, has provided good guidance on how to exclude drives and volumes from being backed up by Time Machine. Take care of that in the Time Machine settings.

As for deleting specific parts of the Time Machine backups, that is not an option. It cannot be done.

If you need make more space for your TM backups, you will have to either erase your current backup drive and start a fresh backup, or get another drive and start a new backup. There is no other option.

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Answer 2

Owl-53

Level 10

107,829 points

Jun 19, 2026 4:51 AM in response to peterpatter

Question # 1 >> Exclude files from a Time Machine backup on Mac

Add " Macintosh HD " to the exclusion list

Question #2 - No, you can delete or not cherry pick older Time Machine Backup Snapshot

Do so may corruption the index file used by TM BAckup

If this should happen, you are likely to loose ALL your Backup Snapshots

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Answer 3

Owl-53

Level 10

107,829 points

Jun 20, 2026 12:56 AM in response to peterpatter

My good colleague @ D.I.Johnson answered your question

Just reiterate

Question #2 - No, you can delete or cherry pick older Time Machine Backup Snapshot

Doing so may corruption the index file used by TM BAckup

If this should happen, you are likely to loose ALL your Backup Snapshots

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Answer 4

peterpatter Author

Level 1

9 points

Jun 19, 2026 7:58 PM in response to Owl-53

Owl-53,

If I do that, how far back will it go with excluding Mac HD, as I need to create much more capacity on my 4TB external HDD for Time Machine backups?

I'm not quite sure what you mean in your reply to my second question, where you say No, you can delete ---. Do you perhaps mean No, you can't delete --- ? If so, how do I remove old TM backups from two years ago that I don't need?

Thanks,

Peterpatter.

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