how to delete backup from my mac?

Question

Level 1

6 points

how to delete backup from my mac?

Hi.

i found out yesterday that i have a 49 gb backup on my macbook air, and i wont to delete because i takes a lot of the available gb. i have a time capsule so i have a backup there, but the backup on my mac is also there. so if i delete all the files on the macbook, and use the backup on my time capsule, the backup on my mac will come back.

i have searched in the files, programs, etc. but i cant find the backup file. does anybody have a solution? where can i find the file and what is it called?🙂

MacBook Air, Mac OS X (10.7.4)

Posted on Jun 13, 2012 8:44 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

SP Forsythe

Level 5

5,448 points

Jun 13, 2012 9:51 AM in response to Vinter18

Simply "turn off" Time Machine in its preference pane, under System Preferences.

Turn it back on, or select "Back Up Now" in the title bar icon for TM, when you wish it to sync with your TC.

Alternatively, you can disable Local Snapshots as well, if you don't want to turn off Time Machine.

Enter this in Terminal:

sudo tmutil disablelocal

Reply

Answer 2

Vinter18 Author

Level 1

6 points

Jun 13, 2012 1:14 PM in response to SP Forsythe

that actully helped. thanks. Now that backup file is gone, but i just realized that i also have 22 gb "others" do you know what that is, and is it necessary or can i delete some of those files?

Reply

Answer 3

Jun 13, 2012 1:26 PM in response to Vinter18

There might be a few files you can delete, but don't be misled by the classification "other". "Other" just means every other file that doesn't fall into the other categories. Most of it is system files, and other operating system and configuration files that are critical. Depending on the nature of your data, only a small amount might be user files that are discretionary.

Use an app like Grand Perspective or Daisy Disk to help scour your drive for space.

Reply

Answer 4

Dec 26, 2013 9:01 AM in response to SP Forsythe

SP Forsythe wrote:

Simply "turn off" Time Machine in its preference pane, under System Preferences.

Turn it back on, or select "Back Up Now" in the title bar icon for TM, when you wish it to sync with your TC.

Alternatively, you can disable Local Snapshots as well, if you don't want to turn off Time Machine.

Enter this in Terminal:

sudo tmutil disablelocal

This command was very helpful.

Reply

Answer 5

Dec 27, 2013 1:06 PM in response to SP Forsythe

how do you undo that sudo command? is it just suda tmutil enablelocal

Reply

Answer 6

Dec 30, 2013 11:21 PM in response to Vinter18

I'm trying to follow along becasue I have some 432GB of backups on my Macbook's hard drive, and I want them gone. Went to Terminal and typed the "sudo..." and then it asks me for a password. Well I have typed the one password my computer has, and nothing happens.

Any thoughts on what I might be doing wrong or ANY ideas on how to gte rid of these?

Thank you.

Reply

Answer 7

Dec 30, 2013 11:46 PM in response to gatsby14055

Nothing will appear in Terminal as the result of a successful sudo operation. You may have to log out and log ina gain (or do a complete reboot) to see the results.

Those backups, by the way, aren't doing any harm. In fact, if you actually needed the space for other files (eg, if you wanted to copy a larger file onto your drive) they would get automatically purged to make room.

Matt

Reply

Answer 8

xshatx

Level 1

0 points

Feb 4, 2015 12:55 AM in response to SP Forsythe

thank u very much for the help

Reply