List Local Time Machine Snapshots with tmutil

See every local APFS Time Machine snapshot on your startup disk and delete ones you no longer need.

macOSbackupstoragetmutiltime-machineLow risk

Run `tmutil listlocalsnapshots /` to list all local snapshots, and `tmutil deletelocalsnapshots <date>` to remove one.

01Command

Command

$ tmutil listlocalsnapshots /

02What it does

APFS makes hourly local snapshots that keep changed data even when the backup drive is disconnected, so 'free' space can vanish without any visible file. Listing them by date lets you delete a specific one instead of waiting for macOS to purge them under disk pressure. To recover a file, mount a listed snapshot via Time Machine or `mount_apfs -s`.

03Risk

RiskLow risk

!Warning: Deleting a snapshot is irreversible — files changed since that date lose that recovery point.

04Undo

Undo

$ tmutil deletelocalsnapshots <snapshot-date>

05Sources

macOS tmutil — Time Machine utility
SS64 · technical · 2026-09-17
Evidence: Documents listlocalsnapshots, deletelocalsnapshots, and snapshot restore subcommands of tmutil.
If you need more space for an update on your Mac
Apple Support · vendor-doc · 2026-09-17
Evidence: Apple explains that local Time Machine snapshots occupy space and are managed automatically/purged under pressure.

Last verified: 2026-09-17 · Category: System & Settings

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