Time Machine no longer lets you delete case-by-case files from backup shot , though you’re able to still delete an entire snapshot . That should n’t be a problem : in almost no case does it make sense to erase a single file from a Time Machine backup in the first place .

As part of Apple ’s transition from its traditional Mac filesystem , HFS+ , to the more advanced APFS , Apple took a few year to flesh out Time Machine backing . By macOS 11 Big Sur , you ’ve been able to back up directly to an APFS volume . Before APFS , you could range a Time Machine shot in HFS+ and select to delete all instance of a give file across all snap . APFS snapshots ca n’t be modified , however ; you ca n’t bump off a file ( or folder ) within the accompaniment .

But think about why you might need to delete one or more files or folders :

time machine snapshots

Time Machine snapshots appear as volumes in the Finder that you can delete manually—but you can’t get rid of individual files.

Time Machine snapshots look as volumes in the Finder that you’re able to delete manually — but you ca n’t get free of individual files .

Foundry

you’re able to cope snapshots in a diverseness of ways , including via the Finder ( where you’re able to choose a snapshot and then chooseFile > Delete right away ) , throughthe Terminal commandtmutil , andvia Disk Utility .

This Mac 911 clause is in response to a question submitted by Macworld reader Roland .

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