---
id: freeing-space.snapshot-vs-time-machine-backup
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/freeing-space/snapshot-vs-time-machine-backup
category: "Freeing up space"
subcategory: "Local snapshots and held space"
question: "Does reclaiming local snapshots affect my Time Machine backups?"
alt_questions:
  - "Difference between a snapshot and a Time Machine backup"
  - "Will deleting snapshots delete my backups?"
  - "Local snapshot vs backup drive"
  - "Are my Time Machine backups safe?"
  - "Reclaim old backups Time Machine"
short_answer: "No. Local snapshots are short-term copies on your startup disk; Time Machine backups live on your backup drive. Storage Studio only thins local snapshots and prefers ones already backed up."
tags: ["time machine", "local snapshots", "backup"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/freeing-space/can-i-move-snapshots-to-my-external-drive", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/freeing-space/is-it-safe-to-delete-a-local-snapshot"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# Does reclaiming local snapshots affect my Time Machine backups?

No. A local snapshot is a short-term copy macOS keeps on your startup disk so it can roll back recent changes; your Time Machine backup is the full history saved on your backup drive. Storage Studio only ever thins the local snapshots — your Time Machine history is left alone.

It also prefers deleting snapshots that are already saved to your Time Machine destination, so you don't give up a restore point that exists nowhere else. See [the snapshot icons](https://storagestudio.us/faq/freeing-space/what-do-the-snapshot-icons-mean).