{"id":"freeing-space.what-do-snapshot-labels-in-whats-using-space-mean","url":"/faq/freeing-space/what-do-snapshot-labels-in-whats-using-space-mean","category":{"id":"freeing-space","title":"Freeing up space"},"subcategory":{"id":"snapshots-held-space","title":"Local snapshots and held space"},"question":"What do \"Required by macOS\" and \"Your Mac can clear this by itself\" mean under Space held by backups?","alt_questions":["Not marked clearable snapshot","Space held by backups section","How old are my snapshots?","Snapshot labels What's Using Space","When were these snapshots made?"],"short_answer":"Required by macOS means leave it; Your Mac can clear this by itself means it'll go when room is needed; Not marked clearable means macOS hasn't flagged it either way. Each also shows its age and purpose.","answer_markdown":"Under **Space held by backups**, each snapshot is labelled with what can be done about it:\n\n- **Required by macOS** — your Mac needs this one; leave it alone.\n- **Your Mac can clear this by itself** — it will go on its own when the room is needed.\n- **Not marked clearable** — macOS hasn't flagged it either way.\n\nEach also shows its exact age, when it was created and why it exists — a restore point made before a system update, or a routine automatic one. The section heading gives the headline: how much is held and how old the oldest snapshot is. See [the Local Snapshots manager](/faq/freeing-space/what-is-the-local-snapshots-manager).","answer_html":"

Under Space held by backups, each snapshot is labelled with what can be done about it:

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Each also shows its exact age, when it was created and why it exists — a restore point made before a system update, or a routine automatic one. The section heading gives the headline: how much is held and how old the oldest snapshot is. See the Local Snapshots manager.

","answer_text":"Under Space held by backups, each snapshot is labelled with what can be done about it:\n\n- Required by macOS — your Mac needs this one; leave it alone.\n- Your Mac can clear this by itself — it will go on its own when the room is needed.\n- Not marked clearable — macOS hasn't flagged it either way.\n\nEach also shows its exact age, when it was created and why it exists — a restore point made before a system update, or a routine automatic one. The section heading gives the headline: how much is held and how old the oldest snapshot is. See the Local Snapshots manager.","tags":["local snapshots","whats using space","labels"],"related":[{"id":"freeing-space.why-doesnt-it-show-each-snapshots-size","question":"Why doesn't Storage Studio show how big each snapshot is?","url":"/faq/freeing-space/why-doesnt-it-show-each-snapshots-size"},{"id":"freeing-space.what-is-the-local-snapshots-manager","question":"What is the Local Snapshots manager in Storage Studio?","url":"/faq/freeing-space/what-is-the-local-snapshots-manager"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"What do \"Required by macOS\" and \"Your Mac can clear this by itself\" mean under Space held by backups? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"Required by macOS means leave it; Your Mac can clear this by itself means it'll go when room is needed; Not marked clearable means macOS hasn't flagged it either way. Each also shows its age and purpose.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Freeing up space","path":"/faq/freeing-space/"},{"name":"What do \"Required by macOS\" and \"Your Mac can clear this by itself\" mean under Space held by backups?","path":"/faq/freeing-space/what-do-snapshot-labels-in-whats-using-space-mean"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/freeing-space/what-do-snapshot-labels-in-whats-using-space-mean","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"What do \"Required by macOS\" and \"Your Mac can clear this by itself\" mean under Space held by backups?","alternateName":["Not marked clearable snapshot","Space held by backups section","How old are my snapshots?","Snapshot labels What's Using Space","When were these snapshots made?"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Under Space held by backups, each snapshot is labelled with what can be done about it:\n\n- Required by macOS — your Mac needs this one; leave it alone.\n- Your Mac can clear this by itself — it will go on its own when the room is needed.\n- Not marked clearable — macOS hasn't flagged it either way.\n\nEach also shows its exact age, when it was created and why it exists — a restore point made before a system update, or a routine automatic one. The section heading gives the headline: how much is held and how old the oldest snapshot is. See the Local Snapshots manager.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/freeing-space/what-do-snapshot-labels-in-whats-using-space-mean"}}]},"fragment":"
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Freeing up space · Local snapshots and held space

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What do "Required by macOS" and "Your Mac can clear this by itself" mean under Space held by backups?

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Short answer: Required by macOS means leave it; Your Mac can clear this by itself means it'll go when room is needed; Not marked clearable means macOS hasn't flagged it either way. Each also shows its age and purpose.

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Under Space held by backups, each snapshot is labelled with what can be done about it:

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  • Required by macOS — your Mac needs this one; leave it alone.
  • Your Mac can clear this by itself — it will go on its own when the room is needed.
  • Not marked clearable — macOS hasn't flagged it either way.
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Each also shows its exact age, when it was created and why it exists — a restore point made before a system update, or a routine automatic one. The section heading gives the headline: how much is held and how old the oldest snapshot is. See the Local Snapshots manager.

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Last reviewed

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Related questions

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Also available as Markdown and JSON.

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