---
id: mac-storage-basics.how-do-i-delete-local-snapshots-on-a-mac
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-delete-local-snapshots-on-a-mac
category: "Mac storage basics"
subcategory: "Purgeable space and local snapshots"
question: "How do I delete local Time Machine snapshots on my Mac?"
alt_questions:
  - "tmutil delete local snapshots"
  - "remove apfs snapshots mac"
  - "delete time machine snapshots macbook"
  - "clear local snapshots terminal"
  - "thin local snapshots"
  - "how to remove snapshots in disk utility"
short_answer: "List them with tmutil listlocalsnapshots / and delete one with tmutil deletelocalsnapshots plus its date, or use Disk Utility's Show APFS Snapshots. Update snapshots may be protected."
tags: ["snapshots", "tmutil", "disk utility", "time machine"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/what-are-local-snapshots-on-a-mac", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/are-local-snapshots-a-backup"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# How do I delete local Time Machine snapshots on my Mac?

You can use Terminal:

1. `tmutil listlocalsnapshots /` lists the snapshots on your startup disk.
2. `tmutil deletelocalsnapshots` followed by the date part of a snapshot's name (for example 2026-10-01-101500) deletes that one.

Disk Utility can also show snapshots for a volume (**View → Show APFS Snapshots**) and delete selected ones.

Snapshots made before a system update may be protected while macOS needs them. Deleting a snapshot that hasn't reached your Time Machine drive yet means losing that point in time.

Storage Studio's **Local Snapshots** window lists each snapshot with whether it's already backed up, lets you delete only backed-up ones or reclaim a chosen amount, and never removes system-required snapshots. See [the Local Snapshots manager](https://storagestudio.us/manual/local-snapshots).