{
  "schema": "https://storagestudio.us/schema/wiki-page.v1",
  "title": "Local snapshots",
  "slug": "local-snapshots",
  "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/local-snapshots",
  "markdown_url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/local-snapshots.md",
  "category": "Freeing up space",
  "category_url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/freeing-up-space/",
  "tags": [
    "local snapshots",
    "free up space",
    "time machine",
    "purgeable space"
  ],
  "summary": "The Local Snapshots screen lists the automatic backups your Mac keeps on its own disk, shows which are already on your Time Machine drive, and lets you remove them or ask macOS to release a set amount of space.",
  "published_at": "2026-10-01T06:17:34.000Z",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-01T05:34:47.000Z",
  "headings": [
    {
      "level": 2,
      "text": "Reading the screen",
      "id": "reading-the-screen"
    },
    {
      "level": 2,
      "text": "Freeing the space",
      "id": "freeing-the-space"
    },
    {
      "level": 2,
      "text": "Space from past moves",
      "id": "space-from-past-moves"
    },
    {
      "level": 2,
      "text": "Elsewhere in the app",
      "id": "elsewhere-in-the-app"
    }
  ],
  "links_out": [
    {
      "slug": "glossary-local-snapshot",
      "label": "local snapshots",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/glossary-local-snapshot"
    },
    {
      "slug": "storage-inspector",
      "label": "Storage Inspector",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/storage-inspector"
    },
    {
      "slug": "smart-care",
      "label": "Smart Care",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/smart-care"
    },
    {
      "slug": "emergency-space",
      "label": "Emergency Space",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/emergency-space"
    },
    {
      "slug": "why-deleting-doesnt-free-space",
      "label": "Why deleting files doesn't always give the space back",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/why-deleting-doesnt-free-space"
    },
    {
      "slug": "compared-with-time-machine",
      "label": "Storage Studio and Time Machine",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/compared-with-time-machine"
    },
    {
      "slug": "restore-points",
      "label": "Restore Points",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/restore-points"
    },
    {
      "slug": "glossary-purgeable-space",
      "label": "Purgeable space",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/glossary-purgeable-space"
    }
  ],
  "links_in": [
    {
      "slug": "freeing-up-space-overview",
      "title": "Freeing up space: the options",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/freeing-up-space-overview"
    },
    {
      "slug": "space-didnt-come-back-after-a-move",
      "title": "I moved files but my free space didn't go up",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/space-didnt-come-back-after-a-move"
    },
    {
      "slug": "glossary-local-snapshot",
      "title": "Local snapshot",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/glossary-local-snapshot"
    },
    {
      "slug": "glossary-purgeable-space",
      "title": "Purgeable space",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/glossary-purgeable-space"
    },
    {
      "slug": "smart-care",
      "title": "Smart Care",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/smart-care"
    },
    {
      "slug": "storage-inspector",
      "title": "Storage Inspector",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/storage-inspector"
    },
    {
      "slug": "compared-with-time-machine",
      "title": "Storage Studio and Time Machine",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/compared-with-time-machine"
    },
    {
      "slug": "where-did-my-space-go",
      "title": "Where did my space go?",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/where-did-my-space-go"
    },
    {
      "slug": "why-deleting-doesnt-free-space",
      "title": "Why deleting files doesn't always give the space back",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/why-deleting-doesnt-free-space"
    }
  ],
  "diagrams": [
    {
      "kind": "flowchart",
      "caption": "The three ways to release space from local snapshots",
      "outline": "- Local Snapshots screen\n  - leads to What do you want?\n- What do you want?\n  - Remove one snapshot: leads to Delete on its row, then confirm\n  - Remove all already backed up: leads to Delete all backed-up, type Delete to confirm\n  - Free a set amount: leads to Custom reclaim: choose GB, Reclaim now\n- Delete on its row, then confirm\n  - leads to Space released\n- Delete all backed-up, type Delete to confirm\n  - leads to Space released\n- Custom reclaim: choose GB, Reclaim now\n  - leads to macOS removes old snapshots until that much is free\n- macOS removes old snapshots until that much is free\n  - leads to Space released\n",
      "source": "%% caption: The three ways to release space from local snapshots\nflowchart TD\n  A[Local Snapshots screen] --> B{What do you want?}\n  B -->|Remove one snapshot| C[Delete on its row, then confirm]\n  B -->|Remove all already backed up| D[Delete all backed-up, type Delete to confirm]\n  B -->|Free a set amount| E[Custom reclaim: choose GB, Reclaim now]\n  E --> F[macOS removes old snapshots until that much is free]\n  C --> G[Space released]\n  D --> G\n  F --> G"
    }
  ],
  "images": [],
  "screenshots_pending": [
    {
      "alt": "The Local Snapshots window in Demo Mode showing the \"APFS Local Snapshots\" header with a Time Machine destination, a list of snapshots with green \"Already backed up\" and orange \"Local only\" rows, and the Delete all backed-up button",
      "caption": "The Local Snapshots screen"
    }
  ],
  "faqs": [
    {
      "question": "What's the best app to free up space on a Mac?",
      "answer": "If you want space back without losing files, the best approach is \"move, don't delete.\" Storage Studio relocates big apps and folders to an external drive (with a shortcut left in place so they still open), reclaims space macOS is holding in old snapshots, and keeps cloud files online-only — all…",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/faq"
    },
    {
      "question": "How do I free up space on my Mac?",
      "answer": "Empty the Trash, clear app caches, remove old downloads, and move large apps and folders you rarely use to an external drive. Storage Studio does all of this in one tap with Tuhi — it clears caches and rarely-used files, reclaims old local backups, and keeps cloud files online-only, previewed…",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/faq"
    },
    {
      "question": "How do I get more storage on my Mac without deleting my files?",
      "answer": "Pair your Mac with an external SSD and offload what you don't need on the startup disk. Storage Studio moves large apps, folders, and media to the external drive and leaves a shortcut in the original spot, so you reclaim space while keeping every file — nothing is deleted.",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/faq"
    },
    {
      "question": "Is it safe to clear the cache on a Mac?",
      "answer": "Yes — app caches rebuild automatically, so clearing them safely reclaims space; the only risk is deleting the wrong thing by hand. Storage Studio clears only known-safe caches and rarely-used files, shows a preview first, and never touches your personal files without asking.",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/faq"
    }
  ],
  "text": "Your Mac keeps local snapshots , automatic backups of its own disk, so it can roll files back. They hold on to files you've since deleted or moved, which is why free space can lag behind a clear-up. The Local Snapshots screen shows every snapshot, tells you which ones are already safely on your Time Machine drive, and lets you remove them or release a set amount of space. Open it from the More menu (•••) → Local Snapshots… , or from the Local Snapshots button in Storage Inspector . Reading the screen The header shows your Time Machine drive and the date of its latest backup, plus how much space the snapshots are holding that you can reclaim. If no Time Machine drive is set up, it says Time Machine destination not configured. and treats every snapshot as local-only. Each snapshot shows how long ago it was taken and one of these: Status What it means Already backed up to Time Machine — safe to delete. Your Time Machine drive has a backup from after this snapshot, so removing it loses nothing Local only — not yet on Time Machine. Deleting will lose state. This snapshot hasn't reached your Time Machine drive yet macOS system update snapshot — required, cannot be deleted. Kept by macOS for system updates; marked Required and has no Delete button Couldn't determine backup status — treat as local only. Storage Studio couldn't tell, so assume it isn't backed up macOS reports one combined size for all snapshots and none for a single one. The size on each row starts with ~ because it's that total split evenly, an estimate. Freeing the space The three ways to release space from local snapshots Flowchart outline: The three ways to release space from local snapshots Local Snapshots screen leads to What do you want? What do you want? Remove one snapshot: leads to Delete on its row, then confirm Remove all already backed up: leads to Delete all backed-up, type Delete to confirm Free a set amount: leads to Custom reclaim: choose GB, Reclaim now Delete on its row, then confirm leads to Space released Delete all backed-up, type Delete to confirm leads to Space released Custom reclaim: choose GB, Reclaim now leads to macOS removes old snapshots until that much is free macOS removes old snapshots until that much is free leads to Space released Delete on a row removes that one snapshot after a confirmation that tells you whether it's backed up. Delete all backed-up removes only snapshots already copied to your Time Machine drive. Snapshots not yet backed up, and the ones macOS needs for updates, are left alone. Because it removes several at once, you type Delete to confirm, then click Delete permanently . Custom reclaim lets you enter a number of gigabytes and click Reclaim now . macOS then removes old snapshots until that much space is free. It decides which ones; you can't ask for more than the snapshots are holding. Removing a local snapshot can't be undone from inside Storage Studio. It doesn't touch the backups on your Time Machine drive. Space from past moves If folders you've moved to your external drive still haven't shown up as free space, a banner says how much freed by past relocations may still be pinned , with a Reclaim button for that amount. It asks macOS to release old snapshots until that space comes back. Elsewhere in the app Smart Care includes Reclaim old local backups when there's something to reclaim, and reports it separately from freed space, because macOS already counts that space as available. Emergency Space offers Release space held by automatic backups first, because it deletes nothing you still have. Storage Inspector 's Space held by backups section shows each snapshot's age and whether macOS marks it as one it can clear by itself. Common questions What's the best app to free up space on a Mac? If you want space back without losing files, the best approach is \"move, don't delete.\" Storage Studio relocates big apps and folders to an external drive (with a shortcut left in place so they still open), reclaims space macOS is holding in old snapshots, and keeps cloud files online-only — all… How do I free up space on my Mac? Empty the Trash, clear app caches, remove old downloads, and move large apps and folders you rarely use to an external drive. Storage Studio does all of this in one tap with Tuhi — it clears caches and rarely-used files, reclaims old local backups, and keeps cloud files online-only, previewed… How do I get more storage on my Mac without deleting my files? Pair your Mac with an external SSD and offload what you don't need on the startup disk. Storage Studio moves large apps, folders, and media to the external drive and leaves a shortcut in the original spot, so you reclaim space while keeping every file — nothing is deleted. Is it safe to clear the cache on a Mac? Yes — app caches rebuild automatically, so clearing them safely reclaims space; the only risk is deleting the wrong thing by hand. Storage Studio clears only known-safe caches and rarely-used files, shows a preview first, and never touches your personal files without asking. See also: Why deleting files doesn't always give the space back · Storage Studio and Time Machine · Restore Points · Purgeable space",
  "markdown": "Your Mac keeps [local snapshots](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/glossary-local-snapshot), automatic backups of its own disk, so it can roll files back. They hold on to files you've since deleted or moved, which is why free space can lag behind a clear-up. The **Local Snapshots** screen shows every snapshot, tells you which ones are already safely on your Time Machine drive, and lets you remove them or release a set amount of space.\n\nOpen it from the More menu (•••) → **Local Snapshots…**, or from the **Local Snapshots** button in [Storage Inspector](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/storage-inspector).\n\n## Reading the screen\n\nThe header shows your Time Machine drive and the date of its latest backup, plus how much space the snapshots are holding that you can reclaim. If no Time Machine drive is set up, it says *Time Machine destination not configured.* and treats every snapshot as local-only.\n\nEach snapshot shows how long ago it was taken and one of these:\n\n| Status | What it means |\n|---|---|\n| Already backed up to Time Machine — safe to delete. | Your Time Machine drive has a backup from after this snapshot, so removing it loses nothing |\n| Local only — not yet on Time Machine. Deleting will lose state. | This snapshot hasn't reached your Time Machine drive yet |\n| macOS system update snapshot — required, cannot be deleted. | Kept by macOS for system updates; marked **Required** and has no Delete button |\n| Couldn't determine backup status — treat as local only. | Storage Studio couldn't tell, so assume it isn't backed up |\n\nmacOS reports one combined size for all snapshots and none for a single one. The size on each row starts with **~** because it's that total split evenly, an estimate.\n\n## Freeing the space\n\n```mermaid\n%% caption: The three ways to release space from local snapshots\nflowchart TD\n  A[Local Snapshots screen] --> B{What do you want?}\n  B -->|Remove one snapshot| C[Delete on its row, then confirm]\n  B -->|Remove all already backed up| D[Delete all backed-up, type Delete to confirm]\n  B -->|Free a set amount| E[Custom reclaim: choose GB, Reclaim now]\n  E --> F[macOS removes old snapshots until that much is free]\n  C --> G[Space released]\n  D --> G\n  F --> G\n```\n\n*Flowchart — The three ways to release space from local snapshots. Outline:*\n\n- Local Snapshots screen\n  - leads to What do you want?\n- What do you want?\n  - Remove one snapshot: leads to Delete on its row, then confirm\n  - Remove all already backed up: leads to Delete all backed-up, type Delete to confirm\n  - Free a set amount: leads to Custom reclaim: choose GB, Reclaim now\n- Delete on its row, then confirm\n  - leads to Space released\n- Delete all backed-up, type Delete to confirm\n  - leads to Space released\n- Custom reclaim: choose GB, Reclaim now\n  - leads to macOS removes old snapshots until that much is free\n- macOS removes old snapshots until that much is free\n  - leads to Space released\n\n- **Delete** on a row removes that one snapshot after a confirmation that tells you whether it's backed up.\n- **Delete all backed-up** removes only snapshots already copied to your Time Machine drive. Snapshots not yet backed up, and the ones macOS needs for updates, are left alone. Because it removes several at once, you type **Delete** to confirm, then click **Delete permanently**.\n- **Custom reclaim** lets you enter a number of gigabytes and click **Reclaim now**. macOS then removes old snapshots until that much space is free. It decides which ones; you can't ask for more than the snapshots are holding.\n\nRemoving a local snapshot can't be undone from inside Storage Studio. It doesn't touch the backups on your Time Machine drive.\n\n## Space from past moves\n\nIf folders you've moved to your external drive still haven't shown up as free space, a banner says how much *freed by past relocations may still be pinned*, with a **Reclaim** button for that amount. It asks macOS to release old snapshots until that space comes back.\n\n## Elsewhere in the app\n\n- [Smart Care](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/smart-care) includes **Reclaim old local backups** when there's something to reclaim, and reports it separately from freed space, because macOS already counts that space as available.\n- [Emergency Space](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/emergency-space) offers **Release space held by automatic backups** first, because it deletes nothing you still have.\n- **Storage Inspector**'s **Space held by backups** section shows each snapshot's age and whether macOS marks it as one it can clear by itself.\n\n- **What's the best app to free up space on a Mac?** If you want space back without losing files, the best approach is \"move, don't delete.\" Storage Studio relocates big apps and folders to an external drive (with a shortcut left in place so they still open), reclaims space macOS is holding in old snapshots, and keeps cloud files online-only — all… (https://storagestudio.us/faq)\n- **How do I free up space on my Mac?** Empty the Trash, clear app caches, remove old downloads, and move large apps and folders you rarely use to an external drive. Storage Studio does all of this in one tap with Tuhi — it clears caches and rarely-used files, reclaims old local backups, and keeps cloud files online-only, previewed… (https://storagestudio.us/faq)\n- **How do I get more storage on my Mac without deleting my files?** Pair your Mac with an external SSD and offload what you don't need on the startup disk. Storage Studio moves large apps, folders, and media to the external drive and leaves a shortcut in the original spot, so you reclaim space while keeping every file — nothing is deleted. (https://storagestudio.us/faq)\n- **Is it safe to clear the cache on a Mac?** Yes — app caches rebuild automatically, so clearing them safely reclaims space; the only risk is deleting the wrong thing by hand. Storage Studio clears only known-safe caches and rarely-used files, shows a preview first, and never touches your personal files without asking. (https://storagestudio.us/faq)\n\nSee also: [Why deleting files doesn't always give the space back](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/why-deleting-doesnt-free-space) · [Storage Studio and Time Machine](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/compared-with-time-machine) · [Restore Points](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/restore-points) · [Purgeable space](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/glossary-purgeable-space)\n"
}