Disk full: Re-claim disk free space after Catalina install

[coolbreeze2]

After installing Catalina and you go to About This Mac-Storage, your disk might be nearly full even though you actually don't have that many files to fill up your disk. Claim your free space back by doing the following:

1) Open the Terminal app
2) Type: tmutil listlocalsnapshots /System/Volumes/Data

This will give you list of local snapshots. The list will look like this:

com.apple.TimeMachine.2019-06-08-213522.local

com.apple.TimeMachine.2019-06-08-223633.local

com.apple.TimeMachine.2019-06-09-023529.local

com.apple.TimeMachine.2019-06-09-043524.local

com.apple.TimeMachine.2019-06-09-072142.local

com.apple.TimeMachine.2019-06-09-201201.local

3) Delete any or all by typing: tmutil deletelocalsnapshots 2019-06-08-213522

2019-06-08-213522 is the snapshot you want to delete. Delete one at a time.

I have found deleting all snapshots did not have an adverse consequence on my Time Machine backups

 

[zhaoxin]

Will those snapshots appear again everyday?

 

[coolbreeze2]

Yes they will always be added by the OS. I have found that they are not large enough to be a problem on a usual basis. It's only when you have downloaded or added a large file such as an OS installation or something large like Xcode. If disk space is not an issue then there is no need to delete them. If disk space is an issue, then delete some or all.

 

[Shirasaki]

In my case before nuking macOS 10.15, the available space just go smaller and smaller, even after I delete a good chunk of files. My local time machine snapshots were all gone.
I end up going back to high Sierra because all I wanted from catalina was to install iOS 13 b1. Did not spend a lot of time trying to figure out why.

 

[mikecwest]

A better way to get rid of the snapshots is to plug in your time machine drive, and “backup now.”

It’s not a good idea to suggest deleting a persons backup with explaining that is what you are doing.

 

[coolbreeze2]

A better way to get rid of the snapshots is to plug in your time machine drive, and “backup now.”

It’s not a good idea to suggest deleting a persons backup with explaining that is what you are doing.

Yes I am.

 

[mikecwest]

Yes I am.

Actually no, you said "I have found deleting all snapshots did not have an adverse consequence on my Time Machine backups."

What if that snapshot contains the file/files that they might need to restore at some point in time? Not everyone will understand what a snapshot is. I am sure if you have been on the internet long enough, you know that forums are full of people who are over-their-heads and don't have the same technical knowledge as everyone else...but that’s ok, that is how we learn. I just feel a better disclaimer like "This will delete your local backups, that have not been added to your Time Machine Backup yet." Honestly, I think it is best to allow the backup to sync to your backup disk, and have it removed that way.

 

[MacManiac76]

There must be a bug then, because the snapshots are not being automatically deleted. My Time Machine backup drive is always connected and more snapshots have been created since I last deleted them after first reading this post.

 

[Shirasaki]

Honestly, I think it is best to allow the backup to sync to your backup disk, and have it removed that way.

Given that macOS 10.15 is still in beta 1, this method might be helpful to claim some disk space back on internal storage. It could also come in handy to troubleshoot Time Machine issue.
On the other hand, I do agree that a user should ideally connect Time Machine backup drive to their Mac all the time, or at least once per day for the Time Machine to complete a full/incremental backup. Time Machine backup is also handy when testing beta software, like macOS 10.15 beta 1.

 

[DeanL]

They won't reappear every day. This is expected behaviour: Apple noted in the release notes that the install creates a local backup in case someone wants to revert to Mojave.

 

[coolbreeze2]

They won't reappear every day. This is expected behaviour: Apple noted in the release notes that the install creates a local backup in case someone wants to revert to Mojave.

That’s smart of Apple. But since most people create a backup to an external storage before installing Catalina, the local snapshot can be deleted if space is an issue. However if no external backup of Mojave was completed then deleting snapshots is not a good idea.
[doublepost=1560273540][/doublepost]

There must be a bug then, because the snapshots are not being automatically deleted. My Time Machine backup drive is always connected and more snapshots have been created since I last deleted them after first reading this post.

Yes this is true for me also.

 

[lemonkid]

About Time Machine local snapshots - Apple Support

Time Machine lets you restore files from local snapshots of the files on your Mac, even when your Time Machine backup disk isn't available.

support.apple.com

Just turning off TimeMachine for a while should be enough.
I'm now trying......

 

[lemonkid]

It's working!