Time Machine disk is full and can't backup anymore.

Why does Time Machine say my disk is full if it automatically deletes backups when full? How do you delete time machine backups?

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 11.4

Posted on Jul 5, 2021 7:32 AM

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Posted on Jul 6, 2021 8:23 AM

From the support article “ as your backup disk fills up, Time Machine deletes older backups to make room for new ones.” If it deletes old backups to make room for new ones how can ever become full?

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Jul 6, 2021 8:23 AM in response to i_rina

From the support article “ as your backup disk fills up, Time Machine deletes older backups to make room for new ones.” If it deletes old backups to make room for new ones how can ever become full?

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Jul 6, 2021 8:23 AM in response to forgione

Yes, you understand correctly. But that is how it works in theory. In practice, that does not always hold true. One reason is if your TM backups include very large files that change often. For example, VMs (Virtual Machines), created in something like Parallels or VMware. Any time you access them, they change. Since these can be multiple GBs in size, they can quickly use up the destination's storage capacity BEFORE TM has an opportunity to erase older versions.

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Jul 6, 2021 7:45 AM in response to forgione

Hi forgione,


Thank you for using the Apple Support Communities. 


It sounds like your Time Machine disk is getting full and to resolve this problem you would need to follow the recommendations that are found in the Apple resource If the Time Machine backup disk for your Mac is full


We hope this helps.


Take care. 

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Jul 6, 2021 8:44 AM in response to Tesserax

I used to use Super Duper to make a bootable backup. I tried with their new beta but was unsuccessful. I have an M1. I spoke to someone working at genius bar who said I could no longer do this. I also use Google Drive synch which is great.

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Time Machine disk is full and can't backup anymore.

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