Catalina - Files can't be deleted from Time Machine backup

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Catalina - Files can't be deleted from Time Machine backup

Hello,

After upgrading to Catalina I made a 1.72TB Time Machine backup (ext. USB 3.0 HD). A few days later Time Machine had added some additional backups. Then I found some large files (video footage) which I don't need anymore, so I deleted them from my Mac, and I tried to delete them from the backup too using "Delete all backups of..." (Time Machine context menu). I could delete the files from the latest backup, but I thought it should have been deleted completely, however there are early backups where the files are still there. When I select one of these files and right click to get the context menu "Delete all backups of..." is not available (missing). This means these files can't be deleted. I hadn't seen such a behavior of Time Machine ever before (since OS X Leopard). Can this be fixed?

Thank you.

iMac 27", macOS 10.12

Posted on Feb 18, 2020 2:40 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

leroydouglas

Community+ 2024

Level 10

188,724 points

Mar 15, 2020 4:49 PM in response to coxorange

It is not advised deleting anything from the TimeMachine db using the Finder—

This defeats the purpose of a recursive backups (ie enabling you to restore a specific file or the entire drive— from a certain point in time,) and typically corrupts the data base— requiring an erase & reformat to get back to a stable condition.

The TM manages it's own backups which requires no user interference:

How to use Time Machine to back up or restore your Mac: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201250

Use Time Machine to restore deleted files or older files - Apple Support https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT209152

Restore items backed up with Time Machine on Mac - Apple Support https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/restore-files-mh11422/mac

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Answer 2

coxorange Author

Level 1

145 points

Apr 3, 2020 3:35 PM in response to Old Toad

Old Toad wrote:

It is not advised deleting anything from the TimeMachine db using the Finder

—

You're in Time Machine not the Finder. From TM you can delete a one time backup or all backups of the same item.

By deleting from the Finder means opening the TM drive, selecting an item and trying to drag it to the Trash bin in the Dock to delete it. That can't be done. If you get it to the Trash bin you won't be able to empty the bin nor return it back to the TM drive. At that stage your only recourse is to erase the TM drive and start over.

https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/f0e954e5-b63d-4a93-9222-199bebd720d1

Of course!

I never had such a problem, I never tried to delete from the backup drive using Finder.

I wrote: [...] using "Delete all backups of..." (Time Machine context menu)

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Answer 3

Old Toad

Level 10

210,615 points

Apr 3, 2020 2:11 PM in response to coxorange

It is not advised deleting anything from the TimeMachine db using the Finder—

You're in Time Machine not the Finder. From TM you can delete a one time backup or all backups of the same item.

By deleting from the Finder means opening the TM drive, selecting an item and trying to drag it to the Trash bin in the Dock to delete it. That can't be done. If you get it to the Trash bin you won't be able to empty the bin nor return it back to the TM drive. At that stage your only recourse is to erase the TM drive and start over.

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