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I have a folder that gets filled with large files that I want Time Machine to remember while retaining the option of regularly forgetting these large files. For this and up until Catalina I would regularly enter Time machine, go to this folder and use the command Delete all backups of... (see for instance the screen capture of @Inder 's answer in this thread). As of my recent upgrade to Big Sur I no longer see this contextual menu option.

Is it gone from MacOS for good? Is there an alternative that does not involve under-the-hood sudo-type terminal surgery?

Thanks!

PS. I had a look at How to delete a file from Time Machine backups in Big Sur? but the issue, as I understand it, is different. I am looking for a way to delete all backups of a given folder, not a single backup (snapshot) of the whole system. Answers that call for bypass look a bit too scary for my taste.

A.G.
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  • @IconDaemon Thanks; I looked at the thread, however deleting a single TM backup of the whole system is not what I am looking for (deleting all backups of a given folder). The bypass route may be one way but as I said I am not confident enough to go there, especially with the risk of messing with a whole TM disk. – A.G. Apr 15 '21 at 17:23
  • Yes, I'm aware. I'm puzzled and dismayed why Apple has chosen to do this, but I haven't had a chance to test Big Sur machine in my office. I rely on this functionality to remove successive FinalCut temp and render files from TM backups after projects are done, as well as pre-processed images/videos from SD card dumps, etc. I wonder if there is new functionality somewhere. – IconDaemon Apr 15 '21 at 21:06
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    The linked article doesn't have an adequate answer. You can't delete "all backups of a single file/folder" with TMA. You can only delete whole snapshots. I use Chronosync (and exclude from TM) for any folders which I want backup of current version but for which I don't want history. the bypass command disappeared some time ago and is irrelevant. – Gilby Apr 15 '21 at 22:30
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    I have added an answer to the linked question which addresses your problem to expand a bit on my comment above. – Gilby Apr 15 '21 at 23:05

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