Enable time-machine local snapshots without external HDD?

[tjedora]

Hi!

Is there an official(!) way to enable local snapshots under APFS without having an actual time machine backup? Would be nice to have as with APFS only the delta between the original file and it's changes are stored so local snapshots shouldn't take much space.

Thanks!

 

[Weaselboy]

How about if you turn on TM, then attach a drive and let it complete a backup, then disconnect the drive and just leave TM on. That should leave local snapshots turned on and of course the external backups won't occur because the drive is not present.

Then just format and repurpose the external drive for whatever you want.

I know this would work under HFS+. so I'm assuming the same would be true of APFS.

 

[tjedora]

Thanks.
Unfortunately I have no spare external disk. Maybe I can borrow one from a colleague or something.