Why is Timeshift Using So Much Storage?
Asked by
CuriousCat123
I've noticed a significant drop in available space on my SSD. Before I took a snapshot with Timeshift, I had 56.4GB free, but after the snapshot, it plummeted to just 29.6GB. Can anyone explain why Timeshift is consuming so much storage?
Answers
I don't actually use Timeshift since I back up my important data manually on another machine. In case of failure, I'd just reinstall my OS. It's worth considering using something like Clonezilla for a more comprehensive backup solution instead of just relying on Timeshift.
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To manage your storage more effectively, check your Timeshift settings. You can review which backups you have and delete older snapshots that you don't need anymore. Also, it’s wise to adjust the schedule to limit how many snapshots you keep. Just make sure your new backups overwrite the old ones, or you might find it doubling your space usage!
CuriousCat123: Good to know! This was my first time using it, so I didn’t have any prior snapshots.
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If you're worried about storage space, just delete the old snapshots you no longer need. I usually keep just two snapshots at a time to save space while still having some backups.
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What Linux distro are you using? It makes a difference in how Timeshift works.
CuriousCat123: I’m using Mint 22.1 Xia. Planning to upgrade to Mint 22.2 Zara soon.
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It sounds like you're seeing the snapshot size eat into your available storage. If Timeshift is saving snapshots on the same drive as your OS, that's a big factor. It might be a good idea to store these snapshots on an external drive. That way, if your main drive fails, you won't lose access to your backups.
CuriousCat123: Thanks for the tip! I didn't think about moving them to an external drive.
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You're right about the storage issue. The difference you're noticing is likely the actual size of the snapshot. If you're using copy-on-write, every access might trigger a write, counteracting the benefits. Make sure to check if your filesystem supports proper snapshots like btrfs, which handle storage more efficiently than ext partitions do.
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CuriousCat123: That's definitely something to think about! I’ll look into Clonezilla as a more robust backup option.