Is it safe to delete Safari WebsiteData files in order to unbreak Time Machine backups?

Is it safe to delete files in "~/Library/Containers/com.apple.Safari/Data/Library/WebKit/WebsiteData/Default/" ? My Time Machine backups are failing with the error message that a particular file "could not be backed up". The file it names is in the folder referenced above, its name is about 50 seemingly random alphanumeric characters, and it is buried in about 5 layers of folders with similarly long and random names." To unblock backups, I was thinking of just deleting the whole mess. Will this cause problems?


Thanks!

MacBook Air (M1, 2020)

Posted on Jan 2, 2026 11:26 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jan 2, 2026 11:37 AM

Open the Time Machine section of System Settings, click on Options, and exclude the Default folder from the backup. Deleting items in that folder may cause a website to forget you and/or recreate them if visited again.


(262382)

1 reply

Is it safe to delete Safari WebsiteData files in order to unbreak Time Machine backups?

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.