Delete Delta Vmdk Files 【Tested · 2024】

If your VM has valid snapshots listed in the Snapshot Manager, this is the intended workflow.

The VM must perform a "lookup" operation every time it reads or writes data. If the VM needs data that is on the base disk, the delta file is checked first, and then the request is passed to the base disk. This overhead increases latency and decreases I/O performance. delete delta vmdk files

To understand how to delete them, you must first understand what they are. If your VM has valid snapshots listed in

It is highly recommended that you from the datastore browser or terminal if they are still part of an active snapshot chain. Safely identify and delete orphaned or obsolete delta

Safely identify and delete orphaned or obsolete delta VMDK files (child disks) from VMware datastores.

- Confirm no VM is currently using the delta - Verify delta is not part of an active snapshot - Check if delta is the child of a base VMDK still in use

Occasionally, the standard Consolidate button fails or the snapshots are "phantom" (hidden). This requires a specific procedure to force the merge without corrupting the VM.