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This article explains how to back up the files on your Mac computer using an external hard drive and Time Machine. We also touch on alternate backup methods. Mac Backup MethodsThere are a bunch of ways to back up your Mac, from manually copying files, to one-off and ongoing Time Machine backups, to iCloud and even third-party apps. Here are your primary options:
How to Back up Files Manually on Your MacManually backing up files on a Mac is easy, but it's also time-consuming and not very convenient. It's useful if you just have specific important files to back up, and if those files are unlikely to be changed between the time you back them up and the time of a hypothetical future failure of your hard drive. Files that are changed regularly are poorly suited for this method, as you will need to back up the file again each time you change it. For anything more complicated than a one-off back up of a few files, skip ahead to the Time Machine instructions in the next section.
How to Back up Files on macOS Using Time MachineWhile it's easy enough to back up a few files manually here and there, macOS comes with a utility called Time Machine that makes the process much easier and can even automate it. If you have a lot of files to back up, or you want to automatically back up files on a set schedule, use Time Machine. Here's how to perform a one-time back up using Time Machine:
How to Automatically Back Up Your Mac With Time MachineTime Machine can also be configured to back up your files automatically every hour. Each time it runs, it will copy all your files without overwriting the previous copy. When the backup drive fills up, it will automatically delete the oldest files in order to make space for new files. In this way, Time Machine makes sure that you always have the latest version of your files along with at least a few older versions in case you made changes that you want to revert. Here's how to automatically back up with Time Machine:
Backing Up Files With iCloudTime Machine is great because it allows you to make on-demand backups as well as automatic backups. However, it has a major weakness in that your backed up files are located in the same physical space as your Mac. If you lose your Mac to something like fire or theft, it's likely that your backup drive will also be stolen or damaged. If you have important files that you absolutely don't want to lose access to, consider backing your files up with iCloud. This is a cloud-based service operated by Apple that you get access to as an Apple user. By default, Apple users get 5GB of iCloud storage for free, which is enough to store at least some of your most important documents. If you need more space, you can purchase a monthly plan for between 50GB and 2TB of cloud storage. Create a Bootable Copy of Your Mac DriveEvery method of backing up that we've discussed so far has involved backing up your own files. If you instead back up your entire drive by cloning it, you can actually create a bootable copy of your drive. If your drive fails in the future, you can connect your backup disk, boot from it, and then either work as normal or work on fixing or replacing your broken drive as time permits. If that sounds like something you'd like to do, you can use the Disk Utility app to create a clone of your Mac drive. This process isn't that difficult, but it is complicated and time consuming, so some people prefer to use a third party app. To that end, we have a list of the best free Mac backup apps and also a guide to the best Mac backup software. FAQ
Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe How do I transfer everything from my Mac to an external hard drive?Click the Finder icon in the Dock to open a Finder window, then do one of the following to move your files. Move files to the storage device: Select one or more files on the desktop or in a folder, then drag them to the storage device, listed below Locations in the Finder sidebar.
How do I backup my entire Mac to an external hard drive without Time Machine?How do I backup my Mac without a Time Machine?. Launch Disk Drill on your Mac.. Select “Byte-to-byte Backup” from the left panel.. Choose the drive or partition you want to back up.. Click the “Create backup” button and select a target location where the data will be stored.. Allow the process to complete.. What is the best way to backup my Mac?Option 1: Use Time Machine
Apple includes its own backup software, Time Machine as part of the macOS. It's an exceptionally easy to use solution. All you need to do is plug in an external storage device, hard drive or SSD, and start backing up with Time Machine.
How do I backup my Macbook Pro to an external hard drive with Time Machine?In Time Machine settings, select your external storage device as your backup destination: macOS Ventura or later: Click the add button (+), then follow the onscreen instructions. Earlier versions of macOS: Click Select Backup Disk, then follow the onscreen instructions.
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