#Ultimate backup drive mac

Time Machine automatically makes hourly backups for the past 24 hours, daily backups for the past month, and weekly backups for all previous months. If you don't see this menu, make sure that Control Center settings (macOS Ventura or later) or Desktop & Menu Bar preferences (macOS Monterey or earlier) are set to show Time Machine in the menu bar.

The top of the menu shows how much of the current backup is done, or the date and time of the latest backup: Use the same menu to stop or skip a backup or check its progress. To back up now, choose Back Up Now from the Time Machine menu in the menu bar.

#Ultimate backup drive mac

Claim the backups if you want them to become part of the backups for this Mac.Īfter setup, your Mac immediately begins using the storage device to make backups. Your Mac might ask whether this computer should claim existing backups created on a different computer. Either erase it or select a different backup disk or volume. Your Mac might ask if you want to erase the storage device so that it can be used for Time Machine. Select your connected storage device and click Set Up Disk. Learn the setup steps in your version of macOS, or follow these steps in macOS Ventura or later:įrom the Apple menu  in the corner of your screen, choose System Settings.Ĭlick General in the sidebar, then click Time Machine on the right.Ĭlick Add Backup Disk, or click the Add button (+). Set up the storage device as your backup disk Use your Time Machine backup disk only for Time Machine backups, not for storage of other files.* If Time Machine needs more storage space, your Mac will let you know. For example, if your Mac has 1TB of storage, your backup disk should ideally have at least 2TB of storage. Use a storage device with at least twice the storage capacity of your Mac.

Connect an external storage device, such as a USB drive or Thunderbolt drive.