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MacOS Time Machine backup setup

Configure MacOS's built-in, automatic, versioned backup system -- to an external drive, a network share, or a Time Capsule -- so a drive failure or bad update doesn't cost you your files.

Target: MacOSBackupOfficial homepage ↗Official docs ↗
This guide is synthesized from MacOS Time Machine backup setup's own official documentation, linked above — always cross-check exact package/version names there before running these commands on a production server, since distro and project versions move over time.

  1. 1Connect a backup destination

    Plug in an external drive (formatted as APFS or Mac OS Extended -- MacOS will offer to reformat an incompatible drive), or use a network share/NAS that supports Time Machine over SMB.

  2. 2Open Time Machine settings

    System Settings > General > Time Machine

  3. 3Add the backup disk

    Click Add Backup Disk, select your connected drive or network share, and confirm. MacOS asks whether to encrypt the backup -- enabling encryption is recommended, especially for a portable external drive.

  4. 4Let the first backup complete

    The initial backup copies your entire disk and can take hours depending on data size and connection speed -- subsequent backups run automatically, hourly, and only copy what changed.