How to Backup Mac to External Hard Drive with/without Time Machine
Quick Navigation:
- Part 1. Backup Selected Files from Mac to External Hard Drive
- Part 2. Backup Mac to External Hard Drive with Time Machine
Backing up your Mac to an external hard drive is a crucial step in data protection. Here are some reasons why you should consider backing up your Mac:
- When it comes to file security, it's always a good idea to keep multiple copies of your files. This can help prevent data loss in case of a system crash, accidental deletion, or other data loss scenarios.
- When it comes to managing storage on a Mac, one of the most cost-effective solutions is to use external hard drives. This can be a more efficient way to back up files from your Mac, especially when compared to buying a new Mac with more storage.
- When selling, donating, or giving away a Mac, it's essential to back up any important files and data before transferring ownership. This ensures that you can access and use the files in the future, even after the Mac has been sold, donated, or given away.
Backing up your Mac is an essential process that ensures your important files and data are safe and secure. Whether you're selling, donating, or giving away your Mac, or simply want to preserve your digital life, backing up your Mac is a must-do task.
Part 1. Backup Selected Files from Mac to External Hard Drive
Backing up single files from your Mac to an external hard drive is a straightforward process that allows you to preserve individual files and documents. This method is particularly useful when you need to access specific files frequently, as you can simply retrieve them from the external hard drive instead of having to wait for a full backup to complete.
Part 2. Backup Mac to External Hard Drive with Time Machine
Time Machine is a built-in feature on Mac that allows users to back up their files hourly for the last 24 hours. This feature is designed to provide a quick and easy way to restore your Mac to a previous state in case of data loss or system failure.
Step 1. Connect the external hard drive with your Mac firmly, making sure your Mac can detect the external hard drive. Generally, when connected successfully, a pop-up will appear, asking you whether to use the drive to back up with Time Machine or not. Please check "Encrypt Backup Disk" and select "Use as Backup Disk".
If no window like this pop up after connecting the external hard drive with your Mac, please click the Apple logo on the top left side of Mac > System Preferences > click Time Machine. Next, click "Select Backup Disk, Select Disk, or Add or Remove Backup Disk." After then, select a backup disk from the list, then click "Use Disk".
You have successfully set up using the external hard drive to backup your Mac with Time Machine. After then, it will backup your Mac to the external hard drive automatically. To make sure the success of backing up Mac to the external hard drive with Time Machine, I suggest you do it manually: choose "Back Up Now from the Time Machine menu", then it begins to back up. For the first backup, it may take longer. It fully depends on the scale of your files on Mac.
If you haven't backed up the important files from Mac to external hard drive and lost them accidently, there is still a chance to recover them with the help of Deep Data Recovery for Mac. It is a professional and trustworthy tool specially developed to help users to get back lost and deleted files. Here are the simple steps for how to use Deep Data Recovery to recover lost and deleted files on Mac.
Step 1. Download and install Deep Data Recovery on your Mac. It is a standalone tool, which is able to work separately, no extra tool is needed at all. Feel free to use it, it is virus-free.
Step 2. Select the file types you want to recover from your Mac to external hard drive. By default, all supported files are checked. You need to ensure the unwanted ones are unchecked. It will save you time for the scanning process. Click "Next".
Step 3. Select the partition where your lost files were stored and click "Scan".
Step 4. If you've accidentally lost important files from your Mac and haven't backed them up, don't worry. You can still recover them with the help of Deep Data Recovery for Mac. This professional and trustworthy tool is specifically designed to help users recover lost and deleted files.
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- How to Backup Mac to External Hard Drive with/without Time Machine
How to Backup Mac to External Hard Drive with/without Time Machine