Best Drive For Mac Time Machine

1. How To Use Mac Time Machine
2. Time Machine Mac
3. Setting Up Time Machine On Mac

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Even though Mac computers are capable of reading hard drives that are formatted for Windows, if you intend on using your external HDD as a bootable disk or want to use it to backup files with your Mac's Time Machine, you must format it to be entirely Mac compatible. LaCie Mobile Drive. Backups Made Easy. What is one of the most common uses for an external.

I've been using Time Machine, a built-in backup programdeveloped by Apple since I bought my first Mac. I tried multiple external harddrives, and I believe I know a thing or two about the process and type ofhardware that works best with the Time Machine.

I can't tell you how many times I was able to recover my Macs after experiments I run in order to write articles on my site.

I intentionally infected my poor MacBook with malware, installed keyloggers, deleted parts of the operating system, and did other things that normal people usually avoid. I reported my findings on macmyths.com, and many readers were able to avoid the mistakes they would make otherwise.

During my experiments, I wasn't afraid to cause any damage(excluding physical) to my Macs because, after each test, I restored the lastimage from my Time Machine drives.

Unfortunately, not all backups I made were successful. In several cases, I had to use older backups from my secondary drives because my primary drives had failed.

And after going through the school of hard knocks, I realized how important it is to pick a write hard drive for Time Machine.

Here I present my top recommended products, so you can learn from my mistakes.

Table of Contents

• How to choose hard drives for Time Machine
• My Recommendations for the Best External Hard Drive for Mac Time Machine Backup

How to choose hard drives for Time Machine

Brand name

There are certain qualities that I look for when considering hard drives for any backup. The main factor in selection is reliability. It doesn't matter how fast the disk is, how sleek it looks, or how good the discount was on Amazon.

If the drive fails when you need it, then it's not worth even a penny.

The thing is that all hard drives fail. There is not asingle model that is 100% fail free. The difference is the failure rate.Devices produced by well known established companies have lower rates compared todrives from unknown manufacturers.

If Amazon is your choice when it comes to purchasinganything online, be aware that not all user reviews are real. Adobe premiere pro cc 2019 13 1 2015. So many times,I've seen several thousands of 5-star reviews on noname devices, and at thesame time, good devices get a couple of hundreds of reviews, and the average is3.5.

How is it possible? I think we all know the answer.

So, what's my point? If you get anything from this article,I want to remind you that brands matter when reliability is the most importantfactor in choosing a backup drive.

If you are not familiar with which manufacturers have beenon the market for decades, here is the list (not complete) of companies whichproduce quality hard drives:

• Seagate
• Western Digital (WD)
• Samsung
• Toshiba
• Buffalo

Capacity

The second most important factor is storage capacity. Ideally, you want as much storage as you can get. However, we need to be practical, because extra bytes come with extra price.

When the difference in price between 1TB and 2TB may not be too high, when we are moving up in size, doubling the storage comes with more than double price. We want to keep a balance between capacity and the price, if possible.

So, what's the best size for the Time Machine backup drive? The minimum size for a Time Machine backup drive should be at least twice the size of the Mac primary storage. For instance, if MacBook's disk size is 128GB, then 256GB will be minimum for a backup, and 1TB would be the best choice.

In other words, the best size for Time Machine backup drive 4x to 8x of the size of the primary disk, when 2x is a minimum.

When Time Machine runs for the first time, it takes the full backup of data on the disk. After that, it keeps deltas (only files that have changed).

Time Machine keeps local snapshots, hourly snapshots for the last 24 hours, daily, and weekly snapshots as storage permits. If the backup disk gets full, the Time Machine starts deleting the oldest snapshots.

This means if you don't have enough space, your ability to go back will be limited.

Performance

One of the biggest complaints about Time Machine is the fact that it is slow. It is much slower than other (commercial) backup solutions because it runs on the background, so it doesn't impact any programs you are using at the time the backup process runs.

If you want to know how to speed up the backup process, check my article here.

One of the ways to improve the time it takes to backup isgetting a faster drive. Pay attention to write and read performance. Writes areimportant when taking backups, and reads are significant when restoring.

Compatibility

When browsing various drives on Amazon or Best Buy, you can see that some of them marked as compatible with Macs. Contrary to what you might think, this does not mean that you cannot use drives described as PC drives.

This really means that the disk was preformatted for either PC or Mac, and you can use it right away with the corresponding computer.

However, almost all drives can be used with Macs as long asthey have proper connectors. You just need to know how to prepare the drive forMac, i.e., format it.

What disk format is best for Time Machine? Time Machine only recognizes the drives formatted as Mac OS Extended (Journaled), also known as HFS+. If the drive is formatted with different format types, the Time Machine will offer to erase the disk and reformat before use.

To know the current format of the external drive, use theDisk Utility app. One way to start it is by using Spotlight Search: holdCommand and hit Spacebar. In the search bar type 'Disk Utility' andhit Enter.

How To Use Mac Time Machine

In the Disk Utility app, select the drive on the left. Onthe right, under the name of the drive, there will be information about thecurrent format. To reformat the disk in a new format, click on the Erase iconat the top. Note that all information on the disk will be wiped out.

In the pop-up window type in the new name for the drive (orkeep the old one). And pick Mac OS Extended (Journaled) as Format choice.

Hit Erase.

Once the format is complete, the drive is ready to be usedas a Time Machine backup drive.

Connector

As mentioned above, all drives are compatible with Applecomputers as long as they have proper connectors.

So, check your Mac for extension ports. If you have a newerMac, then you need USB-C hard drive, older ones support USB (2.0, 3.0, or 3.1)or Thunderbolt. Pick the drive that supports the Mac ports.

Price

And last, but not the least – price. Yes, price isimportant, but I want to reiterate the importance of reliability over theprice. If you want to save on price, then go with a slower drive, but don't gowith a cheap noname brand.

My Recommendations for the Best External Hard Drive for Mac Time Machine Backup

Best overall: Samsung T5 SSD

The device is so small that it can fit in your shirt pocket.It's a little bigger than a matchbox and weighs just 51 grams.

As any SSD drive, T5 has no moving parts. It has a sturdy metal body, so it can handle drops of up to 2 meters.

It comes with two cables: USB and USB-C, which is superhelpful if you have old and new Macs. So you can use the USB cable with oldMacBook, copy data on it and then plug into a new MacBook with TouchBar andcopy again.

And T5 is crazy fast. I was able to run the Virtual Boximage directly from Samsung T5. I never thought it would be possible because Itried to run VMs from external drives before, and they were super slow, evenunusable.

With T5, however, I didn't even know that I am running VM on the external hard drive. Partially, it was due to fast SSD inside and partially due to the USB-C connector.

According to the manufacturer, the transfer speed is up to 540MB/s. Don't forget to buy a hard travel case when buying T5 to keep the cables together.

Samsung T5 is backed by a 3-year limited warranty.

Pros

Speed, portability, USB, and USB-C support.

Dimensions: 57.3mm x 74mm x 10.5mm.

Cons

Size limited to 2TB, which means if you have a 1TB on your Mac, this won't work for you.

Learn more about SAMSUNG T5 On Amazon

Samsung T7 Touch

Do you want even more speed? Then check out Samsung T7. It's a new drive from Samsung that continues the legendary line of SSD hard drives T3-T5.

The read and write speed of T7 is almost double of corresponding values of T5: up to 1000 MB/s for both reads and writes.

Additionally, T7 comes with fingerprint security, which is very important for someone who's doing Time Machine backups. T7 supports up to 4 fingerprints and works similar to MacBook Touch ID.

Learn more about SAMSUNG T7 Touch On Amazon

Runner up: WD My Passport

If you need a larger drive than T5, then check out Western Digital My Passport for Mac Portable External Hard Drive. Its upper limit is 5TB.

Let's start with the following fact: My Passport supportsboth USB 3.0 and USB-C ports. It comes with two cables, and depending on whichport you have on your Mac, you can use one or the other.

The transfer speed of USB 3.0 is limited to 10.0 Gbit/s max.The max speed for USB-C is 40.0 Gbit/s, four times faster thansecond-generation 3.0.

Overall the read and write speed of My Passport is around110 MB/s.

The best thing about My Passport for Mac is that it alreadypreformatted for macOS. You can start using the drive as soon as you plug itin. No need to mess with disk utilities and other stuff. However, it also meansthat it is not compatible with Windows.

My Passport is a little bigger than T5 and has the followingdimensions:

• Depth 4.22 in/10.71cm
• Width 2.95 in/7.49cm
• Height 0.75 in/1.91cm
• Weight 0.51 lb/0.21kg

Pros

Reliability, durability, multiple size options up to 5TB

Cons

Slower than T5

Learn more about WD My Passport On Amazon

Budget pick: Toshiba Canvio Basics

If you need a reliable external hard drive under $100, thenconsider Toshiba Canvio Basics 4TB Portable External Hard Drive USB 3.0.

This is not the fastest drive, but it's reliable and cheap.You can buy a 4TB drive for less than $100, and in my opinion, it's a greatdeal.

I use this device for my archives. If I have files that I amnot going to use for a while, then instead of deleting them, I shove them to myToshiba drive. You never know when you will need that old VM, and it's nice tonot waste prime drive space either.

Note, however, this comes only with a USB cable, so if youhave a new laptop with USB-C ports, you will need to buy an adapter as well.

Pros

Super cheap and super reliable

Cons

Only supports USB 3

Learn more about Toshiba Canvio Basics On Amazon

Utility • April 20, 2020

Data storage is very important and with a simple computer problem, you can lose all your data. This is why it is important to back up every piece of data that you are sure you need in the future.

The Time Machine was designed to help you back data on your Mac and has always come pre installed since 2006. While it is a great way to back up your data, many people consider it as old-fashioned and unreliable.

Autocad like program for mac. Fortunately, we have so many alternatives today and we would like to share our top eight with you. How to unzip music files on windows.

Comparing the Time Machine to other Mac backup software

The reason for the comparison is to show you what the alternatives can do that the Time Machine can't. Of course, you don't have to take out the Time Machine completely, you can use an alternative as a complement.

The Time Machine automatically backs up files on your computer but it has several flaws and weak points. Examples of such weak points are its inability to work offsite, clone a hard drive, or create bootable backup.

Hence, we have put together this list to help you choose the best alternatives to the Time Machine.

Quick Jump to…

Carbon Copy Cloner vs Time Machine

The question here is, what can the Carbon Copy Cloner do that the Time Machine can't?

We have already established the fact that the Time Machine is efficient even though it has certain weak points. One such weak point is the inability to create a bootable backup. Carbon Copy Cloner, when compared to the Time Machine on this basis, is a better option.

What exactly does this mean? It means that if you are unlucky to encounter an issue while working on your system, you don't lose your data. All you need to do is boot into the backup created by the Carbon Copy Cloner and continue your work. When you are less busy, you can spare some minutes to look into what caused the issue of your computer drive.

It is recommended to use an external hard drive alone with the Carbon Copy Cloner. The reason for this is that it gives you the opportunity to boot directly from the external HDD during emergencies. Note that the performance of the bootable backup is directly proportional to the speed of the external HDD.

We should also warn you at this point to avoid using an SD card or thumb drive for backup. The reason is simple and crystal clear, they don't have enough storage capacity to function as backup devices.

Benefits of the Carbon Copy Cloner

• Support team assistance.
• Perfect for instant use.
• Schedule backups.
• Possesses more features than the Time Machine.
• Guide for easy setup is available.
• Works seamlessly with a good external hard drive.

Pricing: The Carbon Copy Cloner costs $39.99 inclusive of all applicable taxes.

SuperDuper vs Time Machine

Just like the Carbon Copy Cloner, the SuperDuper has a major advantage over the Time Machine. Wondering what it is? The advantage is that it allows you to create a bootable backup, which the Time Machine is incapable of.

A first glance at the SuperDuper and you are not likely to trust it as it comes with a retro design. Remember the OS X 10.3 background? Yes, with the brushed metal color, that's it!

However, taking a leap beyond this veil to its capabilities, the SuperDuper is an amazing app. It can work on its own as well as act as a complement to the Time Machine.

You can actually create your bootable backup using the same drive dedicated to the Time Machine. This must be good news as you don't need to spend extra to buy an external HDD. You can also duplicate your backup on another drive, whichever method you choose.

The beauty of the SuperDuper is you can create the backup on a disk partition or even an image file. When you activate the Smart Update feature, SuperDuper automatically checks for updates and copies them to the backup drive.

One of the major advantages of SuperDuper is that it is very quick and very easy to use. The explanations of each process are presented in plain English plus are it is not as expensive as the Carbon Copy Cloner or Backblaze.

Benefits of the SuperDuper

• Very quick and efficient.
• It does not need an external HDD.
• Very affordable.
• Easy to use and understand.
• Presents you with more features than the Time Machine.
• Retro design.

Pricing: The SuperDuper costs $27.95.

ChronoSync vs Time Machine

There is so much to love about ChronoSync by Econ Technologies. Comparing it to the Time Machine shows us its immense benefits at a glance. Just like the first two described above, the ChronoSync allows you to create bootable drives. That's not all!

It is a versatile app which comes with several amazing features. One such feature is the fact that it allows you to synchronize files across computers or devices. This makes it easy to access files from remote locations, who wouldn't love that?

What's more? Restoring lost files is quite stressful using the Time Machine but with the ChronoSync, it's a piece of cake.

Simply search for the file with the Finder feature, copy it, and paste it in the desired location. Better still, you can simply sync the files to your existing hard drive, it's that simple.

It is possible to schedule backups to begin at a specific time regularly or each time a specific drive is connected. The app will only backup files that have experienced changes since the last backup took place.

One more thing, this app allows you to copy multiple files at the same time which quickens the process.

Benefits of the ChronoSync

• Creates bootable drives easily.
• Synchronizes computers and devices.
• Finding lost files is very easy and copying them is even easier.
• Very versatile app.
• Copies multiple files at the same time.
• A free trial is available.
• Perfect for remote use.

Pricing: The ChronoSync Express costs $24.99, or included in a Setapp subscription. For more power and flexibility, ChronoSync is available for only $49.99 (USD).

Get Backup Pro (v3) vs Time Machine

Without any iota of doubt, Get Backup Pro is the cheapest or rather most affordable on this list. https://just-soft.medium.com/ulysses-2-5-4a51f2cb7003. Don't mistake its affordability for inferiority as it is laden with several features and an amazing range of backup options.

Why is it seen as an alternative to the Time Machine? First of all, the fact that you have access to several backup types is simply amazing.

The different backup types include compressed and incremental file backups, folder synchronization, and bootable cloned backups.Looking at these, it is clear that this app helps to fix some of the major flaws of the Time Machine. For example, you can create bootable backups on other devices and clone your hard drive. All of these are impossible with the Time Machine.

What better way to describe the Get Backup Pro than saying it is the app that gives you almost everything? You can schedule syncs and backups and it supports network and external drives, including CDs and DVDs. It comes with several backup templates that help you import data from your photos, iTunes, mail, documents, and contacts.

Security has always been a challenge with backing up data but this app fixes this issue. It makes it possible for you to encrypt all backups so that you are assured of additional security.

Using this app is very easy and quick. But what is more amazing is that you can restore files to computers that don't have the app.

Benefits of the Get Backup Pro

• Easy to use.
• More features than the Time Machine.
• Easy to restore files to remote computers without the app.
• Security encryption for all backups.
• Supports network and external drives.
• Backup templates are available.

Pricing: The Get Backup Pro (v6) costs $19.99, or included in a Setapp subscription.

Mac Backup Guru vs Time Machine

Just like the Get Backup Pro, the Mac Backup Guru comes with multiple options for back types. This is one of the major reasons why it is seen as a worthy alternative to the Time Machine.

Let's begin with the fact that the Mac Backup Guru fixes the bootable disk challenge faced with the Time Machine. Besides this, it has three distinct backup types which are synchronization, direct cloning, and incremental snapshots.

You can actually create an image of your bootable disk using this app. This means you can either back up specific folders on your hard drive or the whole drive, your choice. What's more?

You can keep your backup continually in sync with all the changes you make as you work. An alternative is that you can keep all incremental backups that didn't overwrite the older backups along with the changes. This way, you can always retrieve older versions of the same work if you so desire.

Benefits of the Mac Backup Guru

• Very affordable.
• It comes with three backup types.
• Allows you to take an image of your bootable disk.
• It gives you the luxury of specifying what files or folders to backup.
• Allows you to revisit previously saved work before changes were made.

Pricing: The Mac Backup Guru costs $29.

Acronis True Image 2020 vs Time Machine

The Acronis True Image 2020 is just like the Mac Backup Pro with a feature that solves the Time Machine's problem. It is the feature that allows you to clone your hard drive's images. You even have access to online backup even though this comes with a more expensive package.

There is no doubt that this app is very efficient but the problem is that it is costly. It is even costlier than the Carbon Copy Cloner but not expensive as the Backblaze. Looking beyond the cost flaws, this is an app everyone that can afford it should own.

It makes backing up files very easy, especially with the fact that you can create bootable disks. You also have the luxury of sharing your backups with remote systems as long as they have the app. The only challenge with this is that it costs a little more to share the app across multiple computer systems.

Back to the advantages, it is possible to access and make use of the app via the intuitive dashboard. It also comes with an amazing feature known as the ‘Restore' feature. This feature makes it possible to recover a whole drive very easily.

In addition to this, you have the option of selecting specific files that you want to backup or recover.

Benefits of the Acronis True Image 2020

• Easy to use.
• It can be used across several computer systems.
• Allows you to make an image of your bootable disk.
• Remote usage.
• Gives you the opportunity to choose files to backup.

Pricing: The Acronis True Image costs $49.99.

Backblaze vs Time Machine

Backblaze is one of the top alternatives to the Time Machine for several reasons. It is actually recognized the world over as having several features that make it stand out.

One such feature is the unlimited storage that comes with the streamlined service. This is an amazing feature which means you don't have to spend extra on expanding your storage.

Like ChronoSync, Backblaze is very easy to set up and use. This backup app also updates itself automatically but if you can't wait, updating it manually is very easy.

If you are a lover of speed, then this app is a plus as it gives you all the speed you need and more.

While there were several weak spots in previous versions, the current version 1.3.5 features several updates that have fixed the limitations. The interface is cleaner with allowance for increased downloads.

One of the standout features is the fact that it presents you with a single-sign-on Google support. It can work either as an alternative to the Time Machine or as a complement instead.

Benefits of Backblaze

• Unlimited backup.
• GDPR compliant.
• Sharing functionality.
• Simple streamlined experience.
• Decent privacy and security.
• Reasonable prices.

Pricing: The Backblaze offers monthly payments of $6 and yearly payments of $60 for personal use.

SmartBackup vs Time Machine

The first thing to note about SmartBackup is that it is a lightweight app. Despite its lightweight, it helps you backup several items to your external hard drive, unlike the Time Machine.

The process is quite fast since you have the luxury of transferring multiple items simultaneously to a specified destination folder. To avoid cumbering your bootable disk with unnecessary data, SmartBackup only backs up changed files leaving the unchanged ones behind.

One of the major advantages of this app is that backup updates are done very swiftly. Another major standout feature is that you have the luxury of cloning your system or bootable disk.

SmartBackup allows you to archive changed or deleted files by placing them in a specified folder when backing up. Much later, you can always check through different versions of the same file and pick out the one you need.

With the Spotlight Saved Search feature, you can define the files you intend to backup and what you think isn't necessary. You can make use of iCal or Automator to preprogram backup operations.

Launching is very easy using the command-line mode which also allows you to include the app in scripts or launched items.

Benefits of SmartBackup

• High performance and rapid deployment.
• Lesser risks.
• Very affordable.
• Highly productive.
• Very efficient.
• Designed for comfort and convenience.
• Minimalist design.

Pricing: The SmartBackup is Free.

What do you need from a Mac backup software?

This is a very important question we need to answer else none of these alternatives is worth mentioning. The simple answer to this is to be able to back up your files properly. No one wants that feeling of insecurity or uncertainty about backup especially when you are working on an important project.

There are several features you should look out for before choosing a backup application. We have put together a list of some of these key features you should watch out for. They include:

Not all the backup apps come with multiple Mac backup types as you have seen above. Your backup app should be able to provide you multiple backup types.

For example, with local backup, you are able to make copies of folders and files on an external HDD. This way, even when you lose the file on your computer, restoring it is very easy.

Disk images or bootable clones help you duplicate your whole hard drive. This allows you to boot from a backup drive when your hard drive has issues.

Finally, cloud backup functions exactly like local backup, only this time, data is stored online. This gives you insurance regardless of what happens to your physical location.

While syncing files is not considered as a true backup, it is a very helpful feature. It is great when you work using multiple devices like laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Synchronizing your documents across all these devices makes it easy to work remotely.

It also means that if one of your devices is damaged, you can continue on another device and work on your data from any location. The only challenge with this is that when a file is deleted in one location, it is lost on all devices.

While reviewing the apps, one of the things we paid attention to was the interface which accounts for how easy it is for the user to navigate the app and also if the aesthetics are pleasing to the eyes. Let's face it, backups can be time consuming and you don't want an app that makes it difficult to accomplish.

In the case of SuperDuper, although it is not as colorful as Backblaze, it is still quite easy to navigate. Carbon Copy Cloner is also another app which leverages on its user interface to improve its functionality. At a glance, you can see the features of the app and easily access the preferred solution.

The point of a backup is to make it easy to retrieve data in the case of a loss. When selecting a preferred app, a key consideration should be whether it is easy to retrieve data when the time comes. Do you need to carry out 10 steps or two steps?

You can try experimenting first with the trial versions of an app by backing up certain data, deleting it then try to restore.

Does the app perform a file backup or disk cloning? Some apps on our list can do both while some only perform one of the actions.

Should I use file backup or cloning?

To help you know which one to use, it is important to distinguish between them by way of definition.

File backup means you create an image file used in backing up your data for easy recovery. Disk cloning, on the other hand, moves all the contents of your drive to an HDD. You should understand this better when you know how each of these processes works. File backup carries all the contents of the partition or disk you are backing up. This includes applications, folders, files, and the OS and you can store everything on a separate storage device.

Disk cloning on the other hand copies all the contents of the disk to a new disk which means both disks have the same content. With this, it is clear that disk cloning is only necessary when you need to move to a larger disk drive.

File backup or imaging will ensure that you get back to work faster in all circumstances. This is because it is very similar to creating a zip file, only this time, it is without the zip extension. Basically, file backup compresses the files and stores them away. The only challenge is that if your original drive fails, you need a new drive before you can restore your data.

Time Machine Mac

Looking beyond this, we will always recommend file backup because it provides you more versatility. It is a more economical backup option and it allows you to save different versions of the same files or disk.

Don't lose your data, backup now

It can be quite cumbersome finding the perfect backup app to serve as an alternative to the Time Machine. We have shown you eight apps in this post as well as criteria to help you choose. Based on all the criteria provided, it is evident that the best alternative app is the Carbon Copy Cloner app.

It has an extremely useful archiving ability and it is very flexible too. Carbon Copy Cloner solves several challenges that are seen as the failures of the Time Machine.

Setting Up Time Machine On Mac

Office 2016 mac access. The importance of backing up your Mac data cannot be overemphasized and choosing the right app is even more important.