Issue/Question
- How do I backup my Mac using Time Machine?
Environment
- Oregon State University
- Community Network
- MacOS
Resolution
Time Machine Manual
For detailed steps, please follow the Time Machine Manual.
The file is also linked to this article as a PDF.
Quick Steps
The following are quick steps to get Time Machine set up. Please see the Time Machine Manual for more detailed steps and explanation.
- Make sure the external hard drive is plugged in and recognized
- Open Time Machine preferences from the Time Machine menu. Or choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Time Machine.
- Click Select Backup Disk.
- Select an external hard drive, then click Use Disk.
- After you choose a backup disk, optionally click “Add or Remove Backup Disk” to add more backup disks for extra security and convenience.
After you set up Time Machine, it automatically makes hourly backups for the past 24 hours, daily backups for the past month, and weekly backups for all previous months. The oldest backups are deleted when your backup drive is full.
Assistance
For assistance, contact the Service Desk.