Backing up a Mac is a vital yet often overlooked digital hygiene practice. It copies your files and data to an external device or the cloud, where they can be restored in case your Mac device stops functioning or is infected with malware.
There are three primary methods to back up your Mac:
- Time Machine: Apple’s built-in backup software that copies your files to an external drive. Time Machine is the simplest and most convenient backup option, but you’ll need to get your hands on at least 1TB of external storage.
- Copy files to a cloud service provider: NordLocker offers private, secured cloud storage with end-to-end encryption, although you’ll need a subscription for enough backup storage. Apple’s own iCloud is convenient, but you’ll still need to pay for sufficient storage.
- Clone your system image: Cloning your system image on an external drive is effective, but a bit pricier and more time consuming, depending on the software you use. This also creates a bootable backup disk, which Time Machine does not.
Follow the steps listed below to back up your Mac with Time Machine:
- Connect the external device that you want to use to back up your files to your Mac. A USB or external drive needs to be high capacity to handle your Mac system data. If you have 512 GB of storage, you’ll need an external device with at least twice the space, like this Seagate external hard drive.
- Search for “Time Machine” using spotlight or find it in the system preferences menu.
- Click on the “Set Up Time Machine” icon in the prompt window that pops up.
- Click on “Add a Backup Disk” in the Time Machine settings menu.
- Choose the external device you want to use for the Time Machine backup.
- The backup process should start automatically.
Read on for detailed steps for creating backups with all three methods, and we’ll explain the differences between each of them.
Backing up your Mac is a seemingly mundane and boring task, one that you probably keep avoiding. However, creating a backup of your Mac can prove vital if it stops working due to hardware or software failure.
If you have a backup of your Mac, you can easily recover your files, pictures, and other data, even if your device suffers serious damage. Moreover, creating a backup of your Mac also eases the process of shifting between devices. It can also make it simpler to share files across devices, especially if you own other Apple products.
In this article, we explain how you can back up your Mac using three different methods:
- Using Time Machine: Apple’s built-in backup software that allows you to save your files to external storage. This gives you a full backup of files, settings, applications, and preferences at any given time. You’ll need at least 1TB of space on an external drive.
- Saving files to an online storage provider: Cloud storage like NordLocker or Apple’s own iCloud can provide safe, encrypted storage for your critical files online. You’ll be able to access them anywhere on any device.
- Cloning your system image: This creates an exact replica of your system, including your files, settings, and preferences. It’s similar to Time Machine, but you’ll need third-party software and an external drive. It’s effective, although it takes up lots of space and can be time-consuming.
Each method has its pros and cons, which we’ll highlight while walking you through each of them, step-by-step.
Method 1: How to Back Up a Mac With Time Machine
Apple is known for making products and services that are easy for customers to use. It’s no different when it comes to backing up a Macbook, thanks to Time Machine. Time Machine is Apple’s built-in backup software tool that automatically backs up apps, music, photos, email, and documents. It also backs up your preferences, accounts, and other similar settings.
When using Time Machine, you don’t need to download any other software to back up your Mac. All you need is an external storage device. You can also use network-attached storage (NAS) devices to back up your Mac, but the backup process can be more time-consuming.
External storage device
Apple recommends using a storage device or external disk that has twice the space of your Mac’s in-built storage. So, if you have Mac with 512GB storage capacity, you should get a 2 TB hard disk to back it up using Time Machine. Something along the lines of this Seagate external hard drive will do the trick with space to spare.
As long as the hard drive is connected to your Mac, Time Machine will create regular backups according to the frequency you have selected. Follow the steps below to back up a Mac using Time Machine once you have an external drive that matches the above criteria.
Step-by-step guide to backing up your Mac with Time Machine
- Connect your external storage device to the Mac you want to back up.
- Search for Time Machine using spotlight search. Click the magnifying glass icon from the toolbar and type in “Time Machine.”
- If this is your first time backing up your device, you will see a pop-up window prompting you to set up Time Machine. Click on the blue “Set Up Time Machine” icon.
- In Time Machine settings, click on the “Add a Backup Disk” button.
- Select the external drive you’ve connected. Time Machine should automatically start the backup process within a minute of selecting the backup drive. If this is your first Time Machine backup, it may take a lot of time to complete.
- Configure the frequency of your backups. You can make daily, weekly, or monthly backups using Time Machine. By default, Time Machine will create hourly backups for the last 24 hours, daily backups for the past month, and weekly backups for all previous months.
- You’re all set! Time Machine will now automatically back up your data as long as the external device or NAS device remains connected.
Pros and cons of backing up a Mac with Time Machine
Overall, Apple’s own Time Machine is probably the simplest, most effective way to back up your Mac. Not only does it back up all your documents, pictures, and photos, but it also saves your preferences and system settings. It also allows you to encrypt backups and enhance their overall security.
However, there are some downsides to using Time Machine. It takes up quite a lot of space and requires an external device.
Pros
- No third-party software is required to create a backup
- Backs up system settings and preferences
- Backs ups can be automated
Cons
- Requires an external storage device
- Takes up a lot of space
Recovering a Time Machine backup
The process to recover a Time Machine backup will depend on the state of your Mac device:
- If it fails to boot, you will have to restore the backup using Recovery Mode. Trigger Recovery Mode by holding the power button for 10 seconds when booting up your device (for silicon Macs). Once the device is in recovery, you should see an option to back up from Time Machine. Depending on the damage to your internal system, Time Machine will either restore all previously installed files or do a completely fresh install of MacOS.
- If your device is functioning well and you just want to restore or recover previous versions of files or install your OS afresh, you can use Apple’s Migration Assistant app. Search for “Migration Assistant” using Spotlight and choose the option to transfer information from a Time Machine backup. This gives you the option of selecting which files or folders you want to restore.
Method 2: How to Back Up a Mac With Cloud Storage Services
Saving your files on an online backup service — like NordLocker, iCloud, Google Drive, or Dropbox — is another way to back up your Mac. Files that you select are automatically stored on the cloud and can be accessed even if your device stops working. Online backups are especially useful if you don’t have an external storage device with enough memory.
However, unlike a Time Machine backup, backing up to a cloud service doesn’t save your settings and preferences. Only files and data are saved. Moreover, any files you delete on your Mac are also deleted from the cloud. As such, you can’t restore files you deleted accidentally.
What is the best cloud storage for Macs?
So what’s the best cloud storage for Macs? As a cybersecurity and online privacy-conscious entity, we’ve found that NordLocker answers that question.
NordLocker protects sensitive documents, spreadsheets, private photos, videos, emails, and other files from malware, cybercriminals, or any possible surveillance. NordLocker is essentially able to lock your private data in an online vault via end-to-end encryption so that no one can access it but you.
iCloud Drive, on the other hand, keeps you in the Apple ecosystem and integrates seamlessly with a Mac. In general, iCloud security and encryption protocols are highly regarded as well. No provider’s free plan offers enough storage to back up a Mac. You’ll likely need at least 1 TB of storage, and NordLocker is a bit more cost-effective.
We’ve compared the pricing plans for some leading cloud service providers below.
| Cloud Storage Provider | Free Storage Offered | Paid Plans (per month) |
|---|---|---|
| NordLocker | 3 GB | 2 TB for $6.99 |
| iCloud Drive | 5 GB | 2 TB for $9.99 |
| Microsoft OneDrive | 5 GB | 1 TB for $6.99 (plus Office Suite) |
| Google Drive | 15 GB | 2 TB for $9.99 |
| Dropbox | 2 GB | 1 TB for $9.99 2 TB for $16.99 |
| Sync | 5 GB | 2 TB for $8 |
You can find detailed guides on downloading and using the software in our extensive NordLocker review. For detailed instructions on backing up your Mac with iCloud, follow the steps below.
Step-by-step guide to backing up your Mac with iCloud Drive
- Open “System Settings” by clicking the Apple icon in the top left of your desktop screen.
- Select “Apple ID settings” by clicking on the icon in the top left of the window.
- Click on the iCloud icon. This will open up the iCloud settings menu.
- Turn on iCloud Drive in the settings menu.
- You can select which apps should automatically sync to iCloud Drive by toggling the buttons next to their icons on the iCloud setting page.
- To select more folders for automatic syncing, use Spotlight to search for and open the iCloud Drive folder.
- Drag and drop any folders you want to sync into the iCloud Drive folder.
- For iCloud users, a cloud icon will appear below the folders that are being backed up.
Pros and cons of backing up a Mac using cloud service providers
Backing up to the cloud means that all your files and documents will be copied and stored on the cloud in addition to your hard drive. Resultantly, you can access your files from any other device if your Macbook or Mac Mini isn’t working.
However, backing up the cloud lacks the features and utilities other backup methods provide. For instance, you can’t access deleted files or previous versions of files. Additionally, a cloud backup does not save your system image or system preferences. As a result, cloud backups aren’t the best option to restore your system if it’s suffered a major crash.
Pros
- Makes files available for access on other devices
- Easy to configure and set up
- No third-party apps are required for iCloud Drive
Cons
- Doesn't store system preferences and settings
- Cannot be used to recover a corrupted operating system
Restoring files from a cloud backup
Unlike Time Machine, you can’t use a cloud backup to recover your system and automatically copy over files. Instead, you can use it to download files after a clean installation of your OS. You can either download all the files stored on the cloud manually, or you can sync the local folder on your device, which should trigger the download of any files that are on the cloud but not on your device.
Method 3: How to Back Up a Mac by Creating a System Image Clone
Cloning your system image, as the name suggests, creates an exact replica of your file system, which includes your Mac’s operating system, settings, files, and documents. Backing up via a system image clone or copy is quite similar to a Time Machine backup.
However, a system image clone is a bootable local backup. If your system is ever corrupted, you can boot up directly from the external device to which you had copied the system image and easily recover your device. While you can restore your system using a Time Machine backup, it will require an active internet connection to download a fresh version of your operating system and then recover files and settings from the backup data. This can be problematic if you’re in a crunch situation where you need your device up and running immediately.
A system image clone can be created using Apple’s in-built Disk Utility tool or third-party software. Whatever option you choose will create an exact replica of your system image and files at the time of the backup. However, there are some differences in the options of the different software providers. For instance, SuperDuper and Carbon Copy Cloner provide additional features, like scheduled cloning and file filtering, which are unavailable on Disk Utility.
The following table provides a price comparison for some of the most popular Mac cloning solutions.
| System Clone Software | Free Version | One-Off Price |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon Copy Cleaner (CCC) | Free 30-day trial | $49.99 |
| ChronoSync | Free 30-day trial | $49.99 |
| Disk Drill | Yes | $89.99 |
Interested in trying out a system image clone? Follow the steps below.
Step-by-step guide to creating a system image clone
The steps involved in backing up your Mac by creating a system image clone will depend on the software or app you decide to use. Generally, the order of steps should be as follow:
- Connect your external storage device to your Mac. It’s important to ensure that the external device is properly formatted for use with a Mac.
- Open Disk Utility or the cloning software of your choice.
- Select the option to create a new system image backup. In Disk Utility, this is located in the top right of the application window.
- Choose the system image you want to copy. It’s important to take your time and ensure everything you want to copy has been selected.
- Select the external device you want to use to create the clone. You can also choose to encrypt backups, in which case you will need to provide a password to secure it.
- The cloning process should now start. Note that cloning a system can take a while to complete, depending on the size of your system image and your device’s processor speed.
Pros and cons of backing up a Mac with a system image clone
A system image clone is particularly useful when your Mac has suffered a serious software or hardware failure and needs to be recovered. However, the utility of cloned bootable backups is limited on silicon Macs as they can’t be booted from an external device if there’s an internal hardware failure. Other benefits and downsides of system image backups are listed below:
Pros
- Effective recovery option for software and hardware failures
- Can be used to create an external SSD
Cons
- Automated back ups require paid software
- Can be time consuming
Restoring a system image backup
Like a time machine backup, the process for restoring a system image backup will depend on whether your device is functioning properly.
- If you’re able to boot up without any problems, you can simply go to the software you used to create the clone and find the Recover or Restore option. This will initiate the process of copying data from the backup to your device.
- If your device isn’t starting up properly, you will again need to access MacOS recovery and choose to boot up from the external disk, which contains the system image clone. After this, you can choose the internal drive you want to recover and it should begin copying the files over.
Please note that the steps involved will vary based on the software you used to create the system clone and the version of your Mac operating system.
Why You Should Back Up Your Mac
There are several reasons to back up your Mac or other electronic devices. Some of the most compelling reasons are:
- Backups ease the recovery process if your device crashes, malfunctions, or is infected with a computer virus or other malware.
- Makes it easier to set up a new device.
- Backups allow you to recover files that you accidentally deleted or to access old versions of files on your device.
- Prevents data loss in case your device breaks, is stolen or is infected with malware.
- Simplifies sharing files and folders across devices (particularly for cloud backups).
Backing Up Your Mac: Final Thoughts
So what’s next? Backups will certainly let you avoid a lot of headaches down the road in the case of a system disaster. You just need to decide what’s best for you.
Time Machine is the easiest and most convenient way to back up your Mac. It’ll keep your data safe and ready for a reload in almost all situations. A system image clone is similar but gets you that backup in a local, fast-tracked, bootable form. Security-minded users might opt for NordLocker for its heavily-encrypted, secure cloud storage. The ease of accessing key files and folders across different devices also makes it an incredibly convenient option.
In the case of a system crash or failure, whatever route you decide to take, you’ll certainly be glad you didn’t put off backing up that Mac.
In the section below, we’ve answered some of the most common questions about backing up a Mac. If there are any other questions you have, please drop a comment and we’ll get to back you right away.
If you want to save all your files, folders, and system settings to an external device, you should create a Time Machine backup on an external disk. However, if you’d also like to copy the operating system, then creating a system image clone is the better option. You can also use secure online cloud storage to back up your Mac files.
Time Machine is Apple’s built-in backup tool. It creates a backup that contains all selected files, folders, documents, and system settings on an external device. As such, it backs up pretty much everything on a Mac. However, it doesn’t copy a Mac’s system image and cannot be used to create a bootable backup disk.
In our estimation, Time Machine is the best way to back up a Mac. It’s convenient, automatic, and customizable. Time Machine backups can also be encrypted for additional security. But to back up a Mac, you can also use online cloud storage or create a system image clone.
There are two ways that you can back up your Mac without Time Machine:
- Save your files and folders to the cloud: Saving your files to the cloud is another great way to back up your Mac. Files that you select are automatically copied to the cloud and can be recovered if anything goes wrong. Creating a cloud backup is a very simple process, especially if you use iCloud or NordLocker.
- Create a system image clone: Like a Time Machine backup, creating a system image clone requires an external device. This backup process copies everything on your Mac to the external device and is the best way to recover a Mac that’s crashed or to set up a new Mac.
