MacOS: Configure Time Machine
Apple's Time Machine is a tool that automatically creates backups of your data. We show you how to configure Time Machine correctly.
Activate Time Machine
Before your Mac can automatically take over your backups for you, you must first activate Time Machine.
- Click on the small apple icon in the menu bar at the top left of the screen to access the Apple menu.
- Open the system settings in the drop-down menu.
- Click on "Time Machine" in the System line to open the backup settings.
- Slide the slider on the left side from "Off" to the "On" position.
Select Time Machine backup volume
Time Machine needs a drive on which it can save the backup copies of your files. Optimally use a volume that is at least three times the size of your data and, at best, is not in the same device. An external hard drive is particularly suitable, for example.
- Time Machine now prompts you to select a volume for your backups from the list of all available drives.
- Make your choice by clicking on "Use backup hard drive".
- In the dialog box, confirm that you want to delete all data from the selected drive in order to use it as a backup volume for Time Machine.
- If you have an Apple AirPort Time Capsule, you can select the "Configure other Time Capsule" option instead of a drive and let Time Machine guide you through the necessary steps to configure the WiFi.
Configure time machine settings
Now the fine adjustments: Exclude certain objects from the backup or prevent backups while your MacBook is running on battery.
- In the Time Machine system settings, click on "Options".
- Here you can make some settings for your backup process and exclude certain objects from the backup.
- To do this, click on the little plus sign.
- Select a file or folder in the dialog window and click on "Exclude".
- All excluded objects are displayed in the list. To delete an object from the list, select it and click on the small minus sign.
Time Machine now automatically backs up any changes you make to files and folders.