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External Hard Drive & Time Machine

If I use an external hard drive to back up my computer does it remove everything I back up off of my computer? Also, do I have to leave it plugged in to my laptop all the time?

MacBook Air 13", macOS 10.12

Posted on Apr 5, 2020 3:21 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Apr 5, 2020 3:28 PM

delaney148 wrote:
If I use an external hard drive to back up my computer does it remove everything I back up off of my computer? Also, do I have to leave it plugged in to my laptop all the time?

Time Machine will not remove anything from the source drive.


It is not necessary to be "plugged" in to the computer all the time.


Back up your Mac with Time Machine - Apple Support provides additional information.

1 reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Apr 5, 2020 3:28 PM in response to delaney148

delaney148 wrote:
If I use an external hard drive to back up my computer does it remove everything I back up off of my computer? Also, do I have to leave it plugged in to my laptop all the time?

Time Machine will not remove anything from the source drive.


It is not necessary to be "plugged" in to the computer all the time.


Back up your Mac with Time Machine - Apple Support provides additional information.

External Hard Drive & Time Machine

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