You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

backup external hard drive

I have a 1TB MacBook Pro with a 2TB external drive attached via usb. I want to backup both to a 3TB Time Capsule on the network. When I check Time Machine it doesn't look like it is backing up the SSD and when I check system preferences Time Machine>Options the SSD is in the list of excluded items. Unfortunately, it is grayed out so I cannot remove it from the list. How do I backup the laptop and the attached SSD with Time Machine?

MacBook Pro Retina

Posted on Aug 22, 2020 3:52 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Aug 22, 2020 6:05 AM

The icon for the 2 TB drive should be showing up on the Mac's desktop.

Right-Click on the drive, then click on Get Info in the drop down menu that appears

In the next window that appears, look for Format


That needs to be Mac OS Extended (Journaled)......also known as HFS+.......if your Mac is running any operating system up through Mojave. If your Mac is running Catalina, then the drive can also be formatted in APFS



2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Aug 22, 2020 6:05 AM in response to baddabing

The icon for the 2 TB drive should be showing up on the Mac's desktop.

Right-Click on the drive, then click on Get Info in the drop down menu that appears

In the next window that appears, look for Format


That needs to be Mac OS Extended (Journaled)......also known as HFS+.......if your Mac is running any operating system up through Mojave. If your Mac is running Catalina, then the drive can also be formatted in APFS



Aug 22, 2020 4:20 AM in response to baddabing

It is likely greyed out because it is not formatted correctly.. Time Machine will only backup HFS+ and new APFS formatted drives. (If you are on later Mac OS).


NOTE.. I really think you will do MUCH MUCH better with a 3rd party backup software for the external drive..

If you are running Catalina.. I would not use Time Machine at all to network drive.

Even earlier OS I would still only use Time Machine for your boot drive.. backup any other drive with alternative.


I use Carbon Copy Cloner.. it works well for me. I have no connection to the company.

You can even use disk image directly from disk utility or some free rsync backup software.

backup external hard drive

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.