How to Backup Mac to External Drive Step by Step

Part 1. What You Need Before Backing Up Mac to External Drive

Be sure you have what you need: the proper tools and backup settings in place. So, you do not make mistakes, or your backup fails.

1. Choosing the Right External Hard Drive (SSD vs HDD）

Choosing an external hard drive means choosing between an SSD (Solid State Drive) and an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). SSDs are faster, more durable, and better suited for users who prioritize speed and portability. Hence, making them ideal if you're looking for the best SSD external hard drive for Mac. However, they can be more costly in comparison.

HDDs are slower and less tolerant to physical abuse, but have greater storage capacity at a relatively lower price. Therefore, they are appropriate for users who are concerned mainly with cost-effectiveness and can work with bulk storage.

2. Check macOS Version Compatibility

Before you start backing up, ensure that your external device or backup software is compatible with the current macOS version you have. Some of the external drives or programs may require an update or reformatting to synchronize with the newer versions of macOS. Pre-verification of compatibility prevents errors in the backup process.

3. Formatting the Drive (APFS, Mac OS Extended)

The external drive should be formatted in a file system that macOS is compatible with. The recommended file system for SSD is APFS (Apple File System), and it is better optimized for the new versions of macOS. Mac OS Extended is the recommended format with conventional HDDs or when utilizing the Time Machine.

Formatting the drive is possible by opening the Disk Utility, selecting the drive, clicking on the Erase button, and selecting the correct format type.

4.Cable & Connection Type（USB-C, Thunderbolt）

The new Macs have fast connection interfaces such as USB-C and Thunderbolt that are great for rapid and reliable data transfers. You might need an adapter if your external drive has an older USB-A port.

The best way to get a seamless backup experience is always to use the most reliable and fastest connection-compatible external storage for Mac. It helps reduce the possibility of connection-based errors.

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Part 2. How to Backup Mac to External Drive Using Time Machine

Apple includes a built-in backup tool, called Time Machine, so it is easy to backup Mac to external drive. It is intuitively designed, highly functional, and compatible with macOS. It takes a few clicks to create a backup and restore the files at any time.

Here, step by step, we will explain how to make a backup of your Mac to an external drive with the help of Time Machine.

• Connect your external hard drive to the Mac.

• Open "System Settings" and go to "General", then click "Time Machine”.

  

• Click “Add Backup Disk” and choose your external drive to backup Mac to external drive.

  

Part 3. How to Back Up Mac to External Drive Without Time Machine

Supposing you would like more freedom or a higher level of control, an alternative to Time Machine is the Disk Drill backup tool. It is a third-party tool. You can do full byte-to-byte backups of your Mac with Disk Drill, having greater data protection and backup customization options.

This software is an effective external backup solution despite lacking built-in tools in macOS.

• It works with external and internal drives
• It also supports macOS-compatible file systems
• Smart, user-friendly interface is good for users

Here, we will demonstrate how to use Disk Drill to back up your Mac:

• Download and install Disk Drill from the official site.

  

• Launch the app and go to Byte-to-byte Backup.

• Select your Mac’s internal disk as the source.

• Choose your external drive as the destination.

  

• Start the backup Mac to external drive process and wait until it completes.

  

Bonus: How to Recover Files from External Hard Drive Mac

If you accidentally delete files from your external drive or the backup is corrupted, 4DDiG Mac Data Recovery is a great solution. Whether you have deleted files on your external hard drive accidentally or they are lost to corruption, this powerful software can recover them easily.

Here we are going to guide you through the steps of retrieving the deleted files in external storage for Mac with the help of 4DDiG.

• Launch the 4DDiG Data Recovery for Mac software. Now, choose the location where you deleted the files from. In this case, it will be your external hard drive. Now, choose the file types that you want to scan, or select all. To begin scanning, click "Start Scan"

  

• 4DDiG will cleanly present all found files based on their categories. You can check the path for your desired files or search by file name.

  

• When you find your desired file, click on it to get a preview. Now, click "Recover" and select the desired location to save that file. You have successfully recovered your file that you accidentally deleted from your external storage for Mac.

  

With these simple and easy steps, you do not need to worry about losing your files again. If you accidentally deleted something from your drive, 4DDiG can save the day for you with ease.

Backup Mac to External Drive FAQs

It helps to have your files secured against loss because of a system crash, theft, or accidental deletion. Secure, offline external hard drive backup for Mac also offers you more control without any online connection.

File system incompatibility, security settings, or bad cables are just some of the possible reasons. Check that the drive is formatted and has the APFS or Mac OS Extended file format, and use a different port or cable.

Launch Disk Utility and choose your drive, then perform a format as APFS or Mac OS Extended. Please note: This deletes all data, so make a backup of your previous external storage for Mac data somewhere.

No, but to perform best, a Mac-formatted drive, or an easily reformatted Drive is preferable. To be fast, USB-C SSDs are best, and they work well as an external hard drive backup for Mac.

Conclusion

You should periodically create backups on your Mac by using an external drive to protect your documents, in case of system failure or mistaken deletion. Whether you use Time Machine or a third-party tool like Disk Drill, it's important to choose the right drive and keep backups updated.

If something bad happens, 4DDiG Mac Data Recovery can restore your valuable data. Make sure you secure your Mac with the best practices and tools, and backup Mac to external drive for more control.