How To Do A Complete Backup On Mac

1. How To Do A Complete Backup On Mac External Hard Drive

Being a Mac user, we agree that it offers the most secure and seamless user experience. However, we must not forget it's a machine end of the day. Some odd day, it might collapse or compromise the space of your data. Eventually, erasing everything in it and making you lose all of it if you didn't opt for backup software for your Mac. In our today's writeup, we'd be talking about – best backup software for Mac? Need to do a Backup? Which one's better, backup or cloning? And How often should you backup your data on Mac? Let's begin.

After installing and launching the cloning app, you'll need to choose where to store the backup. In the left drop-down menu, choose your Mac volume to back up. Then choose the destination volume in the right drop-down menu. You can do this as often or as little as needed for a Mac: Click on the Time Machine icon located in the Mac OS menubar Select 'Back Up Now' to begin the instant backup Time Machine will now begin a full manual backup of your Mac's hard drive. Most Mac users rely on Apple's backup solution, Time Machine.As useful and generally reliable as it is, Time Machine doesn't support the essential '3-2-1' backup rule: to have three copies of your data — one in production and two copies — across two different types of media, with one copy stored offsite. It takes a complete backup of your Mac with just 3 clicks, such is the interface and easy to use the functionality of this software. Carbon Copy Cloner creates an exact copy of Mac's internal drive through a bootable drive. So even if anything goes wrong on your system, it's easier to restore the files from this bootable drive.

What is Data Backup, and Why It's Important?

We use our Mac regularly to create, transfer, and receive ‘n' number of files. While some of them are personal, some play a significant part in our professional life. By backing up your data, you can stay assured of not having any loss of your moments stored in Mac or your work-related files.

What is Cloning, and why it's important?

Unlike backup, cloning creates a copy of the selected drive on the partition made at the target location. Having said this, you'll have access to an exact copy comprising partition layout and split. However, in comparison to backing up, cloning requires larger space considering that it gets created immediately, and encryption or compressing the file isn't feasible.

What is the Difference Between Backup and Cloning?

Backing up to a hard drive lets you create a backup for the entire content of a selected partition into the target source. This is also known to create an Image. Just if you are taking the backup of the entire system, an image file will be created of all the installed programs and settings. You also have the option to encrypt the backed up file for enhanced security.

How Often Should You Backup your Data on Mac?

Did you know, according to a report published, 24% of adult users never back up their data, 42% do it once a year or even less, and 34% do it once a month. It's just 6% of users who back up their data daily. Strange it may sound, but in a world where our MacBook serves an invincible role in storing our data, we sideline the role of having Mac's backup software.

Can i get the alexa app on my mac. If you are among the 6% of users who do it daily, Kudos to you!! If you are part of the remaining population, it's time you should take data loss seriously.

What is the Best Mac Backup Software?

Keep scrolling to find some of the best free and paid available data backup software for your Mac. Let's begin.

1. Time Machine

This is macOS' built-in back software. Being designed primarily for Mac, it's easy to use and copies everything on your Mac, including applications, accounts, email, messages, documents, photos, music, videos, system files, and preferences.

Setting up Time Machine doesn't require more than a hard drive, which is twice the internal hard drive's storage capacity. Once you connect it with your Mac, you'll notice a box seeking confirmation on using it with Time Machine and whether or not you intend to encrypt the backup disk.

While the backing up process may take hours to finish, here's how you can backup using Time Machine.

• Compatibility: All macOS'
• Price: Free (Built-in with Mac)
• How to install Time Machine: It comes by default with Mac.

2. Super Duper

The software offers intuitive software and is extremely easy to use. You have to select your target and the destination drive and sit back to watch it happen in no time. The software will take a backup of your entire data. Once the initial backup is completed, you'll have the option to select incremental backups. This will copy only the files that were created after your last backup was done. Isn't that interesting?
It also has a feature named Smart Wake, which enables you to take the backup even when your Mac's not awake.

• Compatibility: macOS 10.10 (Yosemite) and later
• Latest Version: 3.3.1 (Updated on 7^th February 2020)
• Price: Free to Try (License costs $27.95 for single Mac)

3. Carbon Copy Cloner

The cloning tool offers you a straightforward interface to execute the process. It gives you the option to create a back of your internal drive at a bit level and create a bootable backup disk or a clone, which is ready to install. In their recent upgrade, they resolved concerns linked with 'Copying of SystemKey' in macOS Catalina and an issue linked with the bootability of Yosemite and EI Captain backups.

• Compatibility: macOS 10.10 (Yosemite) or later.
• Latest Version: 5.1.21.6053 (Updated on 24^th September 2020)
• Price: 30-day Free to Try (License costs $39.99 for all the devices in a premise)

4. Chrono Sync

The software dons an editor rating of 4 stars out of 5 and works seamlessly between different work stations. It helps sync data and takes backup from multiple devices. Mac d for danger. Though the user agreement may look lengthy to you, once it starts to work, you'd see the effortlessness with which it carries all tasks. With its trial version, the software allows you to backup/transfer data up to 500mb. Further, you'll have to buy its licensed version.

• Compatibility: OS X 10.12 (Sierra) or higher.
• Latest Version: 4.9.10 (Updated on 10^th June 2020)
• Price: Free to Try (License costs $39.99 for all the devices in a premise)

5. Smart Backup

The lightweight backup application is created to serve devices with macOS X or higher. It uses a custom sync engine to improve performance and enhance features. It gives you entire liberty to select the volumes and folders you want to sync and create a bootable clone of your hard drive. It also comes with built-in automation that lets you schedule backup in just a few clicks.

• Compatibility: OS X 10.10 (Yosemite) or higher.
• Latest Version: 4.2.1 (Updated on 4^th March 2020)
• Price: Free

6. Disk Drill

This one's a powerful tool to scan your Mac or connected devices to find lost files. Though mostly it happens that some files can't be recovered, this tool has successfully reconstructed such lost or deleted files in many cases. It has a preview feature that will share with you the list of recoverable files after scanning.

• Compatibility: OS X 10.8.5 (Mountain Lion) or higher.
• Latest Version: 4.0.123 (Updated on 8^th October 2020)
• Price: Free basic version. $89 for Pro Version that allows recovery.

7. Carbonite Safe

It allows you to backup your Mac to remote servers and fetches files as and when you need them. We need to note that it only backups your files and folders and doesn't include system files and applications. The software protects your files with 128-bit encryption. However, there's no option of adding an access password to your protected files.

• Compatibility: OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard) or higher.
• Latest Version: 2.4.4
• Price: Free Try. It starts at $71.99 for a single Mac.

8. Acronis True Image 2020

This one's widely used and recognized by Windows users in comparison to those using Mac. However, the truth is that it can be of great help in availing personal backup solutions and taking backup of data in a local disk, an attached network, or its cloud service. However, to leverage the cloud service, you'll have to set up an account, which won't take much time, though.

• Compatibility: OS X EI Captain or higher.
• Latest Version: 2020.25760 (Updated on 29^th April 2020)
• Price: Free Try. It starts at $49.99.

9. Get Backup Pro (V3)

One primary reason for the popularity of this software is the flexibility it offers. It gives you the option to either backup your entire drive or a particular folder. It can create boot-ready clones of Mac's startup drive and sync folders and files to different drives. You can also schedule backups. These will happen in the background without hindering your work-in-progress. Once completed, the software will close automatically.

• Compatibility: OS X Mavericks or higher.
• Latest Version: 3.5.9 (Updated on 1^st October 2020)
• Price: Free Try. It starts at $19.99.

10. Backblaze

The software performs auto backups for you on Mac as per the schedule set. So just in case you forget doing it or have a busy schedule, this can be of great help. However, it keeps the backed up data stored for 30 days and then deletes it by self. Having said this, to be on the safer side, it'll always be a good idea to create a schedule for daily EoD or weekly.

• Compatibility: OS X Mountain Lion or higher.
• Latest Version: 7.0.1.452 (Updated on 14^th August 2020)
• Price: Free Try. $6 per month or $60 per year.

11. IDrive

The online backup service offers free accessibility up to 5GB capacity. After that, things get pretty expensive. However, there's one thing that you might like about this software. It does not delete your backup, giving you the liberty to roll back to any date from the past. While the data is fully encrypted, the features like Rewind and Snapshot are indeed a charm.

• Compatibility: OS X Mavericks or higher.
• Latest Version: 3.5.9.19 (Updated on 25^th September 2020)
• Price: Free Try. $52.12 for 1^st year and then $74.62/year.

Numerous software helps you back up your data on Mac. Understanding its vitality, it's crucial to have the best software on board to serve the purpose. Just in case there are any further details you want, please feel free to share it with me in the comment section.

You may also like to read these:

Mayank is a published author and a tech-blogger with over ten years of writing experience for various domains and industries. At iGeeks, he mostly writes about blogs that solve user-problems and guide them on unleashing the full potential of their Apple Device. He can often be found with his headphones on, typing to the rhythm of some country song.

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  How to Enable Favicons in Safari on iPhone, iPad, or Mac

We are closer now than ever before to making wired backups to external hard drives an archaic concept. It's not obsolete yet, but with the expanding capabilities of iCloud and iCloud Drive, external hard drives continue to shrink in relevance especially for Mac and iOS users. If you want to eliminate the need for an external drive, it's safe to say you can now back up almost your entire Mac through iCloud if you're willing to walk through some different steps.

Note: This won't end up being as comprehensive as a Time Machine backup. What you'll end up missing is system settings, so in the case that you need to restore from backup, icons may initially be out of place and Wi-Fi networks won't automatically connect, among other things. You also won't be able to back up applications, but I'll discuss some workarounds. The methods discussed below are primarily for your user files.

1. Upgrade Your iCloud Storage

Storing nearly all of your computer files in iCloud is going to require a lot more than the free 5GB of storage Apple gives you for iCloud.

To upgrade your iCloud storage, open System Preferences on your Mac and choose iCloud.

At the bottom, click Manage… Now click Buy More Storage… or if you've already purchased a plan and need more, click Change Storage Plan…

Choose from the available pricing and storage options. 50GB of storage costs $0.99 per month, 250GB costs $2.99 per month and 1TB costs $9.99 per month.

Tip: To estimate about what you might need, click the Apple logo in your menu bar, select About This Mac and click Storage to see how much you're currently using. Keep in mind that the amount you'll actually end up storing in iCloud should be far less than this when you count out system files and other unnecessary items.

How do i find the os version on my mac. Follow the process of upgrading your storage plan, then return to your iCloud settings.

2. Turn On All iCloud Services

Plain and simple: click the check mark for every single iCloud service possible. That especially goes for iCloud Drive and Photos — make sure iCloud Photo Library is turned on so you don't lose a single one. Keychain is also important to remember your saved passwords and credit cards on all devices.

This will not only benefit you now as it'll keep all of your content in sync across devices, but in the future when you need it on a new device.

Tip: While music isn't technically an iCloud service, you should consider an Apple Music subscription if you don't already have one (or Spotify Premium). Apple Music with iCloud Music Library enabled will automatically store all your music in the cloud and put it on any new or existing device of yours. Subscriptions are $9.99 per month. If you don't want to subscribe and would prefer to keep your music stored locally, that's okay too. I'll get to that in a moment.

3. Copy User Files Into iCloud Drive

Time to migrate in a two step process. First, you're make a copy of every valuable file and folder to you for iCloud Drive. Copy and paste them into iCloud Drive in Finder — items like movies, local music (like the iTunes folder,) iMovie or GarageBand files, pictures, screenshots and downloads. Do not click and drag.

If you're running macOS Sierra, see how to add your Desktop files and Documents to iCloud Drive automatically.

Important: Be sure to either copy the entire folders over or create new clearly labeled folders. Don't drag all your files over into the main iCloud Drive folder and create an unorganized mess.

Do not move applications into iCloud Drive. Applications are a bit more complicated than they seem. You can however move application data which I'll talk about in the next section.

Do not worry about sensitive system files, caches, messages or anything like that. Just focus on your own personal user files for now.

When you're finished, you can optionally add folder shortcuts like Music, Movies, etc. into the Finder sidebar by dragging and dropping the folders there from iCloud Drive. Since you'll still be accessing most of your files locally though, this isn't necessary.

4. Copy Library Files

This will only take a moment because you'll leave most of the junk behind. With Finder active, click Go in the menu bar. Press and hold the Option key and choose Library.

All you really need from here is Application Scripts, Application Support and Containers. Also grab Safari if you use it as your primary browser. Select all four of these and copy and paste them into iCloud Drive as well. These will help preserve some of your application settings.

Tip: If it helps you sleep at night, you can always just copy and paste the entire Library folder if you have the space for it in iCloud Drive. You won't need most of it, but the sense of security might ease your nerves.

As for applications themselves, you'll have to reinstall those manually. I know… I'm sorry. But if you get most of them from the Mac App Store, this won't take long at all as you can re-download them from the cloud. Otherwise, keep installation disks, license keys and download accounts in a note (digital or physical) for later use.

5. Restore

Now that just about everything you need is in iCloud Drive, when you get a new computer you won't have very much work to do at all. You can copy sensitive Library files in iCloud Drive back into the local library. All of your user files, media, messages, etc. should be readily available to access in iCloud.

The only work you should really have to put in is to reinstall your applications properly and adjust system settings back to your preferences.

ALSO READ:How to Test the Backup of Your Mac Before Restoring

The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.Also See#backup #Software

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