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Osnivo Fix

Time Machine won't back up or restore

Apple: “If Time Machine can't use your backup disk to back up or restore your files, try these solutions.”

Mac · 10 steps, in Apple's order

Step of 10

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  2. 2

    Check storage space on both disks

    Didn't fix it

    • If Time Machine says that your backup disk doesn't have enough storage space or is nearly full, use a backup disk that has at least twice the storage capacity of your Mac. For example, if your Mac has 1 TB of storage, your backup disk should ideally have at least 2 TB of storage. If necessary, you can choose items to exclude from your backup.
    • Check the storage space on your Mac as well. If your startup disk is nearly full, Time Machine might not be able to save the temporary data needed to complete a backup.

    Apple: If you can't back up or restore your Mac using Time Machine ↗

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  3. 3

    Check the connection to the disk

    Didn't fix it

    • If your backup disk is connected to your Mac, make sure that it's connected directly to your Mac, not through a USB hub or other device.
    • If your backup disk is connected over your local network, make sure that the network connection is good and your Mac is connected to the same network as the backup disk. If you completed a previous network backup successfully, you can verify that backup: Press and hold the Option key while choosing Verify Backups from the Time Machine menu in the menu bar.

    Apple: If you can't back up or restore your Mac using Time Machine ↗

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  4. 4

    Waiting for a sync service?

    Didn't fix it

    • If you're also using a cloud-based syncing or backup service, Time Machine might say that some of the files on your Mac cannot be backed up until syncing is completed. To ensure that syncing can complete promptly, keep your Mac plugged into power and connected to the internet. If you don't want to wait for syncing to complete, you can temporarily exclude your sync folders from the Time Machine backup.

    Apple: If you can't back up or restore your Mac using Time Machine ↗

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  5. 5

    "Some files were unavailable"?

    Didn't fix it

    • If Time Machine reports that the backup is delayed or could not be completed because some files were unavailable, complete a manual backup while your Mac is unlocked, or wait for Time Machine to try again during future automatic backups. (Certain protected files might require that your Mac be unlocked before Time Machine can access them.)

    Apple: If you can't back up or restore your Mac using Time Machine ↗

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