Backing up your Mac is simple and important. We recommend it for everyone.
Back up with Time Machine
Time Machine is the built-in backup feature of your Mac. It's a complete backup solution, but you can use other backup methods as well.
Store files in iCloud
Seagate Backup Plus Desktop. Reviews / External hard drives. Seagate Backup Plus Desktop. From $159.95+ $159.95 Buy Now Share. Coming Soon This product hasn't been reviewed yet. The only way to ensure the files on your Mac desktop or MacBook are safe from from natural disasters, power outages and theft is to keep at least one copy at an offsite location. A cloud backup solution, like Carbonite ®, can protect both your Mac and your Time Capsule (or other external hard drive) from all of the most common forms of data loss.
You can also use iCloud and iCloud Drive to store files, such as your photos, documents, and music.
Set up iCloud and iCloud DriveRestore your Mac from a backup
When you have a backup, you can use it to restore your files at any time, including after the original files are deleted from your Mac.
Restore from a backupPrepare your Mac for service
Making a backup is an important part of preparing your Mac for service, especially because some types of repair might require erasing or replacing your hard drive.
Get your Mac ready for serviceHow much space do I need for a backup?
To see the size of a specific file or folder, click it once and then press Command-I. To see storage information about your Mac, click the Apple menu in the top-left of your screen. Choose About This Mac and click the Storage tab. For Time Machine backups, it's good to use a drive that has at least twice the storage capacity of your Mac.
Related topics
Free up storage on your Mac
Store files in iCloud
Seagate Backup Plus Desktop. Reviews / External hard drives. Seagate Backup Plus Desktop. From $159.95+ $159.95 Buy Now Share. Coming Soon This product hasn't been reviewed yet. The only way to ensure the files on your Mac desktop or MacBook are safe from from natural disasters, power outages and theft is to keep at least one copy at an offsite location. A cloud backup solution, like Carbonite ®, can protect both your Mac and your Time Capsule (or other external hard drive) from all of the most common forms of data loss.
You can also use iCloud and iCloud Drive to store files, such as your photos, documents, and music.
Set up iCloud and iCloud DriveRestore your Mac from a backup
When you have a backup, you can use it to restore your files at any time, including after the original files are deleted from your Mac.
Restore from a backupPrepare your Mac for service
Making a backup is an important part of preparing your Mac for service, especially because some types of repair might require erasing or replacing your hard drive.
Get your Mac ready for serviceHow much space do I need for a backup?
To see the size of a specific file or folder, click it once and then press Command-I. To see storage information about your Mac, click the Apple menu in the top-left of your screen. Choose About This Mac and click the Storage tab. For Time Machine backups, it's good to use a drive that has at least twice the storage capacity of your Mac.
Related topics
Free up storage on your Mac
macOS can save space by storing your content in the cloud. This isn't a backup, but it includes new tools to make it easier to find and remove large or unwanted files before you make a backup.
Use Optimized Storage in macOSErase or format a storage device
You can use Disk Utility if you need to erase or format a storage device.
Learn how to use Disk UtilitymacOS Community
If you can't back up your Mac
Backup Plus Desktop For Mac Computers
We'll find the best support options for you.
