Does the Time Machine backup everything on my MacBook Pro?

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Level 1

7 points

Does the Time Machine backup everything on my MacBook Pro?

The question 'Does TM backup everything on my MacBook Pro' was asked previously. The "answers" were not definitive. So I did my own research. As best I can tell, the answer is "maybe" -- stay with me.

My 2017 MacBook Pro (Mojave) and my 2011 Mac Mini (High Sierra) use iCloud drive for the same account. iCloud preferences has a checkbox "Optimize Mac Storage" under Options. It is not checked for my MacMini with a large disk but is checked for the MacBook Pro with a smaller disk. The finder reports that all files reside on the MacMini. On The MacBook Pro, some files *do not* reside locally (as denoted by the cloud icon with arrow pointing down.

Both Macs are backed up via time machine (to a Time Capsule). When I open time machine, pointing to iCloud drive I see that time machine files match their respective Mac counterpoints. So, here is my answer:

TimeMachine does backup everything (see exceptions below) stored locally on the MacBook Pro. That does NOT mean that the iCloud files are backed up. iCloud files only in the cloud stay in the cloud. These are not backed up.

Exceptions -- Time Machine preferences allow excluding files or folders.

MacBook Pro 15", macOS 10.14

Posted on Apr 3, 2019 9:44 AM

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Answer 1

Brian F. Author

Level 1

7 points

Apr 3, 2019 6:48 PM in response to Tesserax

Tesserax

Let me clarify. TM does backup *some* iCloud files. Specifically, files that are stored locally are backed up. Files that are *not* local (i.e., have cloud icon with down pointing arrow) are not backed up. I confirmed this by running a test. So your statement "...Time Machine does not backup your iCloud Drive" is correct, with the provision that some of the files are backed up.

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Answer 2

Tesserax

Level 10

158,940 points

Apr 3, 2019 9:50 AM in response to Brian F.

Thanks for your post. You are correct that Time Machine does not backup your iCloud Drive ... and FWIW, it cannot backup USB drives attached to either a Time Capsule or AirPort Extreme base station, nor can it backup one remote device to another remote device.

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Answer 3

leroydouglas

Level 10

201,584 points

Apr 3, 2019 8:03 PM in response to Brian F.

That being said, let me add —TM is great when it works, however I certainly would not solely rely on it alone.

You want a contignetency plan that will have you covered in any scenario which includes a corrupt or failed TM.

3-2-1 Backup Strategy: three copies of your data, two different methods, and one offsite.

Boot clone https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-10081

How to use Time Machine to back up or restore your Mac: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201250

Use DiskUtility Restore feature https://support.apple.com/guide/disk-utility/restore-a-disk-dskutl14062/mac

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Does the Time Machine backup everything on my MacBook Pro?

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