Using Time Machine to back up an EXTERNAL drive

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Using Time Machine to back up an EXTERNAL drive

My understanding is that Time Machine automatically excludes external hard drives in a backup. I keep my Photos library on an external drive and would like to have a backup of my photos. I have gone in to the Options for Time Machine and that external drive is not listed as excluded. I have to assume that it is included, although that goes against all the Time Machine rules I've seen. Is there a circumstance under which an external drive would not be excluded ?

Mac mini 2018 or later

Posted on Jul 30, 2019 3:42 PM

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Answer 1

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John Galt

Level 10

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Jul 30, 2019 7:34 PM in response to cards01pots

It's the opposite: by default TM automatically includes all mounted volumes, including internal and external drives, with the one exception of the Time Machine backup drive itself. It can't be backed up.

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Answer 2

cards01pots Author

Level 1

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Jul 31, 2019 5:36 AM in response to John Galt

Thanks for a quick answer. Opened a TM backup last night and saw the external Photos drive listed. I appreciate the confirmation.

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Using Time Machine to back up an EXTERNAL drive

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