How to backup Time Machine to an SMB share on Windows 10

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How to backup Time Machine to an SMB share on Windows 10

How do we backup a Mac to an SMB share on a Windows 10 PC? Apple says that it supports SMB but I have tried to create a share and it does not show up in Time Machines list of available disks.

This https://support.apple.com/en-ca/guide/mac-help/mh15139/10.15/mac/10.15

The article also says the the drive must be formatted in HFS+. Does that apply to disks shared with SMB?

If you could help me set this up would be much appreciated.

MacBook Pro 13", macOS 10.14

Posted on Nov 18, 2019 8:12 AM

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Answer 1

Nov 18, 2019 1:18 PM in response to turingtest2

I've seen that article but it starts of with a big warning that has me skeptical of the process. I don't want an unstable backup. It says: "Time Machine more difficult in terms of options for backup locations is that it requires use of Apple's proprietary HFS+ filesystem."

Personally I'd go buy a big external drive and reformat in HFS+.

With a modem, router, 2 computers and other devices I have a birds nest worth of cables. I would like to reduce this clutter as much as possible and that's the main reason for a desire to backup to a PC. Also, the PC is always on serving Plex so it would be an ideal location for a network share for backups. Time Machine performs incremental backups hourly so it does not really make sense to me that an external drive is the best place for these regular backups. An external drive would be better as the 3rd location.

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Answer 2

turingtest2

Level 10

275,178 points

Nov 18, 2019 8:46 AM in response to Ocean Digital

See https://www.imore.com/how-use-time-machine-backup-your-mac-windows-shared-folder. Personally I'd go buy a big external drive and reformat in HFS+.

tt2

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How to backup Time Machine to an SMB share on Windows 10

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