Properly shutting down Time Machine

I cannot find any way to do this. This is absurd. Please help me. When the backup is done, what do I do? IMAC. Big Sur.

MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 11.1

Posted on Dec 18, 2020 8:47 AM

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6 replies

rkaufmann87

Level 10

148,630 points

Dec 18, 2020 8:52 AM in response to HollidayEllen

Time Machine is designed to run 24/7, you are not supposed to EVER shut it down.

rkaufmann87

Level 10

148,630 points

Dec 18, 2020 9:46 AM in response to HollidayEllen

Okay, so you can dismount the Time Machine drive or if you shut down the computer before travel then it's okay to simply disconnect the computer from the Time Machine drive.

Dismount instructions are in https://support.apple.com/guide/disk-utility/unmount-a-disk-set-or-disk-member-dskud709f49b/mac

Dec 18, 2020 10:43 AM in response to rkaufmann87

Thanks for your help.

Dec 18, 2020 9:34 AM in response to rkaufmann87

Thank you for your reply. But I do not want to tote around an external hard drive plugged in all the time. I want to occasionally plug it in, back up, and then unplug for a week or so. I get error messages if I unplug without properly closing down. Surely it's possible to do this?

KiltedTim

Level 10

229,050 points

Dec 18, 2020 9:36 AM in response to HollidayEllen

You eject the drive just like you would any other external drive.

rkaufmann87

Level 10

148,630 points

Dec 18, 2020 10:58 AM in response to HollidayEllen

Your welcome.

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Properly shutting down Time Machine