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Time Capsule backup failure

MacBook Pro macOS Big Sur 11.1 (installed on 1st January 2021)

I have an external Time Capsule which should be receiving backups every hour. I have had no backups since 21st April because there seems to be a problem between my MacBook Pro and the Time Capsule.

Everything looks good in Time Machine preferences - the disk is selected and visible, with 1.46 TB available. Interestingly "Oldest backup" and "Latest backup" both say "None". This shouldn't be the case as I have been using this disk for years.

In AirPort Utility, Internet and Time Capsule both show green lights and the Time Capsule unit is showing a green light on the front.

If I select the disk in Finder, I can access the data that I have placed on it manually - pictures, etc. So the disk is definitely connected.

When I try to run a backup, I get a message saying that the disk is not available. I can go into Time Machine preferences and select the disk, at which point it looks as though it is preparing to backup but after a while, if I check the progress, it just says "Waiting to Complete First Backup" and it stays like this forever. (or until I shut the computer down)

I have tried ejecting the disk image in disk utility but it tells me that the disk is being used by Finder. I have also tried unmounting the disk but it tells me "Failed to unmount "Time Machine Backups" because it is currently in use"

I have tried several suggested solutions that I have found on this forum and others but none seem to solve my issue.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 11.1

Posted on May 7, 2021 9:35 AM

Similar questions

28 replies

VFACO

Level 1

4 points

Jun 6, 2021 7:14 AM in response to SkinsMcMinnie

I have the same problem. Just added an ethernet, in addition to WiFi connection to my time capsule. While the ethernet connection to Time Capsule displays in Finder I'm still figuring out how to use ethernet instead of a Wifi connection to Time Capsule

Jun 6, 2021 8:34 AM in response to VFACO

It would help if you could provide more details on how you want to set things up.

Do you have another router that provides your WiFi network and you are asking how to connect the Time Capsule to this router using an Ethernet connection..........so your Mac(s) will be able to back up to the Time Capsule over your router's WiFi network?

If yes, could we get the make and model number of the WiFi router that you are using, so we can make sure that the Time Capsule will connect to the network correctly?

When you say that....... I'm still figuring out how to use ethernet instead of a Wifi connection to Time Capsule.......does this mean that you want to connect your Mac(s) directly to the Time Capsule to back up using an Ethernet connection.....and not WiFi?

As you might imagine, there are a number of different ways to set up the Time Capsule.....and each type of setup is different.....so we need to understand how you want to use the Time Capsule on your network, in order to provide the correct setup instructions.

Jun 6, 2021 11:32 AM in response to VFACO

Thanks for the clarification.

Connect an Ethernet cable from your Mac to one of the three LAN <--> Ethernet ports on the Time Capsule.

Important.......Turn off the WiFi on the Mac to insure that the backup will occur over the wired Ethernet cable connection. The reason for this is that most laptops will automatically default to the WiFi connection even if an Ethernet connection is present.....so the backup still occurs over WiFi.....unless....you turn it off on the MacBook Pro.

Not trying to make things more complicated, but there is a way to tell your Mac to automatically use the Ethernet connection when it is present, even if the WiFi is left on at the Mac. Post back if this "option" would be useful to you.

I noticed from the screenshot of your network layout that you have an AirPort Extreme connecting to the Time Capsule using a WiFi connection. Not sure if you were aware that when you do this, the potential WiFi speed is cut in half over the entire network, so performance is affected in a significant way in this type of setup.

There is a way to restore full performance to the network, but it would involve using a permanent wired Ethernet cable connection between the Time Capsule and AirPort Extreme......and.....reconfiguring the AirPort Extreme.

VFACO

Level 1

4 points

Jun 6, 2021 1:15 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Bob -- Yes I would like to "tell your Mac to automatically use the Ethernet connection when it is present, even if the WiFi is left on at the Mac. Post back if this "option" would be useful to you."

The backup to Time Capsule via ethernet with the MacPro WiFi turned off appears to be working.

Many thanks for noting that my network layout could reduce WiFi speeds up to 50%. For now, I'll eliminate any connection to the remote airport and see what happens.

Dan

VFACO

Level 1

4 points

Jun 8, 2021 5:57 AM in response to Bob Timmons

Bob -- Your advice has been very useful. Thanks. Despite adding ethernet as the primary connection to Time Capsule, backups are interrupted about 20 minutes into the process. Will reformat Time Capsule and see what happens.

Dan

VFACO

Level 1

4 points

Jun 9, 2021 12:49 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Bob -- Backup to Time Capsule after reformatting was successful. Thanks. Hourly backups now occur only when I'm using my Macbook Pro with the latest OS (Big Sur 11.4). Is it possible to schedule hourly backups to Time Capsule regardless of I'm using my Macbook or not?

Thanks again.

Dan

Jun 9, 2021 2:59 PM in response to VFACO

Sorry, but Apple provides no options to allow users to specify when Time Machine backups will occur.

Time Machine backs up the changes that have occurred on your Mac since the last backup. If there have not been any significant changes on the Mac, Time Machine will not back up until changes have have occurred.

Jul 14, 2021 4:27 AM in response to Bob Timmons

Thanks very much for all of your help with this issue. I finally got some time to work on a solution. It seems to be working now after I deleted the .sparsebundle file. I had to show the package contents and go into some folders to delete specific files but eventually I was able to delete the entire .sparsebundle and then create a new backup. This has now been running well for several days. Fingers crossed, this is now resolved.

Thanks again.

May 13, 2021 3:53 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Didn't take it long to display the message

The backup in "Time Capsule" is already in use.

May 15, 2021 11:04 AM in response to Bob Timmons

I have followed your latest advice…

As you anticipated, it hasn't achieved anything. It still just says "Waiting to Complete First Backup".

Does this mean I have to create a new backup file?

May 31, 2021 10:27 AM in response to brunoderolle

Follow up. I reformatted a spare USB drive here as APFS and set it up for Time Machine backup from my Mac.

Time Machine changed the format of the USB drive to APFS (Case Sensitive).

Jun 8, 2021 12:24 PM in response to VFACO

Make sure that you are not running any kind of anti-virus application on your Mac, or any other utility that claims to "speed up", "keep", "optimize", etc your Mac.

Jul 14, 2021 7:32 PM in response to SkinsMcMinnie

Hope that your luck will be better than mine. I no longer trust or use Time Machine backing up to a Time Capsule as my primary backup plan.

Time Capsule backup failure