Time Machine Can't Connect to the Backup Disk / There was an error authenticating with the provided username or password

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jason f b Author

Level 1

108 points

Time Machine Can't Connect to the Backup Disk / There was an error authenticating with the provided username or password

The Time Machine back up server is Mac mini M1 2020 running Big Sur 11.3.1

Main computer is MacBook Air M1 2020 Chip running Big Sur 11.4

SYMPTOM:

When I add a new Time Machine backup disk

Enter the correct username & password (this username & password words for the normal Connect to Server dialog)

• Result:

Time Machine Can't Connect to the Backup Disk

There was an error authenticating with the provided username or password

Expected result: The remote machine is recognized as a Time Machine backup.

Note: This same username/password works in the Finder when using Connect As.

On the backup server (Mac mini M1 2020 running Big Sur 11.3.1), my configuration is

Sharing > File Sharing > Then you must right-click on either pane to choose Advanced Options...

Under Advanced Options, which I do think are per-user options, there is the option for sharing a a Time Machine backup:

I do not see a way this can be specified on a per-user basis.

It seems like the same username/password are not recognized in the Time Machine window.

MacBook Air (2020 or later)

Posted on Jun 6, 2021 12:17 PM

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Answer 1

Corrie84

Community Specialist

Jun 7, 2021 11:15 AM in response to jason f b

Hello Jason f b,

Thank you for posting on Apple Support Communities.

If you are not able to complete the Time Machine backup check out these instructions to learn how to troubleshoot it:

"Make sure that you're using a backup disk supported by Time Machine.
Unless you're using a network backup disk, make sure that your backup disk is connected directly to your Mac, not through a USB hub or other device.
If your backup disk is connected directly to your Mac, use Disk Utility to repair the disk.
If you're using a network backup disk, make sure that the network connection is good and your Mac is connected to the same network as the backup disk. If you completed a previous backup successfully, verify that backup: Press and hold the Option key while choosing Verify Backups from the Time Machine menu in the menu bar.
Make sure that the firmware of your backup disk is up to date. Check with the manufacturer of the backup disk for details.
If no other solutions work, start over: Erase your backup disk, then use Time Machine to select it as your backup disk again. "

Here is the link to the resource: If you can't back up or restore your Mac using Time Machine

Good luck!

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Answer 2

jason f b Author

Level 1

108 points

Jun 8, 2021 11:17 AM in response to jason f b

I upgraded my backup machine (called Pisces) to Mac OS 11.4 (it was on Big Sur 11.3.1),

Interestingly, the File Sharing settings appear to have been wiped away. File sharing was enabled, but the shared drive was gone.

So I re-added it as a share drive, and now the same symptom occurs: the backing up machine tells me "Time Machine Can't Connect to the Backup Disk / There was an error authenticating with the provided username or password" even when using a known good username/password (that works through the Connect to Server dialog)

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Time Machine Can't Connect to the Backup Disk / There was an error authenticating with the provided username or password

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