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User profile for user: mrkp911
mrkp911 Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

"Time Machine Backup Not Completed"

Has anyone encountered their Time Machine not continuing to backup?


After a restart everything works fine and will back up on the hour for a few sessions. Then after the computer goes into a power nap, or sleep overnight, the next time I wake it up I get the "Time Machine Backup Not Completed" notice. It doesn't respond to the "Back Up Now" command either. If I restart the computer, it will start backing up again until it naps or sleep.


I've erased, reformatted and reconnected the backup disk to time machine last week; no change to the situation. My power saving settings have power nap enabled. This problem started after I updated to Big Sur 11.6 on an iMac (Retina 4K, 21.5-inch, 2017). I also ran first aid on the backup drive and it is fine with no errors.


Any suggestions to this problem would be appreciated.

Posted on Sep 28, 2021 3:27 PM

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User profile for user: Old Toad
Old Toad
User level: Level 10
207,787 points

Posted on Sep 29, 2021 3:52 PM

Boot into Safe Mode according to Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support and and try to backup for there. Reboot normally and try backing up again.


NOTE: Safe Mode boot can take up to 3 - 5 minutes as it's doing the following; 

• Verifies your startup disk and attempts to repair directory issues, if needed

• Loads only required kernel extensions (prevents 3rd party kernel/extensions from loading)

• Prevents Startup Items and Login Items from opening automatically

• Disables user-installed fonts 

• Deletes font caches, kernel cache, and other system cache files


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User profile for user: Old Toad
Old Toad
User level: Level 10
207,787 points

Sep 29, 2021 3:52 PM in response to mrkp911

Boot into Safe Mode according to Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support and and try to backup for there. Reboot normally and try backing up again.


NOTE: Safe Mode boot can take up to 3 - 5 minutes as it's doing the following; 

• Verifies your startup disk and attempts to repair directory issues, if needed

• Loads only required kernel extensions (prevents 3rd party kernel/extensions from loading)

• Prevents Startup Items and Login Items from opening automatically

• Disables user-installed fonts 

• Deletes font caches, kernel cache, and other system cache files


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User profile for user: mrkp911
mrkp911 Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Oct 5, 2021 3:08 PM in response to mrkp911

Thanks to everyone who offered advice. Over the last few days I tried all the suggestions and still encountered issues with the backups not being consistent and failing. I did however solve the issue. I run a Western Digital HD for my backups. I uninstalled the WDDriveUtilityHelper and TWDDriveUtility software. Then a did a full shutdown and restart. Everything seems to be working again. I have not received the "Time Machine Backup Not Completed" notice for the last couple days, and backups are consistent with the times I have used my iMac.

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"Time Machine Backup Not Completed"

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