Time Machine "Waiting to Compete First Backup" but looked like it did create the backup in ".inprogress" folder, and is running hourly and creating ".interrupted" folders

Thanks Alex8Bryan88. The solution was to delete the com.apple.TimeMachine.plist file, in the Macintosh HD /Libary/Preferences file. I did not bother deleting any LuLu file, as noted by m1mini. Thanks to both of you.

My backup drive now shows a folder 2022-01-12-170810, which has the full backup in it. There is no backups.backupdb folder on the drive like in older versions of TimeMachine. Most importantly, TimeMachine shows that a backup was completed, a folder on the backup drive is viewable in Finder with the date and time of the backup, that folder contains the backup, and one can use terminal to confirm the existence of the files. All is well. Thanks!

I used the command

sudo tmutil addexclusion -p ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.findmy.FindMyWidget*

to exclude all failing files. It works for me.

I tried the "Disk Utility" fix and it didn't work for me.

So how is it the most powerful computer company in the world can't even get their own Disc Backup system to work? This is not a minor screw up in an arcane operation. Perpetually disappointed in Apple's QA.

Has anyone tried using a 3rd party disc backup instead to see if it circumvents Apple's bugs?

I second this. Have the same problem in this thread, followed some instructions to complete the backup by excluding container folder. Then updated to Mac OS 12.2 and I was able to complete the backup with exclusion removed.

I had exactly the same issue, and this solved my problem. Thank you!

Same here with mac mini m1 macos 12.0.1.

Will try the exact sequence.

Same problem here. Running first aids didn't help either. Anyone ?

By the way, this guy has the same problem :

https://www.macuser.de/threads/m1-mac-mac-os-12-0-1-timemachine-geht-nicht-mehr-findmywidget.889729/

@Apple : would be great to have support.

awesome @olliebolle... worked for me as well!

Thank you -- booting in safe mode and doing the first backup there fixed it for me too, the disk repair suggestion did not do the trick.

The 12.1 update fixed this issue for me.

It didn't fix it for me. Remote drive over WiFi + AFP. Works well with other intel MacBook, but doesn't works with M1 MacBook Air. I've tried every pieces of advice, nothing helps...

Updating to 12.1 fixed this for me, if it's still broken for you I suggest looking up apple feedback assistant and using that to file a bug report with apple.