Time Machine is only backing up OneDrive alias

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Time Machine is only backing up OneDrive alias

I use OneDrive on my Macs to sync files between multiple machines. I recently discovered that my Time Machine is only backing up the ALIAS to the OneDrive folder, not the actual files in the local OneDrive folder. This is a problem if I need to go back to a previous version of the file that I have saved over. Older backups on my Time Machine drive have the actual files in the OneDrive folder backed up, but at some point, Time Machine changed over to only back up the ALIAS to the local OneDrive folder. Any ideas as to how I can get it changed back?

iMac Pro

Posted on Apr 11, 2022 6:16 AM

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Answer 1

gkress Author

Level 1

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Apr 11, 2022 7:54 AM in response to muguy

Here's an example. I have a business card file that I have not edited in months prior to this morning.

When I go onto the Time Machine backup drive and navigate to the February 10th backup, the OneDrive alias shows and takes me to the folder that I edited this morning, not the old file that should have been different from February 10.

If I go onto the Time Machine backup drive and navigate to the January 6th backup, there is no 'alias' icon, and I open a full backup of the OneDrive files, and that business card file is different from the one this morning.

So some time between those two dates, something changed with Time Machine or OneDrive and no longer makes backups of actual files.

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Answer 2

muguy

Level 10

91,220 points

Apr 11, 2022 6:28 AM in response to gkress

If the files are not resident on your Mac, only the alias backs up.

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Answer 3

muguy

Level 10

91,220 points

Apr 11, 2022 6:45 AM in response to gkress

Then the files will backup unless you have excluded the directory containing the files; you just need to know where the downloaded files are kept on a Mac (should be in your Home folder under onedrive).

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Answer 4

muguy

Level 10

91,220 points

Apr 11, 2022 7:37 AM in response to gkress

It wouldn't take you to the archived. When you open that file in Time Machine, it's as if you're opening the alias file that's sitting in the same location. So, it will open the shortcut on your Mac, not the file within Time Machine. To open the Time Machine documents, you need to navigate to the actual folder where your OneDrive files are stored.

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Answer 5

gkress Author

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Apr 11, 2022 6:33 AM in response to muguy

They are. OneDrive downloads the most recent copy to work on. The little cloud with arrow icon shows if they need to be downloade.

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Answer 6

gkress Author

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Apr 11, 2022 6:56 AM in response to muguy

Not excluded from the backup as far as I can see (attached).

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Answer 7

muguy

Level 10

91,220 points

Apr 11, 2022 7:03 AM in response to gkress

Then what makes you believe the files are not backed up?

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Answer 8

gkress Author

Level 1

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Apr 11, 2022 7:30 AM in response to muguy

Because when I click the 'alias' link in the original graphic...it takes it to my local/current file on my machine, not the archived backup on my time machine drive.

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Time Machine is only backing up OneDrive alias

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