Do you must backup with time machine in order to install beta softwares?

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Level 2

206 points

Do you must backup with time machine in order to install beta softwares?

I have restored my MacBook Air's disk on another external hard drive and tried to install the macOSPublicBetaAccess Utility. However, when I click to install it, it says my computer is not being backed up by time machine currently.

I've created a disk partition on my MacBook Air and used a time machine to store information on my main disk in it. But the installer said it cannot detect a time machine backup, and I can only access pre-releases but not Beta Softwares.

So do I have to make an external hard drive a time machine disk and let the time machine back up everything into it before using the installer( I have a direct copy of my whole computer on the external disk)?

MacBook Air (2020 or later)

Posted on Jun 15, 2022 9:06 PM

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Answer 1

MrHoffman

Level 10

148,713 points

Jun 16, 2022 8:35 AM in response to Ocillus

I’d counsel against running a macOS beta with any data that matters and that needs to be available, or with any iCloud data that matters and needs to be available (passwords, files, etc), or with any hardware you need to work. Expect to need to wipe and start over.

You will not be able to downgrade to a released macOS version while retaining your data.

That data preservation is what the backup is for. And I’d go further, and keep that backup disconnected.

So…. If this is “spare” Mac with “spare” data and a “spare” iCloud account, by all means, set up a scratch Time Machine on a spare HDD.

This “spare” configuration is how you can best test your apps with the beta, and find issues in those or in Ventura itself.

Or if you’re not testing (and don’t have “extra” hardware), you probably want for the macOS Ventura release later this year.

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Do you must backup with time machine in order to install beta softwares?

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