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Remove an external backup drive from Time Machine in OS Ventura

How to I remove a backup drive from Time Machine. I want to use it to store photos.

I did the forget Destination removal--But now cannot add anything to the external drive.

Can I remove it completely and start fresh as a basic backup drive?


I have Ventura

iMac, OS X 10.10

Posted on Jan 30, 2023 12:18 PM

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Posted on Jan 30, 2023 12:35 PM

FYI, Time Machine creates a unique container (what used to be called partitions) on a dedicated TM backup drive. If you want to repurpose this drive for file storage, all you should need to do is reformat it.


You can do this simply by using the Disk Utility. In the utility, if not already, change View to: Show All Devices. Then select the top item (which should be the physical drive). Double-check that this is your external drive, and then, select Erase. Select APFS for Format, and GUID Partition Map for scheme. (Note: I'm assuming that this drive is a SSD. If it is an HDD, then you will want to choose Mac OS Extended (Journaled) for Format.)

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Question marked as Best reply

Jan 30, 2023 12:35 PM in response to Grandmadaisey

FYI, Time Machine creates a unique container (what used to be called partitions) on a dedicated TM backup drive. If you want to repurpose this drive for file storage, all you should need to do is reformat it.


You can do this simply by using the Disk Utility. In the utility, if not already, change View to: Show All Devices. Then select the top item (which should be the physical drive). Double-check that this is your external drive, and then, select Erase. Select APFS for Format, and GUID Partition Map for scheme. (Note: I'm assuming that this drive is a SSD. If it is an HDD, then you will want to choose Mac OS Extended (Journaled) for Format.)

Remove an external backup drive from Time Machine in OS Ventura

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