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Can Time Machine backup external HDD be used for other files apart from Time Machine backup?

I noticed that my Time Machine backup is becoming smaller as more backups are added. So I bought a new 14 Tb Seagate expansion drive to use as the new Time Machine backup when the current drive is full.


Is there any technical reason why I cannot, or should not, use this new drive for Time Machine backup and other backup files?


Thanks folks

iMac 27″, macOS 13.2

Posted on Feb 5, 2023 10:27 AM

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Feb 5, 2023 11:36 AM in response to Frankfiz

Nope' in fact you can have 2 Time Machine backup drives at the same time and should start using the new external drive ASAP.


Notice that mine are named Time Machine and Time Machine 2



Another option is to use Time Machine on one external drive and do a Clone on the other drive using CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper.


In addition to 2 Time Machine backups, I have multiple Clones using CarbonCopyCloner.



Can Time Machine backup external HDD be used for other files apart from Time Machine backup?

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