Should I disconnect external hard drives before creating a backup?
Should I disconnect external hard drives before creating a backup?
Should I disconnect external hard drives before creating a backup?
It depends. Do you want Time Machine to include them in its backups? If you do then they must remain connected when creating a backup. If you do not, then you can simply exclude them from being backed up.
Refer to Exclude files from a Time Machine backup on Mac - Apple Support. Its title implies only files can be excluded, but as it goes on to explain any item can be excluded — files, folders, or drives. A more appropriate title might be "Exclude items from a Time Machine backup on Mac."
In any case it is not required to disconnect anything.
It depends. Do you want Time Machine to include them in its backups? If you do then they must remain connected when creating a backup. If you do not, then you can simply exclude them from being backed up.
Refer to Exclude files from a Time Machine backup on Mac - Apple Support. Its title implies only files can be excluded, but as it goes on to explain any item can be excluded — files, folders, or drives. A more appropriate title might be "Exclude items from a Time Machine backup on Mac."
In any case it is not required to disconnect anything.
Should I disconnect external hard drives before creating a backup?