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Can Time Machine include files from a 2nd external drive?

Two questions.

I have some files stored on a portable hard drive, and I'd like to include them in my Time Machine backups so I have an extra copy in case the portable hard drive becomes corrupt. Is this possible? I notice in Time Machine settings that the external hard drive is excluded from Time Machine backups. Can this be changed?
Does Time Machine backup to iCloud, or only to the designated Time Machine backup drive?

iMac (2017 – 2020)

Posted on Oct 20, 2023 12:27 AM

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Level 10

94,898 points

Posted on Oct 20, 2023 6:08 AM

1) Remove the external drive from the Exclude list.

see > Exclude files from a Time Machine backup on Mac - Apple Support

2) No, Time Machine only backs up to the designated drive.

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Top-ranking reply

Level 10

94,898 points

Oct 20, 2023 6:08 AM in response to rynalee

1) Remove the external drive from the Exclude list.

see > Exclude files from a Time Machine backup on Mac - Apple Support

2) No, Time Machine only backs up to the designated drive.

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Oct 20, 2023 2:26 AM in response to rynalee

I never could get it to work, but I also never spent a lot of time trying.

I have Carbon Copy Cloner to make clones, but I now use CCC to make Time Machine compatible backups that can easily include an external drive as the source.

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Can Time Machine include files from a 2nd external drive?

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