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Pi-Jay Author

Level 1

17 points

Time Machine backup on macOS Sequoia cannot be completed

Hello everyone,

since the upgrade to 15.0 the Time Machine backup fails. The reason is some individual system files that cannot be backed up. Mostly some db files, such as the Library/Safari/History.db or files in the Firefox profiles. I have already excluded some files from the backup, but then Time Machine finds another file that cannot be backed up. The backup process is then canceled.

“Time Machine could not complete the backup to “Time Machine Backup”. Backup of “Library/Safari/History.db” could not be created.“

After switching from Intel to M, I had only created one backup under Sonoma so far, which worked without any problems. The two years of “Intel” history and previous OSs were also transferred. No matter which OS, Time Machine always worked without any problems.

Any ideas? Many thanks in advance!

Pi-Jay

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 15.0

Posted on Oct 1, 2024 12:36 AM

Top-ranking reply

keithfromsalado

Level 1

43 points

Posted on Oct 10, 2024 9:16 AM

I had no success backing up to my Western Digital (MyCloudEX2Ultra) since upgrading to Sequoia. Updated to 15.0.1 with same problems.
I found an old post that suggested running this command in Terminal: sudo rm -f /etc/nsmb.conf (note: you may need to provide the password used to sign into Sequoia before Terminal will run the command)
Since doing so, Time Machine has passed the prior errors and appears to be completing a backup on my MyCloudEX2Ultra via wireless network. As of this post, it reports 5 hours remaining (took <45 minutes to back up to a standard USB drive)
Hope this helps

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33 replies

Nov 8, 2024 6:48 AM in response to keithfromsalado

Although I had initial success with this fix, it quit working for me after a couple of follow up back ups. I have been out of town for several weeks without access to my NAS but keeping up with all Sequoia partial updates. When I returned home I deleted my laptop's backup file on the NAS and re-ran Time Machine. After a successful backup to the NAS, the updated backups have been running just like they did pre-Sequoia. I suspect Apple has made a change in Sequoia Time Machine with one of the updates since that is all that has changed for me.

Pi-Jay Author

Level 1

17 points

Oct 1, 2024 6:24 AM in response to AlWeir

Thanks! It has been reformated to APFS a while ago. Prior to Sequoia it worked.

Btw. I checked with a different drive and it worked.

Oct 17, 2024 12:17 PM in response to AlWeir

Would you post how you determine that the file not being backed up is a Notes file? The error I see on my MBP when Time Machine fails to complete doesn't specify which file is problematic.

Pi-Jay Author

Level 1

17 points

Oct 2, 2024 12:02 AM in response to AlWeir

Thanks! It's always the case for me.

I checked the drive with disc utility: all good. Also restoring files from an old backup is working.

I get the feeling that I need to start a new backup from scratch – eventually on a new drive.

Oct 10, 2024 7:01 PM in response to keithfromsalado

I couldn’t make the Time Machine work with 15.0 or 15.0.1, so I used Terminal to add the code snipped from keithfromsalado: "sudo rm -f /etc/nsmb.conf” and restarted the Time Machine set up. It worked perfectly. Thank you, keithfromsalado!!

Oct 14, 2024 2:00 PM in response to Pi-Jay

From completely formatting my previous backup drive did not solve the Time Machine failure to back for me.

I given up. I purchased a 3rd party option for backups. Not the same as TM, yet better than not having anything!

Oct 14, 2024 4:10 PM in response to iciconnect

I tried the terminal command stated by keithfromsalado: "sudo rm -f /etc/nsmb.conf” and restarted my Mac. I tried Time Machine again and it worked! This command line completely resolved my Time Machine issue. Thank you, keithfromsalado!!

med8or

Level 1

32 points

Oct 17, 2024 8:05 AM in response to iciconnect

Unfortunately the terminal command didn't work for me. I've tried turning off Firewall as was implied. I have Removed the drives within the TimeMachine setting and re-added, I have run Disk FirstAid on both. I also run Netgear's Armor and though perhaps the TimeMachine protection within that app was the problem, but turning off hasn't resolved. I guess my next step is to start from scratch with my two APFS disks but that defeats the purpose of having a back up that I can go back months and even years to recover something I don't currently know I might be missing.

Nov 2, 2024 2:43 PM in response to Paul Howard2

I was hoping that a fix would be available to us in the MacOS 18.1 release. Sadly, no. The failure of Time Machine backup to complete still is happening after upgrading my MBP M1. I've changed the frequency to Manual and am now requesting a backup when active on the MBP. Only then does it complete successfully.

satcomer

Level 4

1,575 points

Nov 2, 2024 2:48 PM in response to Paul Howard2

Time Machine IMHO is VERY basic backup system! Throughout its history every Mac new Mac OS updates it will Startup a new backup each every time! You better off with your choice of shareware backups that continue though at least two backups until a new version come out and pick up where it left off before the upgrade!

WelshDog

Level 1

18 points

Nov 8, 2024 9:09 AM in response to Pi-Jay

Similar issue here, Time Machine Backup fails after 15.0 update. My TM drive is inside a 2012 Mac Mini (Catalina) on my network. It has worked pretty much without issue for many years until now. Error message is "Time Machine couldn’t complete the backup to XXX" and then "The backup disk image was ejected or disconnected from your Mac while backing up." Of course the drive was not ejected or removed as it is internal to the Mini. I tried the Terminal command fix and it did not work. Time Machine attempts to make the backup, finds the changes, starts copying files and then displays "11.7% done - Calculating time remaining, Zero KB copied." Then that fails and the error message is generated.

My wife's Macbook Air which is on Sonoma not Sequoia, still makes backups to the same Mac Mini, to the same internal drive (different partition) without any problems. So this is without question a Sequoia problem.

Been thinking about getting a new M4 Mac Mini to replace the 2012. I use it for all sorts of home server tasks including hosting Time Machine drives. I hope Apple gets the bugs out of Sequoia soon.