How can I manually back up a MacBook Air to iCloud?

iCloud only provides backup service for iPhones and iPads – not for Macs. If you are storing files in iCloud Drive, or using other types of iCloud synchronization (e.g., iCloud Photos), then iCloud will be storing copies of the data that you synchronize.

But as a rule, iCloud is not designed to be the main mechanism for backing up your Mac.

There are several ways to back up your Mac. You can buy external drives, and use

• Time Machine (Back up your Mac with Time Machine - Apple Support)
• Carbon Copy Cloner
• SuperDuper!

There are also cloud-based backup services like BackBlaze . I haven't used it, but I've heard it mentioned from time to time.

As @Servant of Cats has posted, iCloud is not really designed as a backup service for Mac computers. Yes, iPhones and iPads can backup to the cloud, but not Macs.

Fortunately, your Mac already has the Time Machine application installed, and that IS designed to backup your Mac. All you need to do is supply an external storage drive and do a quick setup. TM will do an initial backup of all the files on your computer, and then continuously backup any changes that are made, including new files and changes to files already backed up. Use an external drive that is 2x-3x the size of your internal startup drive.

You would be wise to put Time Machine to use. If not TM, then implement another backup strategy using CCC or SuperDuper! as mentioned earlier.

It is a good idea to make at least two backups of your computer – and to store one separately from the computer when you're not updating it. (Off-site if possible.)

That's because

• Backup drives can fail or become corrupted. Murphy's Law says you are most likely to discover this when you need the backup (to restore your computer), and there isn't another one.
• If a thief breaks into your home and steals your computer, they may take everything in sight, including backup drives connected to it, or stored in plain sight nearby.
• If a fire, hurricane, tornado, or flood destroys your home, it may wipe out both your computer system and your backups at the same time.

FYI, if you are using iCloud Photos, and you have enough storage space on your Mac, I would suggest configuring settings so that your Mac always keeps full-size copies of all of your photos and videos.

What you store locally on your Mac is presumably what makes it into your local backups, and I prefer for my local backups to contain full-size copies …