How to isolate a user from Time Machine/Time Capsule back-up. Setting up new one, want a User on my iMac NOT to have data on TM

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Level 1

8 points

How to isolate a user from Time Machine/Time Capsule back-up. Setting up new one, want a User on my iMac NOT to have data on TM

How can I isolate one User, so it is invisible to Time Machine/Time Capsule? I'm setting up a new TC. I have two Users set up on my iMac. For privacy reasons, I don't want the files, bookmarks, cookies, etc of one User to end up on my Time Capsule.

I also have a Macbook. I'm happy to let Time Capsule discover it automatically, back it all up. Also, I do have a Time Capsule in service and functioning; this is the replacement. From what I know, all of my data from both Users on my iMac is now on the old machine, which I don't like.

I don't want to start up my new TC and have it do all of its automatic hook-ups till this is resolved.

MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Late 2013), OS X El Capitan (10.11.6)

Posted on May 4, 2017 12:00 PM

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Answer 1

Bob Timmons

Level 10

187,448 points

May 4, 2017 2:48 PM in response to DJ in Bk

Now you are asking specific questions about the Mac operating system......not Time Machine questions.

Better to let the operating system gurus answer your questions about operating systems. The link for those forums is here:

Mac OS & System Software

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Answer 2

Bob Timmons

Level 10

187,448 points

May 4, 2017 12:53 PM in response to DJ in Bk

Not really sure what you are looking for. Time Machine will always automatically back up the data from all users that are set up on a Mac.

But, once someone is logged onto the Mac as an authorized user, that user can only "see" the Time Machine backups for the Mac as that authorized user.

Another way to say the same thing......Users cannot "see" or access Time Machine backups that have been made by other authorized users of the Mac......unless they log on as another user. To do that, they would need to know the log on credentials of the other user(s).

So, if you wanted a user to only be able to see the Time Machine backups that have been made by that user, you would not provide them with any of the other log on credentials for other users.

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Answer 3

DJ in Bk Author

Level 1

8 points

May 4, 2017 1:05 PM in response to Bob Timmons

That was my second choice, that an individual User's password was needed to view those back-up files on the Time Capsule. Well, I would rather have them not on there at all, but will use this method. Thanks.

Am worried because I am unsophisticated, and am not confident about privacy settings, especially stuff that gets done automatically.

Now, to continue: if 'Sam' is one user on the iMac, and is the Administrator, and the other user is 'Private Stuff', then Sam, as the Administrator, can get into Private Stuff's files without knowing Private Stuff's password (can change the password). Is this correct?

If so, should I just make Private Stuff the Administrator?

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Answer 4

DJ in Bk Author

Level 1

8 points

May 4, 2017 2:50 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Thanks, all very helpful - including the proper sub-set of Support to go to now.

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