This article will cover some of the best programs available to make bootable backups of your Mac. On a spare drive you just need to use one of these programs to make a backup, and in the event of a crash, use the drive via USB to SATA until you have the time to install it via the SATA connection within your computer.
Backing up your Mac is simple and important. We recommend it for everyone.
Back up with Time Machine
Best Backup Programs For Mac
Time Machine is the built-in backup feature of your Mac. It’s a complete backup solution, but you can use other backup methods as well.
- Instead we wanted to create a product that felt integrated well with the Mac. So we built Backblaze's cloud backup for Mac using Apple's Xcode and put the controls in the System Preferences using a native interface. It doesn't matter if you are running macOS 10.8 or higher, Backblaze's online backup.
- Acronis True Image. Acronis True Image is the top choice not only for us but also who are using this.
Create a backupStore files in iCloud
Best Backup For Mac Computer
You can also use iCloud and iCloud Drive to store files, such as your photos, documents, and music.
Set up iCloud and iCloud DriveRestore your Mac from a backup
When you have a backup, you can use it to restore your files at any time, including after the original files are deleted from your Mac.
Restore from a backupPrepare your Mac for service
Making a backup is an important part of preparing your Mac for service, especially because some types of repair might require erasing or replacing your hard drive.
Get your Mac ready for serviceHow much space do I need for a backup?
To see the size of a specific file or folder, click it once and then press Command-I. To see storage information about your Mac, click the Apple menu in the top-left of your screen. Choose About This Mac and click the Storage tab. For Time Machine backups, it's good to use a drive that has at least twice the storage capacity of your Mac.
Related topics
Free up storage on your Mac
macOS can save space by storing your content in the cloud. This isn't a backup, but it includes new tools to make it easier to find and remove large or unwanted files before you make a backup.
Use Optimized Storage in macOSErase or format a storage device
You can use Disk Utility if you need to erase or format a storage device.
Learn how to use Disk UtilitymacOS Community
If you can't back up your Mac
We'll find the best support options for you.