Macworld |. To do this, please repeat the above step 1, step 2 and step 3, and then click Back up Now after completing all backup settings to perform the process in Manage. And certainly, if you’re using Time Machine on a laptop with a physically connected disk, consider those smaller disks based on 2.5-inch mechanisms rather than 3.5-inch desktop drives; they’re usually more expensive per gigabyte, but they’re “bus-powered,” drawing the power they need through the USB port rather than requiring a separate power supply, all of which means you’re more likely to plug the disk in and actually back up. There are also incremental snapshots to create thumbnails of your backups, so they don't take up too much space. A quick aside to encourage you to check out the enclosures from Drobo; they don’t use traditional RAID systems, but they give the same redundancy benefits, and allow you to mix and match drives and to grow your storage cheaply and organically in a really useful way. Mac owners have good machines, with plenty of battery life and power. Join 350,000 subscribers and get a daily digest of news, comics, trivia, reviews, and more. The files will backup to Mac soon. Buy a hard disk, plug it into your Mac and then, when prompted to use it for Time Machine backup, accept. Thank you! Good because: Extra redundancy, with no extra complexity. If you do this, then your Mac and any local backups you have on the premises next to it can be stolen, smashed, burned or drowned, but there’s a copy of your data held in a remote location, in a facility that is usually itself secure and which has good data redundancy. It provides twice the speeds of standard USB 3.0 drives. In addition to backing up your files automatically, every time you change a file, Time Machine stores those changes on your external drive. I’ll do my best to keep this article up to date as things change in the future. Since you’re not usually storing hundreds of gigabytes, these services are all free (though they all have “pro” options with more storage). With more data than ever being generated from more locations and devices than ever, keeping your business backed up … Paragon Backup & Recovery 17 Free - Community Edition. It comes with 5 GB free but you need to understand that this space is shared with other iCloud functions and your other Apple devices (like your iPhone and iPad), making it fill up rather quickly. I am using Windows 10 and seriously think to start making a full backup every week in case of a serious hardware or software problem. Copyright © 2021 IDG Communications, Inc. CrashPlan is one of the best free backup software for Mac as it offers the best way to backup and stores personal, business & enterprise data securely – offsite, onsite or on Cloud. Taking backups of all your important data is an important consideration in this regard. This software restores original contents when data loss occurs. But be aware that: Backups are a little slower (or indeed can be much slower, depending on the speed of your network or the bandwidth of the method by which your Macs connect to it) and restoring is even slower still. That said, if you suffer something like a crashed hard drive or stolen laptop, you can at least count on being able to download your documents. While Time Machine certainly wins for simplicity and compatibility, occasionally you’ll want more features. It comes with their great office suite as well and integrates nicely with Gmail and other Google services. The Best Cloud Backup Services for Business. Additionally, iTunes and iCloud backups do not contain certain files such your songs and music … No specific protection against theft. Here we’re going to talk you through the pros and cons of different ways you can back up your Mac, giving you the information you need to make an informed decision about protecting your data in the way that suits you best. One thing to keep in mind is that cloud syncing isn’t technically the same as backing up. IDrive Small Business is a versatile cloud backup service which does its best to cater for just about every possible need.. You're covered on PCs running anything from Windows 2000 up. On Windows 7, use Windows Backup. As a professional iPhone backup extractor, PhoneRescue – iOS data recovery is the best one you should try if you do want to extract your data from your backups. We encourage you to read more—to adopt instead our recommended system immediately below, and to discover more about the limitations of this simple backup process in “Time Machine to a disk connected to your Mac” further below—but don’t be put off by all the text that follows. Here are the best ways to back up your Mac. But you can’t beat it as a way to keep you running while you get the internal fixed. Here are the best ways to back up your Mac. Good because: Set-it-and-forget-it easy, cheap, built-in, likely to be supported for a long time. There are many different providers offering plans, but we’ll pick out two good ones here. Carbon Copy Cloner offers bootable backups, support for RAID configurations, and a powerful scheduling system to manage when your backups will take place. Plus, as well as their individual strengths, you also have three copies of your data, which is great if one or more fails. Even better is keeping one copy somewhere handy for problems like lost files or failing equipment and another copy somewhere offsite. A Microsoft recommendation for your Mac? Be sure to check the ratings for what they can withstand. For Time Machine backups, it's good to use a drive that has at least twice the storage capacity of your Mac. He's written hundreds of articles for How-To Geek and CloudSavvy IT that have been read millions of times. Connect a cheap little hard disk, tuck it out of the way, and just let your Mac clone to it daily. Depending on your situation, OneDrive might work well for you. The Best External Hard Drives and SSDs for Mac in 2020. Don’t confuse this with services such as Dropbox, which, while they do broadly the same thing at a technical level, are only designed for tiny subsets of your data, not the whole lot—and it’d be just your luck if you haven’t put the thing you want in the safe directory to be backed up. If you're worried about a fire or flood, you can get a hard drive that can survive such disasters. Hard disks are cheap—a little over a hundred bucks for a 4TB drive, at the time of writing—but if you have a laptop with an SD card slot you could also consider fitting an SD card (even a Micro SD card inside a Nifty MiniDrive so that it’s nice and flush) to use as your Time Machine drive for extra convenience. Should your internal drive fail, you can boot off your external drive (this will be slower than the internal drive, but it will work) and keep going while you wait for your replacement drive to ship (assuming you can replace it). For more on all these as well as some other options, see below. iCloud Photo Library. We actually recommend combining this method with an online backup to cover your bases. Here are the apps we recommend for backing up you Mac to an external drive. Learn how to restore your Mac from a backup. They also have a sync tool for backing up a specific folder automatically, so you don’t have to upload your files through the web interface. Turn off your Mac. If you don't understand the process for the program you have chosen, refer to the user guide. Pricey, though. While you can certainly just drag your files over to an external hard drive, it’s better to use an app to do it automatically. We've tested the major players so you can find the best … Step 1 Click “Recover from iCloud Backup File” button and sign in your iCloud account. For this reason it’s a good idea to buy a hard disk that’s two or more times the size of your internal drive—so you have space to store lots of versions. This provides extra redundancy whether you’re backing up to it using Time Machine or a cloning app such as SuperDuper, so that even if your internal drive fails and even if one of the disks inside the RAID fails at the same time, you still have one good copy of your data. It doesn’t require any extra hardware—just an account with an online provider—and will back everything up automatically, so you don’t have to worry about losing files. Create a Time Machine backup… If you stop reading here and do this rather than nothing at all, you’ve done a good job. Same as Tier Two, but with a 2nd backup drive with CCC making an image of your Mac onto the drive. More to the point, if you’re already an Office 365 subscriber, you have a full one terabyte of OneDrive space included in your subscription. Alternatively, you can use Time Machine to back up to a disk that is connected directly to your network rather than to a specific Mac. And no protection against theft or other local disasters. Obviously, you will need a third-party software that will help you to view the iCloud backup file and show you all the files from that backup. Since we launched in 2006, our articles have been read more than 1 billion times. Indeed, they can offer other features besides; see “Fire- and waterproof disks,” below. Unlikely to be an option on a capped or slow connection. Here is a list: Macrium Reflect Free CrashPlan … In picking an external disk to use with Time Machine or cloning (or even for use on a network), the temptation is to pick a cheap, simple hard disk, and though that’s fine, you can give yourself some extra protection by choosing a RAID disk. You can certainly do it manually, but Arq does a really good job of managing the annoying parts for you. This option is for users who desire ease-of-use and an intuitive interface, as well as extra control enabling you to backup individual photos, contacts, messages etc. All the methods provided in this post are very simple and straightforward. Shop Seagate Backup Plus Slim for Mac 1TB External USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive Silver/Black at Best Buy. Sometimes some versioning. I am trying Aconis true image 2019 which does just that.. Here's how to pick the best backup method for you. If your internal disk fails, you can just boot from the external clone and continue as if nothing had changed. Obviously, you don’t want to rely on this solely, or be doing it for long; it might be slow, and it means you’re a level of redundancy down, so that if the external clone fails, you’re in big trouble. If, tomorrow, something goes wrong with your Mac or if it gets stolen or damaged, replacing the hardware itself is technically very easy to do; it just takes money. We’ll go over the best backup methods for macOS users in specific, though many of these services will work for Windows. There are other apps that can back up your files to an external hard disk, but Time Machine is simple, built-in, sure to be supported, and offers file versioning as well as simple backup; that is, older copies of your files are stored alongside the current one so that you don’t have to restore the most recent version, but can step back through time to grab older drafts. Good because: All the advantages of Time Machine, but more convenient, especially for laptop users, since backups happen automatically over your home network. (It’s all handled automatically for you.) Your iPhone needs to be awake because it can only work best when the AirDrop is active. Still not sure if this is the best way to go. A little extra complexity. Use Time Machine, the built-in backup feature of your Mac, to automatically back up your personal data, including apps, music, photos, email, and documents. Cloudwards.net has put together a list of the best free online backup plans out there, and while not all … How to transfer files from iPhone to Mac with AirDrop This Apple’s technology is also another top way to use when you want to transfer or copy files from iPhone to Mac. However, 20 GB isn't bad at all when it's free. On macOS, nothing beats the simplicity of Apple’s built-in Time Machine. PhoneRescue for iOS. 26 BEST Backup Software in 2021 (Free and Paid) Details Last Updated: 11 January 2021 . Can also be used to restore an entire system. If you want to make use of your Mac's Thunderbolt port, then this is the best external hard drive for Macs. Yes, you’ll have your documents stored in a separate location, but changes you make to a file on your computer (like deleting the file) also happen everywhere that file is synced. They offer “unlimited” storage for $5 a month, which for personal users backing up their computer will always be enough. Choose About This Mac and click the Storage tab. We give you the scoop on what's new, what's best and how to make the most out of the products you love. If you’ve only got a few documents you need to keep backed up and don’t want to waste space backing up your entire drive, you can keep your important documents in cloud storage. At least, it would be, but for this guide! Most cloud backup tools let you preview videos, music, and images, so it's unfortunate that this service doesn't work quite the same way. The best solution for you 5 years ago may not be the best method today! How-To Geek is where you turn when you want experts to explain technology. Plugging a hard disk into an AirPort Extreme’s USB port will make it available on the network for Time Machine, and lots of other Network-Attached Storage (NAS) devices from companies other than Apple also support Time Machine backup. Let’s look at the features: The only software which provides free local and offsite backup. (If it’s the wrong format, your Mac should offer to reformat it for you; if not, launch Disk Utility, repartition the drive as a single partition using the GUID map, and Mac OS X Extended format.). To give your data the best chance of surviving a range of problems, and to minimize your down time if disaster strikes (which is especially important if you rely on your Mac for you livelihood), you should do three things: By mixing these three strategies, you get file versioning from Time Machine (great if you overwrite or delete something, or want to go back to an earlier draft of a file), the ability to quickly boot from your cloned disk if your internal drive fails (so you can keep working without missing a beat), and are safeguarded against theft or damage (whether that’s something like dropping your MacBook or a more serious disaster such as fire) by having your data also stored elsewhere in the world with a cloud or other remote backup system. Well, in this article you will find a guide on the best backup tool and how to backup computer to flash drive in 4 different ways. Join 350,000 subscribers and get a daily digest of news, geek trivia, and our feature articles. A few details that you might find useful in this regard are mentioned below. You can get fire- and waterproof disks that connect to your Mac like any other regular hard disk, and, as above, a NAS—which also works with Time Machine. What is the best way to backup my PC? Time Machine comes with every version of OS X since OS X 10.5. Good because: All your data gets sent away to a secure location, so is protected from theft and local disasters. designed to restore data in the original or new location in case of damage or destruction. In our example scenario in the picture above, the disk is connected to the USB hub in an Apple Cinema Display, and kept out of sight in a TwelveSouth HiRise; this slows it down to USB 2.0 speeds, but that doesn’t really matter, in part because the clone happens at night, but also because after the initial backup, SuperDuper can update only those files that have changed. 1. only $39. But be aware that: You need to have the disk connected for back ups to happen (fine on a desktop, but not guaranteed with a laptop), it’s slow to restore from if you replace a failed internal hard disk (you can’t boot from it), and it offers no protection against theft or local disasters such as fire. From accidentally deleted files to failing hard drives to natural disaster, there are too many things that can go wrong to simply rely on luck. It makes a compressed image of the entire drive plus it updates it on a schedule and makes a bootable partition . You get 5 GB of free space and their macOS app works well. Big thanks to everyone, lots of great options to choose from! If there is any reason you end up needing to restore your Mac from a backup, you can use a clone to do so. Dropbox is designed with shared storage and business applications in mind. Find low everyday prices and buy online for delivery or in … You can browse backward in time and view old versions of files, or restore files you’ve deleted. Learn more about Macworld's Digital Edition, Back up using Time Machine (to a disk connected to your network for extra convenience, particularly if you use a laptop), Clone your hard disk daily to a disk connected to your Mac, Use a cloud backup or peer-to-peer backup service. Miscellaneous. No protection against local disasters. We'll offer advice on the best retailers, along with as well as tips that should help you find the best deal on a new Mac. How to back up all your iPhone data to computer: TouchCopy. Contributor, You can read our guide to setting up Time Machine on your Mac to get started. There are a lot of ways to ensure your files don’t get lost, and almost all of them involve keeping a copy of your files somewhere else. Every computer user should keep a regular backup. Just install the software and start backing up whether off site or on CrashPlan servers. Technically, you can also clone to a disk image on a network drive rather than to a local disk, but while this has merit in edge cases, it’s not usually the best option. Plus, you can get up to 200 GB of free space if you refer friends to sign up. To see storage information about your Mac, click the Apple menu in the top-left of your screen. Want to securely backup computer data to a USB flash drive? Most cloning programs will operate the same, general way. The best free backup software or online service balances good features with enough storage space to protect your valuable data. Google Drive offers the most storage out of all the free options listed here. Happens all the time you have an internet connection (so great if you travel on business), rather than requiring you to be on your home network as with a Time Capsule, say. And that’s why, today, you should back up your Mac. Good because: Creates perfect copy of your internal disk, which you can restore from, or, best of all, boot from in an emergency. The best things in life are free -- well, no they aren't, but they go a long way, still. This storage is shared with Gmail, but unless you have tens of thousands of emails, it probably won’t make a dent. Backblaze integrates very well with macOS, more so than most other backup services out there (of which there are plenty). RELATED: What's the Best Online Backup Service? Here are some of our favorite services. There are a lot of ways to ensure your files don’t get lost, and almost all of them involve keeping a copy of your files somewhere else. It will definitely help you to extract data from iCloud backup file even if you don't connect your iPhone to PC. What is the BEST way to backup your Mac? You can read our guide on iCloud Optimized Storage to set it up, or disable it altogether if your iCloud Drive is full. It’s incredibly easy to set up and manage even for the inexperienced user. The complete, easy guide to backing up your Mac You know about Time Machine, but there are other ways to back up your Mac. RELATED: How to Back Up Your Mac and Restore Files With Time Machine. Looking to add storage, or for a smart way to back up your Mac? But the data that was on its hard disk or SSD—those precious photos, that carefully amassed iTunes library, that work, that novel? Apps such as SuperDuper! Cost can mount up—though do explore “family” plans if you want to get everyone backing up. Good because: Some protection against local disasters, and can be used for Time Machine (direct or over a network) or cloning. You have to be connected to your home network. All Rights Reserved. Takes a snapshot of your files every hour, and makes it easy to retrieve deleted and overwritten files with its versioning feature. Companies such as ioSafe make disks that can withstand fire and flooding, and while these still don’t offer you any specific protection against someone breaking into your home and office and stealing your stuff, they at least give some peace of mind by guarding against local catastrophes—at least for a while. Time Machine can be used with a network-attached storage device. Part 2. The initial backup can take some time, especially if you have an Internet connection with a slow upload speed (and you have to watch those ISP data caps). Click “Download” to save the file onto your computer. Time Machine can be used with a portable hard drive, so you can bring your backups with you. This means it’s available to all the computers on your network so you can have them backing up centrally, and best of all, they back up completely automatically over the network every hour (either via Wi-Fi or ethernet, depending on how they connect to it). By submitting your email, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Pros: Backing up is cheap and fast. Automatic Back up Windows 10 in Manage Interface.