"Time Machine backups keep failing - how can I fix this?"

Quick navigation to help you resolve the issue of “Time Machine backup failing continuously.”

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Time Machine is a useful utility on a Mac that allows users to back up their Mac data to an external hard drive. You can use it to recover your data if it's been lost due to formatting, accidental deletion, or other reasons. You can restore your data from a backup that Time Machine created on your external hard drive.

But what if your Time Machine backup is failing or if your Time Machine backups fail? If you're experiencing this, don't worry. This article will show you the best ways to fix this issue.

Why does my Time Machine backup always fail?

There's no definitive answer as to why Time Machine backups fail. However, there are several possible and potential explanations.

One possibility is that the backup location is inaccessible, perhaps due to a damaged disk or drive, or because the destination is full.

Another possibility is that there is something wrong with the Time Machine itself, leading to errors such as “file not found” or “volume not mounted.”

A third possibility is that there's something wrong with the backup itself, which can lead to errors like “corrupted data” or “invalid file format.”

If you're having issues with your Mac backup, there are several approaches you can take to resolve them. First, ensure that your backup destination is accessible. If it's not, try freeing up space on the target drive or selecting a different location. Let's delve into these solutions in more detail in the following sections.

How to Fix the "Time Machine Backup Failed" Issue

Many Mac users might encounter the Time Machine backup keeps failing or Time Machine backup failed error. If you're one of these unfortunate users, here are some troubleshooting steps that can help you resolve the issue.

Solution 1: Check the file system of your external hard drive

If your external drive is formatted incorrectly, you might encounter Time Machine backup issues. Hence, the external drive you use must have the native macOS format. Time Machine is incompatible with the FAT or NTFS file systems. Additionally, if your external hard drive is formatted in the APFS macOS format, it won't work with Time Machine backups.

Please check the disk format you are using by following these steps:

Step 1: Connect the external hard drive to your Mac and open Finder.

Step 2: Right-click on the drive and select "Get Info."

Step 3: The disk format will be displayed under "General Information."

If the disk doesn't appear to be formatted as HFS+ or APFS, you need to format the disk. Follow these steps:

Step 1. Connect the external drive to your Mac and open Disk Utility from Applications > Utilities.

Step 2: Select your external drive from the list, then click “Erase.”

Step 3: Choose the Format. If you want to be able to access files on the external drive from a Windows computer, choose ExFAT. Then click “Erase.”

Select the disk format

Solution 2: Check the available disk space on the external drive

If the issue persists, check the free space on your external disk. A Time Machine backup should have enough room to accommodate the available space.

If it is, delete any unnecessary files to make room for the Time Machine backup. You can also choose a new external drive or one with enough free space.

Fix 3: Clean up Time Machine

Time Machine creates certain files to optimize its performance. However, if your Time Machine backups fail repeatedly, you may end up with temporary folders full of redundant files. To resolve any issues with the backup function, you'll need to delete these unnecessary files. Here's how:

Step 1: Turn off Time Machine. Click the Apple logo > System Preferences, and find Time Machine.

Step 2: Deselect the option for Automatic Backup.

Next, clean up Time Machine's working files by following these steps:

Step 1: Open Finder and select your external drive.

Step 2: Look for a folder named Backups.backupdb.

Step 3: Open it, find a file with the .inProgress extension, and delete it.

Solution 4: Restart your Mac

If Time Machine backups consistently fail, error out, or get stuck, try restarting your Mac. This can help clear out outdated system data and effectively fix anomalies and issues within macOS.

Step 1: Go to System Preferences > Time Machine and turn off Time Machine backups temporarily.

Step 2: Click the Apple menu and choose Restart.

Step three: Uncheck the box next to “Open at login,” and then choose “Restart.”

Solution 5: Try a Time Machine Alternative

If the above methods fail to resolve your issue, you can opt for Time Machine alternatives. There is no denying that Time Machine is a great tool to backup Mac data. But have you ever been confused about whether "Does Time Machine Backup Everything? "

Time Machine does not back up everything on a Mac. For instance, it doesn't back up system logs, apps, temporary files, iCloud content, and Trash. Therefore, it's advisable to use professional backup software to help you with the job. Todo Backup for Mac is an exact tool that can meet your needs.

Todo Backup for Mac is a practical backup utility designed for Mac computers. This backup software runs smoothly on all major systems, including macOS Ventura. It also allows you to back up your Mac without Time Machine and save your Mac to an external hard drive without Time Machine. Furthermore, it can perform backups in full, differential, or incremental modes and clone USB drives.

Here's how to back up your Mac:

Step 1: Run and launch Todo Backup for Mac. Click on the first option "Backup" on the left, or directly hit the "+" button at the bottom left to create a new backup task - input the name of your backup task and then click "OK".

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Step 2. Set the Backup Destination, the location where you want to save your Mac files as a backup, the frequency of automatic backups, etc., and then click OK.

Step 3. Add files and folders to your backup set.
Click on Add Files (+), select the ones you want to include in your backup, and hit the blue Start button to back up your Mac to another drive or external device.

Bottom line

Regularly backing up your data with Time Machine is a good practice to keep your files safe. However, if your Time Machine isn't working and fails to back up your Mac, you might be in for a surprise. Try the methods above when you encounter the "Time Machine backup failed" error.

"Time Machine" doesn't back up everything on your Mac, and if you're looking for a more reliable data protection method, give the Todo Backup for Mac tool a try. It's an excellent alternative to Time Machine with extra features. For instance, it can help you perform a clean install of macOS Ventura and even upgrade to macOS Ventura without losing data. Just download and give it a go.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

< strong > Why does my Mac backup always fail? < /strong >

Make sure your Mac is connected to the backup drive, turned on, and plugged in. If the backup drive is on a network, make sure that your Mac is connected to both the network and the backup drive. You won't be able to access the backup drive if your network is down.

What happens if you interrupt a Time Machine backup?

No, if you're using Time Machine for backup. If the backup is interrupted, you don't lose what you've done; the backup picks up where it left off. The system uses a .inProgress file to record an incomplete backup.