Backing up your Mac is simple and important. We recommend it for everyone.
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. Different cloud storage providers will each have different ways to walk you through creating a manual backup or setting up an automatic backup schedule. Once you log into your cloud storage provider's site, they will typically provide you with a walk-through of how to select which files to back up, schedule automatic backups, and how often. Backup your Mac with a portable or desktop hard drive. Safekeep all of your music, photographs, movies and more. Buy online with fast, free shipping.
Back up with Time Machine
Option 3: Use iCloud to back up your Mac Depending on whether or not you pay Apple a monthly subscription for iCloud storage, it may be an option to keep a backup of your data in iCloud.
For owners of Apple products, iCloud seems like a sensible choice for online storage. You can share photos and files between devices, automatically backup your Mac or other Apple products and more.
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.
Create a backup
Store files in iCloud
You can also use iCloud and iCloud Drive to store files, such as your photos, documents, and music.
Set up iCloud and iCloud Drive
Restore 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 backup
Prepare 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 service
How much space do I need for a backup?
Backup Drive For Mac And Pc
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 macOS
Erase or format a storage device
Backup Drive For Macbook Air
You can use Disk Utility if you need to erase or format a storage device.