If you’re paranoid about data loss (not a bad thing!), I recommend downloading local copies of any critical files in your iCloud Drive. You can always retrieve a copy of the file from iCloud. Time Machine only backs up what’s stored on your hard drive, so it follows then that any iCloud Drive files not locally synced won’t be backed up. This does affect your photos or albums Time Machine does back those up, and the database folder and contents can be recreated if you ever need to restore your Photos library. To exclude your downloads folder, for example, open the Time Machine pane in System Preferences (System Settings on macOS Ventura and above) and click on Options… Once you have Time Machine set up and enabled on your Mac, you can specify certain folders you don’t want the utility to back up. Time Machine excludes generic operating system files that can be retrieved from Apple’s servers.

This works in your favor by saving time and space on the backup device since these files can be re-downloaded from Apple if you ever need to restore your Mac. Therefore any built-in applications like Maps or News aren’t backed up. Non-Specific macOS FilesĪccording to Apple, “Time Machine doesn’t back up system files or apps installed during macOS installation.” Nevertheless, the utility does exclude some files and folders.įollowing is a list of what Time Machine skips when backing up your hard drive. Does Time Machine Back Up Everything?įor practical purposes, Time Machine backs up everything on your hard drive you would need. In this article, I’ll detail the specific files and directories macOS skips when backing up your hard drive. I often used Time Machine in my role as a Mac administrator, so I’ll provide you with all the specifics you need to know about Apple’s backup utility. The utility excludes a few items from your backup, as we’ll detail below, but most of us will never need these files. Time Machine backs up your entire hard drive unless you specify otherwise.īecause of this, it’s easier to list what the software doesn’t back up. So what, exactly, does Time Machine back up? Whether you’re considering using the macOS utility called Time Machine to back up your Mac or you’re already using it, you might be wondering what exactly it backs up.Īfter all, it would be tragic for your Mac’s hard drive to crash, only to find out what you thought you had backed up really was not backed up at all. As an Amazon Associate, We earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Can you backup mac to icloud drive