Mac User Guide
- Welcome
- What’s new in macOS Sequoia
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- Intro to Continuity
- Use AirDrop to send items to nearby devices
- Hand off tasks between devices
- Control your iPhone from your Mac
- Copy and paste between devices
- Stream video and audio with AirPlay
- Make and receive calls and text messages on your Mac
- Use your iPhone internet connection with your Mac
- Share your Wi-Fi password with another device
- Use iPhone as a webcam
- Insert sketches, photos and scans from iPhone or iPad
- Unlock your Mac with Apple Watch
- Use your iPad as a second display
- Use one keyboard and mouse to control Mac and iPad
- Sync music, books and more between devices
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- Control what you share
- Set up your Mac to be secure
- Allow apps to see the location of your Mac
- Use Private Browsing
- Keep your data safe
- Understand passwords
- Change weak or compromised passwords
- Keep your Apple Account secure
- Use Mail Privacy Protection
- Use Sign in with Apple for apps and websites
- Find a missing device
- Resources for your Mac
- Resources for your Apple devices
- Copyright
If a Time Machine backup fails on Mac
Try these suggestions if a Time Machine backup fails to complete on your Mac.
If Time Machine shows a message that an error occurred while preparing the backup, virus scanning software might be preventing backups from completing. Make sure you are using the latest version of the antivirus software, particularly if you have recently updated macOS. Make sure your Time Machine backup disk is excluded from virus scanning. If the issue continues, you may need to temporarily disable the antivirus software or uninstall it.
If Time Machine shows a message that the disk is read-only, there may be an issue with the disk or its file system. Check the backup disk with First Aid from Disk Utility.
If Time Machine can’t create a snapshot, your internal disk may be almost full. Deleting some files can resolve this issue.
If Time Machine shows a message that the disk is full, you can exclude files from the current backup or use a larger disk. The disk should be at least twice the size of the data you’re backing up since Time Machine keeps the last remaining backup. If there’s more than one backup, restarting your Mac may resolve the issue.
If Time Machine stops, check the Finder to make sure your backup drive is listed. If it’s not, remove any USB hubs and make sure the backup disk is connected firmly to your Mac.
To check for damaged backups that can prevent your current backup from completing, verify your backup disk.