Mac OS X 10.6: Setting up and adjusting Time Machine

This article has been archived and is no longer updated by Apple.
Setting up and adjusting Time Machine

Follow these instructions to set up Time Machine, change to a different backup disk, or adjust other settings.

Note:The first backup may take a while. You may want to set up Time Machine in the evening so that the initial backup can be done overnight. If your backup disk is a Time Capsule, the initial backup may be faster if you leave your computer in the same room as the Time Capsule, or use an Ethernet cable to connect your computer to one of the Ethernet ports on the Time Capsule. Subsequent backups take less time because only items that have changed are backed up.

To set up or adjust Time Machine:

  1. Choose Apple menu > System Preferences and click Time Machine.

  2. Slide the switch to On if Time Machine is off.

  3. Click Select Backup Disk (or click Change Disk if you’ve already set up Time Machine).

  4. Choose a disk where backups will be stored, and click “Use for Backup.”

    Every available disk that can be used to store backups is listed. If you’ve partitioned a disk, the partitions are listed. Time Machine can’t back up to an external disk connected to an AirPort Extreme, or to an iPod, iDisk, or disk formatted for Windows.

    If you select an NTFS or FAT formatted disk, Time Machine prompts you to reformat the disk. Choose a different disk, or reformat the disk in Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format. Because reformatting erases any files on the disk, do this only if you no longer need the files or have copies of them on a different disk.

Time Machine works best if you use your backup disk only for Time Machine backups. If you keep files on your backup disk, Time Machine won’t back up those files, and the space available for Time Machine backups will be reduced.

Last Modified: Aug 6, 2013
Helpful?

Additional Product Support Information