Time Machine is the built-in backup feature on your Mac. It automatically makes an up-to-date copy of your files and stores them on an external storage device. Here are the steps for, how to set it up and how to start a new backup. Before you start, you’ll need an external storage device to store your backups. Backups can require a lot of storage space, so it’s a good idea to pick a device that is used solely for them.

How to set up Time Machine for the first time

Make sure your external storage device is connected to your Mac. Now, open System Preferences and click Time Machine. To access it more quickly in the future, select the Show Time Machine in menu bar checkbox. Next, click Select Backup Disk and choose your disc. From here, you can encrypt your backup with a password by selecting the Encrypt backups checkbox. Then click Use Disk.

Depending on your setup, you might see additional prompts to help you add a password, reformat your device, or connect to your network volume. Now your Mac will prepare your external storage device and your backup will begin shortly after. Depending on how many files you have, your first backup might take a while. But you can continue using your Mac while a backup is underway. When your backup is complete, you’ll see a notification.

How to start a new manual backup

After your first backup, it will run automatically as long as your Mac is connected to your backup device and connected to power. When your external device becomes full, it will delete the oldest backups and make space for new ones. After you’ve set up Time Machine, you can start a new backup manually at any time. To do this, click the Time Machine icon on the right side of the menu bar. Over time, while the external storage device is connected to your Mac, it will automatically make hourly backups up to 24 hours, daily backups for the most recent month, and weekly backups for all previous months from when you set it up. When you’re ready, click Back Up Now to begin a manual backup.

You can open the Time Machine menu to check the status of a backup in progress or skip one altogether. And now, you can back up your Mac regularly with Time Machine.