Nov 16, 2020 • Filed to: Take Data Backup • Proven solutions
Learn How to Back Up Mac Individual Folders. While trying to find out how to back up a Mac, avoid. Back up your backup! The longer you use your Mac, the more files you'll have that are completely irreplaceable, and, therefore, it will be even more important to back up your hard drive regularly.
Most of the Mac users believe that their system can’t be infected by malware, which is a common misconception. Just like any other device, Macs can also get corrupted and suffer from an unexpected data loss. Therefore, it is important to know how to backup Mac to iCloud to safeguard your crucial information. To help our readers effortlessly achieve the same, we have come up with this comprehensive guide. Read on and learn different ways to backup Mac to iCloud right away.
For those who don’t want a technical setup to backup their Mac, Time Machine is a. 6 of the best photo storage options for 2020: Back up your photos in case of emergency. To find the service, you'll need the Photos app on Mac or iOS. On PCs, you can manage your photos. Buy a hard disk, plug it into your Mac and then, when prompted to use it for Time Machine backup, accept. If you don’t see that prompt, just launch System Preferences and pick the hard disk in the.
- Part 1: Why Do You Need to Backup Your Mac to iCloud??
- Part 2: How to Backup Mac System and Files
- Part 3: How to Backup Your Mac to iCloud
- Part 4: How to Manage iCloud Storage Space
- Part 5: How to Retrieve Lost Data on Mac?
Part 1: Why Do You Need to Backup Your Mac to iCloud??
Before performing a backup operation, lots of users ask about its need. It is a misconception that iOS devices or Macs can’t beaffected by a virus or malware attack. Over the last few years, we have seen the occurrence of various cyber attacks that were essentially targeted for Mac. Appetite, Mac Scareware, Lamadai, and Coin Thief are some of the common threats that can cause some serious damage to your system.
Therefore, if you wish to prevent your data files from getting infected by malware (or accidental deletion of data), then you need to take a backup of your device. You can either take a backup of Mac on iCloud or any other external hard disk. Since one can access the information from the cloud almost anywhere, it is ideally recommended to backup Mac to iCloud promptly.
Part 2: How to Backup Mac System and Files
While performing the backup operation, you can either take the backup of your entire system or selectively make a copy of your important files.
1. System backup
In a nutshell, the system backup makes an entire clone of Mac’s storage on a secure device. Mostly, Time Machine is used to take the local backup of Mac. Since it is already a part of Mac, no additional tool is needed to perform the system backup. All you need is a mass storage unit that is supported by Time Machine totake a complete backup of the system. Simply open the Time Machine app and turn on the option. You can also select the disk(s) that you wish to backup.
There are also plenty of third-party backup applications that can back up your entire system. For instance, tools like SuperDuper or Carbon Copy can be used to mirror your entire hard drive while taking its backup.
2. Selective file and data backup
If you have limited space, then you can also choose to back up selected files. Even though it is a more time-consuming process, it will help you save your space. At the same time, you would be able to make a copy of all the essential files. Just go to Finder and look for the file you wish to back up. Later, you can just make its copy and save it to any other location/device.
One can either copy the data files manually to an external drive or can simply backup Mac to iCloud. We will learn about the latter in the next section.
Part 3: How to Backup Your Mac to iCloud
If you don’t want to lose your precious data, then you should know how to backup Mac to iCloud. By default, Apple provides free storage of 5 GB on iCloud for every Apple ID. Though, you can always buy added space on the cloud by paying a small amount. One of the best things about taking a backup on iCloud is that it can be accessed from anywhere.
Before proceeding, make sure that you have an updated version of OS X and have enough space on the cloud. You can check it from its official website right here as well. To learn how to backup Mac to iCloud, follow these simple steps.
Step 1To start with, go to the System Preferences on your Mac and launch iCloud.
Step 2If you are using iCloud for the first time, then you would be asked to provide your Apple ID and password to sign in.
Step 3Once it is done, you can simply check the kind of data files you wish to store on iCloud. For instance, you can enable the data on Safari, Mail, Notes, etc. to be uploaded on iCloud.
Step 4You can also visit the Photo settings to turn on the options for iCloud Photo Library, My Photo Stream, and iCloud Photo Sharing. This will let you access your photos on different devices easily.
Step 5Alternatively, there would also be a dedicated iCloud Drive on your Mac. To backup your data files, you can make a copy of your content on the drive or simply drag and drop a file on the drive as well.
Part 4: How to Manage iCloud Storage Space
Most of the users complain about the limited space on iCloud. If you are also suffering from the lack of space, then follow these tips beforehand.
1. Manage iCloud space
If you are running low on iCloud storage, then start by knowing how it is being utilized by different data files. Just launch the iCloud app on Mac and click on the 'Manage' button. This will let you devise how to get rid of the data you no longer need.
2. Turn off backup from multiple devices
If you are taking the backup of several devices on the same iCloud account, chances are that it might fall short on space. If it is not needed, then you can simply turn off backup from any other iOS device. Just go to its Settings > iCloud and turn off the feature of iCloud backup.
3. Buy more storage
If nothing else seems to work, simply buy more storage on iCloud. Just launch the iCloud app and click on the 'Manage' button. From here, you can click on the option of 'Buy more storage' and pick a plan of your choice.
- Allows you to take automatic, full, incremental, and differential backups of system, disk, partition, and files.
- Supports system restore, disk restore, dissimilar hardware restore, partition restore, and selective file restore.
- Supports disk clone, partition/volume clone, flexible clone, system clone, and command line clone.
- Supports Windows 10, Windows 8.1/8, Windows 7, Vista, and XP (all editions, 32/64-bit)
Part 5: How to Retrieve Lost Data on Mac?
While it is always recommended to make a timely backup of your Mac to avoid any loss of data, users still end up losing their files unexpectedly. If you have also lost your important data on Mac, then don’t worry. With the help of Recoverit, you can retrieve your lost files without much trouble. It is extremely secure and easy to use application that can recover more than 550 formats of files.
Compatible with every major version of Mac, it has an easy to use interface and can perform an extensive search to retrieve your lost files. It supports different kinds of situations as well. Therefore, it doesn’t matter if you have accidentally deleted your files or if your Mac has been infected by malware, Recoverit will come handy to you on numerous occasions.
Your Safe & Reliable Mac Data Recovery Software
- Recover lost or deleted files, photos, audio, music, emails from any storage device effectively, safely and completely.
- Supports data recovery from recycle bin, hard drive, memory card, flash drive, digital camera, and camcorders.
- Supports to recover data for sudden deletion, formatting, hard drive corruption, virus attack, system crash under different situations.
Security Verified,people have downloaded it
Now when you know how to backup Mac to iCloud, you can easily keep your data safe. Nevertheless, if you have lost your important data files, then simply take the assistance of Recoverit to get it back. Easy to use and extremely efficient, it will let you retrieve your lost data in no time.
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Utility • April 20, 2020
Data storage is very important and with a simple computer problem, you can lose all your data. This is why it is important to back up every piece of data that you are sure you need in the future.
The Time Machine was designed to help you back data on your Mac and has always come pre installed since 2006. While it is a great way to back up your data, many people consider it as old-fashioned and unreliable.
Fortunately, we have so many alternatives today and we would like to share our top eight with you.
Comparing the Time Machine to other Mac backup software
The reason for the comparison is to show you what the alternatives can do that the Time Machine can’t. Of course, you don’t have to take out the Time Machine completely, you can use an alternative as a complement.
The Time Machine automatically backs up files on your computer but it has several flaws and weak points. Examples of such weak points are its inability to work offsite, clone a hard drive, or create bootable backup.
Hence, we have put together this list to help you choose the best alternatives to the Time Machine.
Quick Jump to…
Carbon Copy Cloner vs Time Machine
The question here is, what can the Carbon Copy Cloner do that the Time Machine can’t?
We have already established the fact that the Time Machine is efficient even though it has certain weak points. One such weak point is the inability to create a bootable backup. Carbon Copy Cloner, when compared to the Time Machine on this basis, is a better option.
What exactly does this mean? It means that if you are unlucky to encounter an issue while working on your system, you don’t lose your data. All you need to do is boot into the backup created by the Carbon Copy Cloner and continue your work. When you are less busy, you can spare some minutes to look into what caused the issue of your computer drive.
It is recommended to use an external hard drive alone with the Carbon Copy Cloner. The reason for this is that it gives you the opportunity to boot directly from the external HDD during emergencies. Note that the performance of the bootable backup is directly proportional to the speed of the external HDD.
![Best mac backup options Best mac backup options](https://www.aiseesoft.com/images/android-data-backup-and-restore-for-mac/android-data-backup-and-restore.jpg)
We should also warn you at this point to avoid using an SD card or thumb drive for backup. The reason is simple and crystal clear, they don’t have enough storage capacity to function as backup devices.
Benefits of the Carbon Copy Cloner
- Support team assistance.
- Perfect for instant use.
- Schedule backups.
- Possesses more features than the Time Machine.
- Guide for easy setup is available.
- Works seamlessly with a good external hard drive.
Pricing: The Carbon Copy Cloner costs $39.99 inclusive of all applicable taxes.
SuperDuper vs Time Machine
Just like the Carbon Copy Cloner, the SuperDuper has a major advantage over the Time Machine. Wondering what it is? The advantage is that it allows you to create a bootable backup, which the Time Machine is incapable of.
A first glance at the SuperDuper and you are not likely to trust it as it comes with a retro design. Remember the OS X 10.3 background? Yes, with the brushed metal color, that’s it!
However, taking a leap beyond this veil to its capabilities, the SuperDuper is an amazing app. It can work on its own as well as act as a complement to the Time Machine.
You can actually create your bootable backup using the same drive dedicated to the Time Machine. This must be good news as you don’t need to spend extra to buy an external HDD. You can also duplicate your backup on another drive, whichever method you choose.
The beauty of the SuperDuper is you can create the backup on a disk partition or even an image file. When you activate the Smart Update feature, SuperDuper automatically checks for updates and copies them to the backup drive.
One of the major advantages of SuperDuper is that it is very quick and very easy to use. The explanations of each process are presented in plain English plus are it is not as expensive as the Carbon Copy Cloner or Backblaze.
Benefits of the SuperDuper
- Very quick and efficient.
- It does not need an external HDD.
- Very affordable.
- Easy to use and understand.
- Presents you with more features than the Time Machine.
- Retro design.
Pricing: The SuperDuper costs $27.95.
ChronoSync vs Time Machine
There is so much to love about ChronoSync by Econ Technologies. Comparing it to the Time Machine shows us its immense benefits at a glance. Just like the first two described above, the ChronoSync allows you to create bootable drives. That’s not all!
It is a versatile app which comes with several amazing features. One such feature is the fact that it allows you to synchronize files across computers or devices. This makes it easy to access files from remote locations, who wouldn’t love that?
What’s more? Restoring lost files is quite stressful using the Time Machine but with the ChronoSync, it’s a piece of cake.
Simply search for the file with the Finder feature, copy it, and paste it in the desired location. Better still, you can simply sync the files to your existing hard drive, it’s that simple.
It is possible to schedule backups to begin at a specific time regularly or each time a specific drive is connected. The app will only backup files that have experienced changes since the last backup took place.
One more thing, this app allows you to copy multiple files at the same time which quickens the process.
Benefits of the ChronoSync
- Creates bootable drives easily.
- Synchronizes computers and devices.
- Finding lost files is very easy and copying them is even easier.
- Very versatile app.
- Copies multiple files at the same time.
- A free trial is available.
- Perfect for remote use.
Pricing: The ChronoSync Express costs $24.99, or included in a Setapp subscription. For more power and flexibility, ChronoSync is available for only $49.99 (USD).
Get Backup Pro (v3) vs Time Machine
Without any iota of doubt, Get Backup Pro is the cheapest or rather most affordable on this list. Don’t mistake its affordability for inferiority as it is laden with several features and an amazing range of backup options.
Why is it seen as an alternative to the Time Machine? First of all, the fact that you have access to several backup types is simply amazing.
![Backup mac online Backup mac online](https://www.belightsoft.com/assets/img/articles/backup-mac/bootable-backup-2.png)
The different backup types include compressed and incremental file backups, folder synchronization, and bootable cloned backups.Looking at these, it is clear that this app helps to fix some of the major flaws of the Time Machine. For example, you can create bootable backups on other devices and clone your hard drive. All of these are impossible with the Time Machine.
What better way to describe the Get Backup Pro than saying it is the app that gives you almost everything? You can schedule syncs and backups and it supports network and external drives, including CDs and DVDs. It comes with several backup templates that help you import data from your photos, iTunes, mail, documents, and contacts.
Security has always been a challenge with backing up data but this app fixes this issue. It makes it possible for you to encrypt all backups so that you are assured of additional security.
Using this app is very easy and quick. But what is more amazing is that you can restore files to computers that don’t have the app.
Benefits of the Get Backup Pro
- Easy to use.
- More features than the Time Machine.
- Easy to restore files to remote computers without the app.
- Security encryption for all backups.
- Supports network and external drives.
- Backup templates are available.
Pricing: The Get Backup Pro (v6) costs $19.99, or included in a Setapp subscription.
Mac Backup Guru vs Time Machine
Just like the Get Backup Pro, the Mac Backup Guru comes with multiple options for back types. This is one of the major reasons why it is seen as a worthy alternative to the Time Machine.
Let’s begin with the fact that the Mac Backup Guru fixes the bootable disk challenge faced with the Time Machine. Besides this, it has three distinct backup types which are synchronization, direct cloning, and incremental snapshots.
You can actually create an image of your bootable disk using this app. This means you can either back up specific folders on your hard drive or the whole drive, your choice. What’s more?
You can keep your backup continually in sync with all the changes you make as you work. An alternative is that you can keep all incremental backups that didn’t overwrite the older backups along with the changes. This way, you can always retrieve older versions of the same work if you so desire.
Benefits of the Mac Backup Guru
- Very affordable.
- It comes with three backup types.
- Allows you to take an image of your bootable disk.
- It gives you the luxury of specifying what files or folders to backup.
- Allows you to revisit previously saved work before changes were made.
Pricing: The Mac Backup Guru costs $29.
Acronis True Image 2020 vs Time Machine
The Acronis True Image 2020 is just like the Mac Backup Pro with a feature that solves the Time Machine’s problem. It is the feature that allows you to clone your hard drive’s images. You even have access to online backup even though this comes with a more expensive package.
There is no doubt that this app is very efficient but the problem is that it is costly. It is even costlier than the Carbon Copy Cloner but not expensive as the Backblaze. Looking beyond the cost flaws, this is an app everyone that can afford it should own.
It makes backing up files very easy, especially with the fact that you can create bootable disks. You also have the luxury of sharing your backups with remote systems as long as they have the app. The only challenge with this is that it costs a little more to share the app across multiple computer systems.
Back to the advantages, it is possible to access and make use of the app via the intuitive dashboard. It also comes with an amazing feature known as the ‘Restore’ feature. This feature makes it possible to recover a whole drive very easily.
In addition to this, you have the option of selecting specific files that you want to backup or recover.
Benefits of the Acronis True Image 2020
- Easy to use.
- It can be used across several computer systems.
- Allows you to make an image of your bootable disk.
- Remote usage.
- Gives you the opportunity to choose files to backup.
Pricing: The Acronis True Image costs $49.99.
Backblaze vs Time Machine
Backblaze is one of the top alternatives to the Time Machine for several reasons. It is actually recognized the world over as having several features that make it stand out.
One such feature is the unlimited storage that comes with the streamlined service. This is an amazing feature which means you don’t have to spend extra on expanding your storage.
Like ChronoSync, Backblaze is very easy to set up and use. This backup app also updates itself automatically but if you can’t wait, updating it manually is very easy.
If you are a lover of speed, then this app is a plus as it gives you all the speed you need and more.
While there were several weak spots in previous versions, the current version 1.3.5 features several updates that have fixed the limitations. The interface is cleaner with allowance for increased downloads.
One of the standout features is the fact that it presents you with a single-sign-on Google support. It can work either as an alternative to the Time Machine or as a complement instead.
Benefits of Backblaze
- Unlimited backup.
- GDPR compliant.
- Sharing functionality.
- Simple streamlined experience.
- Decent privacy and security.
- Reasonable prices.
Mac Backup Options
Pricing: The Backblaze offers monthly payments of $6 and yearly payments of $60 for personal use.
SmartBackup vs Time Machine
The first thing to note about SmartBackup is that it is a lightweight app. Despite its lightweight, it helps you backup several items to your external hard drive, unlike the Time Machine.
The process is quite fast since you have the luxury of transferring multiple items simultaneously to a specified destination folder. To avoid cumbering your bootable disk with unnecessary data, SmartBackup only backs up changed files leaving the unchanged ones behind.
One of the major advantages of this app is that backup updates are done very swiftly. Another major standout feature is that you have the luxury of cloning your system or bootable disk.
SmartBackup allows you to archive changed or deleted files by placing them in a specified folder when backing up. Much later, you can always check through different versions of the same file and pick out the one you need.
With the Spotlight Saved Search feature, you can define the files you intend to backup and what you think isn’t necessary. You can make use of iCal or Automator to preprogram backup operations.
Launching is very easy using the command-line mode which also allows you to include the app in scripts or launched items.
Benefits of SmartBackup
- High performance and rapid deployment.
- Lesser risks.
- Very affordable.
- Highly productive.
- Very efficient.
- Designed for comfort and convenience.
- Minimalist design.
Pricing: The SmartBackup is Free.
What do you need from a Mac backup software?
This is a very important question we need to answer else none of these alternatives is worth mentioning. The simple answer to this is to be able to back up your files properly. No one wants that feeling of insecurity or uncertainty about backup especially when you are working on an important project.
There are several features you should look out for before choosing a backup application. We have put together a list of some of these key features you should watch out for. They include:
Backup types
Not all the backup apps come with multiple Mac backup types as you have seen above. Your backup app should be able to provide you multiple backup types.
For example, with local backup, you are able to make copies of folders and files on an external HDD. This way, even when you lose the file on your computer, restoring it is very easy.
Best Mac Backup Options
Adobe premiere pro 2014 torrent mac. Disk images or bootable clones help you duplicate your whole hard drive. This allows you to boot from a backup drive when your hard drive has issues.
Finally, cloud backup functions exactly like local backup, only this time, data is stored online. This gives you insurance regardless of what happens to your physical location.
Syncing files
While syncing files is not considered as a true backup, it is a very helpful feature. It is great when you work using multiple devices like laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Synchronizing your documents across all these devices makes it easy to work remotely.
It also means that if one of your devices is damaged, you can continue on another device and work on your data from any location. The only challenge with this is that when a file is deleted in one location, it is lost on all devices.
Interface
While reviewing the apps, one of the things we paid attention to was the interface which accounts for how easy it is for the user to navigate the app and also if the aesthetics are pleasing to the eyes. Let’s face it, backups can be time consuming and you don’t want an app that makes it difficult to accomplish.
In the case of SuperDuper, although it is not as colorful as Backblaze, it is still quite easy to navigate. Carbon Copy Cloner is also another app which leverages on its user interface to improve its functionality. At a glance, you can see the features of the app and easily access the preferred solution.
Ease of data restore
The point of a backup is to make it easy to retrieve data in the case of a loss. When selecting a preferred app, a key consideration should be whether it is easy to retrieve data when the time comes. Do you need to carry out 10 steps or two steps?
You can try experimenting first with the trial versions of an app by backing up certain data, deleting it then try to restore.
Backup types
Does the app perform a file backup or disk cloning? Some apps on our list can do both while some only perform one of the actions.
Should I use file backup or cloning?
To help you know which one to use, it is important to distinguish between them by way of definition.
File backup means you create an image file used in backing up your data for easy recovery. Disk cloning, on the other hand, moves all the contents of your drive to an HDD. You should understand this better when you know how each of these processes works. File backup carries all the contents of the partition or disk you are backing up. This includes applications, folders, files, and the OS and you can store everything on a separate storage device.
Disk cloning on the other hand copies all the contents of the disk to a new disk which means both disks have the same content. With this, it is clear that disk cloning is only necessary when you need to move to a larger disk drive.
File backup or imaging will ensure that you get back to work faster in all circumstances. This is because it is very similar to creating a zip file, only this time, it is without the zip extension. Basically, file backup compresses the files and stores them away. The only challenge is that if your original drive fails, you need a new drive before you can restore your data.
Looking beyond this, we will always recommend file backup because it provides you more versatility. It is a more economical backup option and it allows you to save different versions of the same files or disk.
Don’t lose your data, backup now
Find Backups On Mac
It can be quite cumbersome finding the perfect backup app to serve as an alternative to the Time Machine. We have shown you eight apps in this post as well as criteria to help you choose. Based on all the criteria provided, it is evident that the best alternative app is the Carbon Copy Cloner app.
It has an extremely useful archiving ability and it is very flexible too. Carbon Copy Cloner solves several challenges that are seen as the failures of the Time Machine.
Backup Mac Pro
The importance of backing up your Mac data cannot be overemphasized and choosing the right app is even more important.