Icloud: How to Back up a Mac

This updated guide examines Icloud: How to Back up a Mac and organizes the essential facts, background, and practical takeaways in clear American English.

Method 1of 2:

Using Time Machine

1. Connect your Mac to aformatted external hard drive. Connect the drive to your computer using the cable provided (usually USB, Lightning or eSATA).
2. Click on the Apple menu. It's theicon in the upper-left corner of your screen.
3. Click onSystem Preferences. It's in the second section of the drop-down menu.
4. Click onTime Machine. It's near the bottom-center of the window.
   • For older versions of macOS and Time Machine, make sure the Time Machine switch is set to the "On" position.
5. Click onSelect Backup Disk…. It's in the right pane of the dialog box.
6. Click on a disk. Select the external hard drive you connected to your Mac.
7. Click onUse Disk. It's in the lower-right corner of the dialog box.
   • CheckBack Up Automaticallyin the left pane of the dialog box if you want your Mac to back up at regular intervals.
   • CheckShow Time Machine in menu barto create a shortcut in the menu bar to Time Machine preferences and backup status.
8. Click onOptions…. It's in the lower-right corner of the window.
   • CheckBack up while on battery powerto allow Time Machine backups when your Mac is not plugged in.
   • CheckNotify after old backups are deletedif you'd like Time Machine to let you know when it's deleted older backups to make space for newer ones.

Method 2of 2:

Backing up to iCloud

1. Click on the Apple menu. It's theicon in the upper-left corner of your screen.
2. Click onSystem Preferences. It's in the second section of the drop-down menu.
3. Click oniCloud. It's on the left side of the window.
   • If you're not automatically logged in, enter your Apple ID and password.^[1]
   • To see how much storage you have in your plan, or to upgrade, click onManage...in the lower-right corner of the dialog box, then click onChange Storage Plan...in the upper-right corner of the dialog box.
4. Check the box next toiCloud Drive. It's at the top of the right pane. Now you can store files and documents in iCloud.
   • Do so by choosingiCloud Drivein any "Save" dialog box or dragging files toiCloud Drivein the left pane of a Finder window.
   • Select which apps have permission to access iCloud Drive by clicking on theOptionsbutton next toiCloud Drivein the dialog box.
5. Select the types of data to store on iCloud. Do so by checking the boxes below "iCloud Drive".
   • Check "Photos" if you want to back up and access your Photos on iCloud.
   • Check "Mail" to sync and store email messages on iCloud.
   • Check "Contacts" to keep a copy of your contacts on iCloud.
   • Check "Calendars" to keep a copy of your calendars on iCloud.
   • Check "Reminders" to keep a copy of your reminders on iCloud.
   • Check "Safari" to keep a backup of your Safari data, such as browsing history and favorites, on iCloud.
   • Check "Notes" to keep a copy of your notes on iCloud.
   • Check "Keychain" to share an encrypted copy of passwords and payment data across the devices signed in with your Apple ID.
   • You may need to scroll down to see all the selections.