Time Machine Backup Keeps Failing - How to Fix?

Quick navigation to help you fix 'Time Machine backup keeps failing'.

Time Machine is a helpful tool on Mac that enables users to back up their Mac data to an external hard drive. It comes in handy when you lose your data due to formatting, mistaken deletion, or other reasons. You can restore your data using the backup created by Time Machine on the external drive.

But what if the Time Machine backup keeps failing or Time Machine backup is failed? Do not worry if you are in such a situation. This post will walk you through the best fixes for this issue.

Why My Time Machine Backup Keeps Failing

There is no definitive answer to why Time Machine backup fails. However, there are a few possible and potential explanations.

One possibility is that the backup location could not be accessible. This can be because the disk or drive is broken or the destination is full.

Another possibility is that the Time Machine itself has an issue. For example, errors like "file not found" or "volume not mounted" may result from this.

The third possibility is that the data being backed up has an issue. This could lead to errors like "corrupted data" or "invalid file format".

You can try many things to help solve the problem if your Mac backup is giving you issues. To begin with, confirm that the backup location is accessible. If it isn't, try to free up room on the destination drive or choose another location. Let's come to the details in the next part.

How to Fix the 'Time Machine Backup Keeps Failing' Issue

Many Mac users may face the Time Machine backup keeps failing or Time Machine backup failed error. If you are one of these unlucky users, here are some troubleshooting ways to help you fix the problem.

Fix 1. Check the External Hard Drive's File System

If your external drive is formatted incorrectly, you may experience a Time Machine backup issue. The external drive you're using must thus have a native macOS format. Time Machine is not compatible with the FAT or NTFS file systems. Moreover, the external hard drive won't function with Time Machine backup if it is in APFS macOS format.

Follow the instructions below to check the format of the drive you are using:

Step 1. Attach the external hard drive to your Mac and launch Finder.

Step 2. Find the drive, control-click it and select Get Info.

Step 3. Drives format will be displayed under General information.

You must format the drive if it doesn't appear as HFS+ or APFS. The detailed steps are as follows:

Step 1. Attach the external hard drive to your Mac, and navigate to Applications > Utilities to launch Disk Utility.

Step 2. Choose the external drive from the list, and click on Erase.

Step 3. Select a format form. You can choose the ExFat form if you want the external drive to access the files on Windows PCs. Then click Erase.

Fix 2. Check Free Disk Space on External Drive

Check the space on your external disk if you're still having issues. The Time Machine's backup should fit in the available space.

If that's not the case, delete any unnecessary files from it to make room for a Time Machine backup. A new external hard disk or one with enough space is an alternative.

Fix 3. Clean Up Time Machine

Time Machine generates specific files that enhance its performance. However, if Time Machine backup repeatedly fails, temporary folders containing redundant files have accumulated. To resolve any issues with the backup feature, you must remove these unnecessary files. Here's how to do it:

Step 1. Turn off the Time Machine. To do so, click the Apple logo > System Preferences. Then look for the Time Machine tab.

Step 2. Uncheck Back Up Automatically.

Next, clean up Time Machine's working files. Follow the steps below:

Step 1. Open Finder > choose external hard drive.

Step 2. Find a folder named Backups.backupdb.

Step 3. Open it, search for a file with the extension .inProgress, and delete it.

Fix 4. Restart Mac

If Time Machine backup keeps failing, results in errors, or continues to get stuck, you can try restarting your Mac. By doing so, it can help flush out obsolete system-related data and effectively fix odd snags and hitches in macOS.

Step 1. Navigate to System Preferences > Time Machine and cancel the current Time Machine backup.

Step 2. Open the Apple menu and then select Restart.

Step 3. Uncheck the box near "Reopen windows when logging back in" and select Restart.

Fix 5. Try Time Machine Alternative

If you still face the problem after trying the above, you can use the Time Machine alternative. Undoubtedly, Time Machine is an excellent tool to back up your data on a Mac. But have you stuck on a question, "Does Time Machine backup everything?"

Time Machine cannot back up everything on your Mac computer. For example, it cannot back up the system log files or apps, temporary files, iCloud content, trash contents, etc. Therefore, it is better to use professional backup software to help back up your Mac computer. EaseUS Todo Backup for Mac is the precise one that can meet your needs.

EaseUS Todo Backup for Mac is a practical backup tool for Mac computers. This backup software can run smoothly on all popular systems, including macOS Ventura. It can also allow you to back up your Mac computer without Time Machine and back up your Mac to an external drive without Time Machine. In addition, it can make backups in full, differential, or incremental modes and clone a USB drive.

The following is how to back up your Mac:

Step 1. Launch and run EaseUS Todo Backup for Mac.
Click the first Backup tab or simply click the + button in the bottom-left corner to create a backup project - name the backup project and click OK.

Step 2. Set up the backup destination where you want to store Mac files as backups, automatic backup frequency, etc and click OK.

Step 3. Add files and folders to the backup project.
Click File+ to selectively choose files and folders to add to the backup and click the blue start button to back up your Mac to another drive or external device.

The Bottom Line

Regularly creating a backup using Time Machine can be reliable and is considered a good practice to avoid data loss. But if the Time Machine is faulty and data from your Mac is not backed up, you can never be well-prepared. When you encounter the Time Machine backup keeps failing error, you can try the above ways to help you resolve it.

Time Machine cannot back up everything on your Mac computer, and if you want to find a more reliable way to protect your data, you can try to use EaseUS Todo Backup for Mac. It is an excellent Time Machine alternative and can offer more functions. For example, it can help you clean install macOS Ventura and upgrade to macOS Ventura without losing data. Just download and try it.

FAQs

1. Why does my Mac backup keep failing?

Ensure that your Mac is securely linked to your backup drive, turned on, and plugged in. Ensure your Mac is connected to the network and your backup drive if it is on a network. You cannot access your backup drive if the network is having issues.

2. What happens if you interrupt Time Machine backup?

No, if it's a Time Machine backup. If the backup is interrupted, you won't lose your progress. The backup will continue where the primary stopped off. An. inProgress file is used to store the incomplete backup.