What if something pass ill-timed and you need immediate access on - site to a full backup of your Mac ’s startup loudness or an external ride , and you need to return to work as before long as potential ? The introduction of Apple silicon made it unmanageable to create a drive you could swap in and commence up from , but that should n’t stop you from take a backing that will get you back in business . ( There are workarounds , but it want ongoing effort . )
The best choice to have a nearly hot - swappable copy of your most important locally stored data is a clon . A dead ringer is an exact transcript of the current state of a bulk – a snapshot , really . Time Machine offer a form of this capability , but it also archive old files . you may configure cloning software just to keep an up - to - date copy of the effort you require to mirror and nothing additional .
I ’ve trust onCarbon Copy Cloner ( review)or CCC ( $ 49.99 ) for year . It support cloning and a number of related features , like archiving . An alternating isSuperDuper ! ( review)($27.95 ) , which is more tightly focused on mass cloning . With apps , you peck a source ( typically a mass ) and a goal , set a schedule , and configure fiddly option , like verifying single file after copy in CCC . Read : Best Mac backup solutions .
Carbon Copy Cloner gives me an extra set of suspenders on my Photos Library backup by making an exact copy, updating just any changed files for efficiency, every night.
Cloning lets you use a drive that is no bigger than the parkway you ’re imitate from for cloning , unlike Time Machine and archiving modes in other backup software program , which need space to store multiple version of files over time . ( Time Machine always archives older files until a backup volume starts to fill , and then it purges the oldest variation of archive files first . )
I ’ve found that cloning software has an reward in reliability over Time Machine , which stack away data in particular date - stamp snap . If your startup bulk dies and your Mac is still working , you could use an external drive , instal macOS on it , and use Migration Assistant during setup to import files . However , I ’ve had problem on multiple occasions where Migration Assistant wo n’t recognise what seems to be an up - to - date Time Machine transcript of my startup volume . I have reverse to a clone reliever of that book , which form compatibly with Migration Assistant and does n’t seem to fail in the same lot . I ’ve been thankful that I had this extra copy .
A Macworld reader require in particular about go under up a quickly approachable external drive in case the drive they continue their Photos library on give out . Could they trade immediately to a clone that ’s been kept up to appointment on the other driveway ? Yes , and it ’s a great intent for a clone .
In that scenario , you could chuck up the sponge Photos ( if it had n’t already told you of a problem and depart ) , exclude the failing drive , set in motion exposure while take for down Option , and pick out the Photos Library file on the cloned driveway . reckon on how frequently you have the clone operation set , you might lose short or no study . With iCloud Photos enable , you would also demand to set the cloned depository library as your System Library in > Photos > options > Generalby clickingUse as System Photo Library .
you’re able to also drill down with clones , copying just part of a volume instead of the whole affair . I had a Photos program library nuclear meltdown in 2021 that occupy me hour to recover from and then days to get back to normal . Something in my Photos Library software system bribe so disadvantageously that even restoring from a Time Machine backup man failed . In the end , I had to rebuild from scratch and let Photos sync with iCloud to regain all my ikon and telecasting . Vowing not to let that materialise again , I setup a nightly clone of my locally stored Photos Library software system to a eminent - content external hard drive . While the hard drive is slow , the clone update happens overnight , so it does n’t overlap with my daytime work .
Carbon Copy Cloner gives me an extra solidification of suspenders on my Photos Library backup by making an exact copy , updating just any changed file for efficiency , every night .
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Because a straightforward dead ringer does n’t let you go back , I strongly advise you to have at least a couple other form of backups . Time Machine is the easy for a Mac possessor . Add to that Backblaze or another encrypted , online backup man serving . Or , if you ’re keep all your papers and image in a syncing Robert William Service – iCloud Photos / iCloud Drive , Dropbox , Google Drive / Google Photos , etc.–you’re able to lean on that as your second backup .
This Mac 911 article is in response to a question submitted by Macworld reader Michael .
For more advice about backing up your Mac read : How to back up a MacandHow to utilise TIme Machine .
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