Lois Larson
Apple's Time Machine software can back up two MacBooks to an Airport Time Capsule. To do this, the Time Capsule must be selected as the backup disk when setting up Time Machine on each Mac. Time Machine can back up to the built-in disk of another Mac on the same network, or to an external storage device connected to that Mac. It is recommended to have two Time Capsules to ensure two separate backups.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Can Mac Airport back up two MacBooks? | Yes, it can back up more than one Mac. |
| How to back up two MacBooks on Mac Airport? | Connect an external storage device to the USB port of an AirPort Extreme Base Station (802.11ac model) or AirPort Time Capsule. |
| How to set up Time Machine on Mac? | Choose Apple menu > System Preferences. Click on Time Machine on the right. |
| How to add a backup disk? | Click on Add Backup Disk or the Add button. Select the connected storage device and click Set Up Disk. |
| How to back up now? | Choose Back Up Now from the Time Machine menu in the menu bar. |
| How to change the backup frequency? | Choose Open Time Machine Settings from the Time Machine menu. Click Options and choose a setting from the Back up frequency menu. |
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What You'll Learn
Time Machine software automatically alternates between two Time Capsules
It is possible to back up more than one Mac to a single Airport Time Capsule. The Time Machine software built into the OS will automatically alternate between two Time Capsules.
To set up this system, you need to follow these steps:
- On each computer, go to System Preferences/Time Machine.
- Click on "Add or Remove Backup Disk".
- Select one drive and then click it again to add the second drive.
- Ensure that automatic backups are turned on.
It is worth noting that some users have experienced issues with this method, where the backup only occurs on one of the drives. One solution is to manually click "Back Up Now" to initiate the backup on the second drive. Another option is to use TimeMachineEditor, a free utility that allows you to change the backup frequency to every 30 minutes, ensuring that neither backup is more than 30 minutes old.
Additionally, it is recommended to have two separate Time Capsules for added security in case one of the backup drives fails.
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Time Machine can back up to an external storage device
You can use Time Machine to back up your Mac to an external storage device. Time Machine is built into the OS and can back up files including apps, music, photos, emails, and documents. You can connect an external storage device, such as a USB drive or Thunderbolt drive, to your Mac.
To set up Time Machine to back up to an external storage device, follow these steps:
- Connect the external storage device to the appropriate port on your Mac (USB, Thunderbolt, or FireWire).
- Ensure that the external storage device has at least twice the storage capacity of your Mac. For example, if your Mac has 1TB of storage, your backup disk should have at least 2TB of storage.
- Go to System Settings by selecting the Apple menu in the corner of your screen.
- Click on General in the sidebar and then select Time Machine on the right.
- If prompted, erase the storage device or select a different backup disk or volume.
- If you want to secure your backup with a password, turn on Encrypt Backup. You will need this password if you need to restore files from the backup.
- Once the setup is complete, your Mac will automatically start using the connected storage device for backups.
You can also use Time Machine to back up to an external storage device connected to an AirPort Extreme Base Station (802.11ac model) or AirPort Time Capsule. Additionally, Time Machine can back up to a third-party NAS device that supports Time Machine over the SMB network protocol.
It is important to note that the external storage device should be used only for Time Machine backups and not for storing other files. However, advanced users can add an APFS volume to the external storage device to create separate volumes for Time Machine backups and other file storage.
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Time Capsule setup on Mac
To set up a Time Capsule on a Mac, you need to first plug the Time Capsule into a power outlet and then connect it to your Mac using an Ethernet cable or Wi-Fi.
On your Mac, open the "
After that, select your Time Capsule and follow the on-screen directions to set up your wireless network with Time Capsule or add it to an existing network. If you are adding it to an existing network, you will need your IP address and possibly other information about your Internet connection.
To set up automatic backups, open the Time Machine app, which has a green icon that resembles a clock. Click the checkbox for "Back Up Automatically" and then "Select Backup Disk". Choose your Time Capsule as the backup disk and make sure automatic backups are turned on.
You can also back up more than one Mac to a Time Capsule. To do this, go to System Preferences/Time Machine and click on "Add or Remove Backup Disk". Select one drive and then click it again to add the second drive.
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Time Machine backup frequency
Yes, you can back up more than one Mac to your Airport Time Capsule. In fact, the Time Machine software built into the OS will automatically alternate between the two Time Capsules.
Now, regarding the Time Machine backup frequency, you can choose from different options: manually, daily, hourly, or weekly. The default setting for Time Machine is to run an automatic backup every hour. However, you can change this frequency by going to System Settings → General → Time Machine → Options. Here, you can specify the desired backup interval, such as once a day or once a month.
It is important to note that you should use your Time Machine backup drive only for backups and not for storing other files. If you need to use the drive for other types of backups, you can partition it to limit the space used by Time Machine. Additionally, ensure that you have enough storage capacity on your backup drive. Apple recommends using a storage device with at least twice the storage capacity of your Mac.
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Connecting an external storage device to a USB port
You can back up more than one Mac to your Airport Time Capsule. To do this, you will need to get two Time Capsules so that you have two separate backups. On each computer, go to System Preferences/Time Machine and click on Add or Remove Backup Disk. Select one drive and then click it again to add the second drive. Make sure automatic backups are turned on.
If your Mac has a USB-C port, you can connect an external storage device using a USB-C to USB adapter. You can purchase these adapters from Apple or Amazon. Ensure that the cable is plugged in correctly and securely. If the external hard drive does not show up, check that the USB port is clean and the connection is secure. Try connecting the same device with a different cable. If you are still unable to connect, check the brand of the external disk, its storage capacity, how it is connected, how it is formatted, and any specific messages you receive.
If you are connecting an external hard drive that was previously used with a Windows computer, you might want to format it using exFAT. exFAT is compatible with both macOS and Windows and does not require the installation of third-party filesystem drivers.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can back up more than one Mac to your Airport Time Capsule. You can get two Time Capsules to have two separate backups.
Connect an external storage device, such as a USB drive, to your Mac. Go to System Preferences/Time Machine and click on Add or Remove Backup Disk. Select your connected storage device and click Set Up Disk.
Yes, to change the backup frequency in macOS Ventura or later, choose Open Time Machine Settings from the Time Machine menu. Click Options, then choose a setting from the “Back up frequency” menu.
