Can I leave an external SSD plugged into my iMac all of the time?

[whitepowderma]

I have a 2020 iMac running Big Sur. I planning on purchasing this Thunderbolt 3 external SSD to back up my iMac (I prefer not to use Time Machine). https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GBGG68L/ref=twister_B08JZ4YSNR?tag=ds0233-20&_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Can I keep it plugged into a Thunderbolt 3 port in my iMac all of the time? Will it damage the drive or any files to restart or turn off and then turn on my iMac with it plugged in? I've always disconnected any drives in the past prior to restarting. Thanks.

 

[DeltaMac]

You shouldn't have any problems with leaving the external drive attached at all times (assuming that you are OK with giving up that port)
In fact, it's quite common for users here to avoid opening up an iMac, and use an external SSD for a fast, stable boot drive. That's not so much an issue now with your 2020 iMac - which, unlike older iMacs, only comes with an SSD.
(I support an older (2014) iMac. The external SSD has not ever been unplugged for nearly 3 years. It sometimes goes more than 2 months between restarts, seldom is shut off. The external SSD continues to work without any problems.)

 

[Juicy Box]

I'll echo what @DeltaMac said.

It is very common practice for external drives, SSD or otherwise, to be used continuously for literal years without needing to be unplugged and without any problems.

I currently boot my Late 2012 iMac with a TB3 NVMe SSD, and have not unplugged it in over a year since I set it up. It stays on 24/7/365.

I no longer use this setup, but I was using a SSD over FW800 as a cloned daily backup drive for the SW RAID0 boot drive on my Mac Pro 1,1.

The Mac Pro is headless and sealed away in a computer cabinet that I made, so unplugging it would have been inconvenient. I have since went to an all internal setup, but not due to any problems with using the SSD externally.

 

[Fishrrman]

It makes NO sense - NONE at all - to purchase a thunderbolt drive for backup purposes (even if you're using CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper).

A USB3 drive will do just fine, and be cheaper.

Best solution:
Get an nvme blad drive
and
Get a USB3.1 gen2 enclosure
then
Put the two together (some just snap together).

That will give you a fast USB3.1 gen2 backup, that can also serve as an alternative boot source if needed (if you use CCC).

However, I wouldn't leave such a drive plugged in "all the time".
I'd connect it, run the incremental backup, then disconnect.

Which is exactly what I do with the backup SSDs that I use myself...

 

[whitepowderma]

The reason that I wanted to get a thunderbolt drive is because I have about 300 GB of music files that I edit a lot. When I use my USB 3.1 flash drive to back up my whole music library it can take a couple of hours. I want to be able to do it much more quickly. I will look at the nvme drives and an enclosure to see if I can do what I want more affordably. Thanks.

 

[svish]

No problem in leaving external SSD connected all the time. I have multiple Samsung T7 connected to iMac and I leave it connected always.

 

[jz0309]

The reason that I wanted to get a thunderbolt drive is because I have about 300 GB of music files that I edit a lot. When I use my USB 3.1 flash drive to back up my whole music library it can take a couple of hours. I want to be able to do it much more quickly. I will look at the nvme drives and an enclosure to see if I can do what I want more affordably. Thanks.

to answer your original question: yes, been doing this for almost 4 years.

Re backup, I have a 8TB WD drive for my backup, its USB3 or 3.1, I do not recall. Using TimeMachine, it just runs in. the background, when I come home from a photoshoot I often download 30 or so GB of new photos, having it backed up while I do other things has not been an issue, for me.
I also have a 1 TB SSD (holds Lightroom index) and a 4 TB WD (iTunes library) always plugged in.

 

[ignatius345]

I've always disconnected any drives in the past prior to restarting. Thanks.

I don't think that matters. The Mac unmounts all the mounted drives as part of the restart process.

 

[JamesMay82]

to answer your original question: yes, been doing this for almost 4 years.

Re backup, I have a 8TB WD drive for my backup, its USB3 or 3.1, I do not recall. Using TimeMachine, it just runs in. the background, when I come home from a photoshoot I often download 30 or so GB of new photos, having it backed up while I do other things has not been an issue, for me.
I also have a 1 TB SSD (holds Lightroom index) and a 4 TB WD (iTunes library) always plugged in.

Cool - think I might move to a Samsung ssd plugged in as I also have the old mechanical drives for back up and its driving me crazy when its in sleep mode and I open up something thats on their and I have to wait for it spin up and it slows the whole system down.. iMac boot up time as well.. it never seemed to be slow but think I must be spoiled by the SSD drives

 

[jz0309]

Cool - think I might move to a Samsung ssd plugged in as I also have the old mechanical drives for back up and its driving me crazy when its in sleep mode and I open up something thats on their and I have to wait for it spin up and it slows the whole system down.. iMac boot up time as well.. it never seemed to be slow but think I must be spoiled by the SSD drives

Check out the SanDisk extreme portables drives too, I got the 2TB one back in July and works like a charm, spec like Samsung T7 but way cheaper…

 

[Ploid]

No problem in leaving external SSD connected all the time. I have multiple Samsung T7 connected to iMac and I leave it connected always.

My Samsung T7 and its subsequent two replacements all had white crystals leaking out of it. Turns out they were ePCM meant to protect the drives from overheating. I place them face down on my table and leave them connected to my MacBook. This seems to be a common issue with these drives. Here’s a video I found of someone with the same problem: https://youtu.be/sx4fl0rjpeE. Have you had any issues like this?

I came across this post as I was researching for a new SSD to buy because it’s cyber Monday right now. I’m leaning towards the SanDisk Extreme Pro.

 

[svish]

My Samsung T7 and its subsequent two replacements all had white crystals leaking out of it. Turns out they were ePCM meant to protect the drives from overheating. I place them face down on my table and leave them connected to my MacBook. This seems to be a common issue with these drives. Here’s a video I found of someone with the same problem: https://youtu.be/sx4fl0rjpeE. Have you had any issues like this?

I came across this post as I was researching for a new SSD to buy because it’s cyber Monday right now. I’m leaning towards the SanDisk Extreme Pro.

Seems like it is an issue. Thankfully I have never experienced it with my drives.