Question on setting up Time Machine disk

[donawalt]

The default format for an external disk to be used for Time Machine backups seems to be Mac OS Extended (Journaled). There is an option to use Mac OS Extended (Journaled, Encrypted). What is the difference between formatting the external disk in this way as encrypted, and selecting the check box 'Encrypt backups' when you open Time Machine and 'Select Disk'? Why are there two different methods to encrypt, which implies you could choose to encrypt by either, none, or both?

Thanks!

 

[Weaselboy]

You can choose either and the end result is exactly the same.

The only difference is if you already have backups on the disk then turn on that encrypt option in TM settings, it can take a long time to finish encrypting all the existing data on there. Where when you use Disk Util it just takes a few seconds because it erases the disk and reformats, then you have to do a new backup.

 

[donawalt]

Thanks for your reply!