Time Machine External Hard Drive Read Only

[Macbookco5]

I have had an issue since my portal external hard drive (Seagate) was plugged in all day (emptying trash), and it made a backup of my Macbook every hour. Somehow my Seagate was converted to "read only". I have since erased and re-formatted it in APFS. However, when I use Time Machine to do a backup, it automatically converts it to "read only". I have even tried this with a brand new Seagate portable hard drive, and the exact same thing happens. I am using the Seagate for backups as well as other files. Is this an issue with Time Machine? For reference, I am running Ventura 13.4.1 on my Macbook Pro. Thanks in advance.

 

[GloatGoat]

Are you able to access TM backups? Try restoring a test file to check TM's functionality. If you aren't getting any error message you should be good to go. Since Big Sur (I think) Time Machine disks have been read only by default. You, the user, can't write to TM, that's System's job.

 

[Macbookco5]

Thanks, GloatGoat. I am able to access TM backups and restore files. I am not able to drag other files (not backups) onto the drive. I'm not sure what's happening because this hadn't been an issue in the past.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

Thanks, GloatGoat. I am able to access TM backups and restore files. I am not able to drag other files (not backups) onto the drive. I'm not sure what's happening because this hadn't been an issue in the past.

If what he’s saying is correct, the answer is - “this isn’t the past.”

I’ve not TRIED to write random files to a TM disk in a while, since backup disks are for backups and data disks are for data. But I just checked my Time Machine disk on Ventura, and I’m seeing the same behavior you are. I suspect GloatGloat is correct, this is an intentional change - dunno if it was Big Sur or before or after, but it does seem to be the case on Ventura.

My suggestion (even if it were not read-only) is that you use your Time Machine disk SOLELY for Time Machine, and that you get a different disk for data. The benefit of that is that Time Machine can then back up the external data disk too (or not, your choice).

 

[GloatGoat]

Thanks, GloatGoat. I am able to access TM backups and restore files. I am not able to drag other files (not backups) onto the drive. I'm not sure what's happening because this hadn't been an issue in the past.

What you want to do is possible but as FreakinEurekan rightly notes, really not recommended.

To create a new volume you will need to open Disk Utility and select the - Container disk* - above your Time Machine Volume in the sidebar.
You should see a +/- Volume option above, click + to add, then name your new volume.
Select APFS for format, (TM will be APFS case-sensitive by default) then select your preferred size option then click Add.
If you don''t select a size quota the total space of the container will be shared between TM and your other data volume.
Your other option is to create a partition on your physical drive, creating two discrete containers.

Please note that if your physical disk fails you will lose both TM backups and your other stored data.
Honestly, the above, while possible is a pretty bad idea and I'd strongly suggest to just ignore those instructions and simply use your Seagate for TM backups only.
Storage is cheap these days. Either way all the best with it.

 

[HDFan]

Since Big Sur (I think) Time Machine disks have been read only by default.

Yeah, all of my TM disks are read only.

 

[Macbookco5]

Thank you Everyone, I sure appreciate your help!