Time machine help

[ahsia]

I’ve been backing up my drive for several years now using the same 2tb seagate disk. Until recently I’ve not had to edit or change any of my files. I wanted to clean up and move my files around from the previous backups because I know I have several duplicates of videos and photos for example.
When I do try to move and consolidate files, it won’t let me. It says I don’t have permission to do it. Is there a way to work around this?

 

[Wando64]

Time Machine is designed so that it will keep various versions of your files for as long as it has space to use on the the disk.
(Hence the name, Time Machine, as it will allow you to go back in time and select the best version of your file)
When it runs out of space, Time Machine will free up some by deleting older files automatically, whenever needed.
You should never tamper with it by trying to move or delete files within the TM folder.

Basically, it just works. Don't mess with the backup files.

 

[cmcbhi]

Apple One Family includes 2TB off iCloud storage. Can I do a Time Machine backup to iCloud if there is sufficient space?

 

[Wando64]

Apple One Family includes 2TB off iCloud storage. Can I do a Time Machine backup to iCloud if there is sufficient space?

As far as I am aware, no.

TM needs a physical, directly attached or networked, disk.
You can store your files on iCloud (with iCloud Drive), but it is not the same thing as Time Machine.

 

[NoBoMac]

Don't mess with the backup files.

This. Time Machine makes use of hard links (one copy of file and other "files" reference the one copy), and if you start deleting things, moving them, can really mess up your backups.