Time machine question

[anthony13]

I have an iMac I bought this year that I want to start using time machine with. Something occurred to me: because I set up my iMac using iCloud, a lot of content has not downloaded to the machine because I haven’t accessed it yet (photos, music, files). That’s just how iCloud works. But if I start using time machine, theoretically the machine will first need to download all the files first (as opposed for example the low res photo previews in photos?).

 

[Apple_Robert]

TimeMachine will backup files that are on the iMac drive. It doesn’t backup any items that are currently in the cloud. If you want those backed up, you would need to download them onto your Mac.

 

[anthony13]

TimeMachine will backup files that are on the iMac drive. It doesn’t backup any items that are currently in the cloud. If you want those backed up, you would need to download them onto your Mac.

This actually seems like a glaring oversight... I was hoping it would trigger the files to download. If we were to wake up to a ‘iCloud files lost’ (I know unlikely), I’m just realizing how many of my files are only backed up there.

 

[Brian33]

for example the low res photo previews in photos?

For your full-quality photos to be backed up locally, you will want to go to Photos-->Preferences-->iCloud tab and select "Download Originals to this Mac". (I.e., NOT "Optimize Mac Storage".) Then all your photos will be downloaded at full size to your Mac, and Time Machine will back them up. IMHO everyone should back up their photos locally in case something disastrous happens to iCloud.

As for your other files in iCloud: I think this is the way to force them to be downloaded and kept locally (but I could be wrong): go to System Preferences-->iCloud Drive-->Options and UNCHECK (that is, disable) "Optimize Mac Storage". I believe this will cause all of your Desktop and Documents Folders files to be downloaded so that they can be backed up locally. Perhaps you can verify this (I don't use this option.)

I suppose after they're backed up you could turn the Optimize setting back on again -- but then you would never be guaranteed that changes to a particular document were backed up locally. Again, in my opinion, everyone should have at least one of their computers downloading those documents, for backup reasons.

 

[anthony13]

For your full-quality photos to be backed up locally, you will want to go to Photos-->Preferences-->iCloud tab and select "Download Originals to this Mac". (I.e., NOT "Optimize Mac Storage".) Then all your photos will be downloaded at full size to your Mac, and Time Machine will back them up. IMHO everyone should back up their photos locally in case something disastrous happens to iCloud.

As for your other files in iCloud: I think this is the way to force them to be downloaded and kept locally (but I could be wrong): go to System Preferences-->iCloud Drive-->Options and UNCHECK (that is, disable) "Optimize Mac Storage". I believe this will cause all of your Desktop and Documents Folders files to be downloaded so that they can be backed up locally. Perhaps you can verify this (I don't use this option.)

I suppose after they're backed up you could turn the Optimize setting back on again -- but then you would never be guaranteed that changes to a particular document were backed up locally. Again, in my opinion, everyone should have at least one of their computers downloading those documents, for backup reasons.

Super helpful. Thanks! I now have my iMac locally storing everything, and my MacBook Pro saving space with optimization. Now I want to see if I could point photos toward an external hard drive. I'm not sure if thats supported, but would free up like 300 gb's locally.

 

[Brian33]

You're welcome!

Now I want to see if I could point photos toward an external hard drive. I'm not sure if thats supported, but would free up like 300 gb's locally.

Yes, you can move your Photos library onto an external drive. See this: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201517

If you do, make sure Time Machine is backing up the external drive with your photos! If I remember correctly, external drives are automatically added to TM's exclusion list, so you'll need to go there and remove it (System Preferences-->Time Machine-->Options...). Then, if you're like me, you'll open TM backups and ensure it's there in the backup itself.