Time Machine Requires That I Unlock My Mac

[Kashchei]

I recently received the attached error message and I was wondering what I needed to do in order for Time Machine to start working again? I don't know how to unlock a Mac!

 

[Bigwaff]

This dialog is appearing while you are logged into your Mac and Time Machine is running a backup?

 

[Kashchei]

The dialog box appears when I am logged into my Mac and Time Machine has just attempted to do an hourly backup.

 

[gilby101]

The errors will be in the system log!

I suggest getting The Time Machine Mechanic (T2M2) from Howard Oakley T2M2 and other log utilities. It scans the system log looking for entires relating to Time Machine. It should tell you what files were "unavailable".

If these are not essential files (e.g. they are files which would be rebuilt after a full recovery) you can then exclude them (or their folders) from TM backups.

 

[picpicmac]

Are you booting from external storage?

 

[NoBoMac]

Or moved user folder components to external? Wild guess if so, external drive goes to sleep and you now have pieces indexed/tagged as needing backup but no longer online/available.

 

[Kashchei]

Or moved user folder components to external? Wild guess if so, external drive goes to sleep and you now have pieces indexed/tagged as needing backup but no longer online/available.

I am indeed booting from an external disk (I'm one of the many that bought the M4 Mac mini at the lowest price possible). I'm a little confused since Time Machine worked for weeks before giving me this error message recently. With this knowledge, does anyone have any suggestions?
Thank you all for your help!