How to Use a Single External Hard Drive for Time Machine Backups and File Storage

Learn how to use one external hard drive for both Time Machine backups and file storage. This guide is perfect if you have a Mac with a smaller hard drive, as backups won’t take up that much space in general. By setting up a dual-use external hard drive, you can have a backup drive and a storage drive using only one device.

Benefits of Using a Single External Hard Drive for Time Machine Backups and File Storage

• Saves money by not having to purchase a separate hard drive for backups
• Saves space if your Mac has a smaller hard drive
• Provides easy access to both Time Machine backups and regular file storage in one device

FAQs

What are the supported devices and operating systems for this guide?

This guide is for Apple devices running macOS or iOS.

How is this guide helpful?

This guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to set up a single external hard drive for Time Machine backups and file storage. It’s useful for anyone who wants to save money and space by using one device for dual purposes.

Steps to Use a Single External Hard Drive for Time Machine Backups and File Storage

Step 1: Format the drive for Mac OS Extended compatibility

1. Connect an external hard drive to your Mac
2. Open Disk Utility, located in the Applications/Utilities directory
3. Select the external hard drive from the list of drives on the left and click the “Erase” tab
4. Choose “Mac OS Extended (Journaled)” as the format type
5. Click “Erase” to delete everything on the drive and format it for Mac use

Step 2: Create two partitions in Time Machine & Storage

1. When you have finished formatting the drive, select the Partition tab
2. Drag the “Partition Layout” menu and select “2 Partitions”
3. If you want, adjust the size of the partitions
4. Name the two partitions accordingly
5. Click “Apply” and then “Partition”

Step 3: Set Time Machine to back up to a specific partition

1. Go to System Preferences > Time Machine
2. Click the “Select Disk” button and choose the partition named “Time Machine Backup”
3. Let Time Machine perform its initial backup

Now you have an easy and convenient way to perform Time Machine backups and store files on one external hard drive!