I'm setting up a new external drive to consolidate all of my data files, i.e. the "Users" folder. These files are currently backed up with Time Machine with history going back a couple of years. Is there a way to copy these folders so that Time Machine will recognize and associate them with the file history from the prior drives? Thanks!
iMac 21.5″ 4K, macOS 13.7
If you move your entire user folder, i.e. Home folder, to an external drive you'll have serious problems. Apps need to be in the Applications folder on the boot drive to update properly.
You can do what I did:
1 - create Pictures, Movies, Documents and Music folders on the external drive. Name them all "-2".
2 - move the contents of those folders to the corresponding folder on the EHD.
3 - make sure all works well in the folders before deleting from the boot drive.
4 - once confirmed good delete the folder contents from the internal drive.
5 - in a Finder window drag the "-2" folders from the EHD into the sidebar of the Finder window for easy access.
You must keep the Users/Home/Library, Applications and Desktop folders on the internal boot drive.
Note: the external drive must be formatted APFS for SSD or OS X Extended (journaled) for HDDs.
No.
Copying a Time Machine backup volume with anything other than the Finder is not supported (by us, nor Apple); CCC specifically disallows copying anything to or from a Time Machine backup volume. Apple does not document a procedure for making copies of Time Machine volumes. "
No.
No.
@Owl-53 Thanks, but that's not my question. The Time Machine volumes are staying where they are. The data volumes backed up by Time Machine are the ones that are moving. My question is if it is possible for Time Machine to recognize the previously backed up files in their new location?
It think my colleague @muguy 👍 has answered your question
muguy wrote:
No.
😀
TM will see them all as changes.
Preserving Time Machine continuity when moving folders to a new external drive
