How do you change or upgrade the time machine backup hard disk without losing your old backup data?

Here is how to transfer backups from a current backup drive to a new high-capacity backup drive

Step 01: First, check the format of your new backup drive

  1. Connect your new backup drive to your Mac.
  2. Open Disk Utility (located in the Utilities folder).
  3. In Disk Utility, select the new drive’s icon to ensure it has a GUID partition and is formatted as Mac OS Extended (Journaled). Reformat it with the Mac OSX Extended (Journaled) option with a GUID partition. At this stage, you can format your new backup drive with Mac OSX Extended (Journaled, Encrypted) to password-protect it and thus safeguard your data. Remember to write down the encryption password you set for your drive this time.

Step 02: Set permissions on your new backup drive

  1. Open a new Finder window. In the sidebar, click the icon of the latest backup drive.
  2. Choose Get Info from the File menu.
  3. Make sure “Ignore ownership on this volume” is deselected (unchecked) at the bottom of the “Sharing & Permissions” section of the Get Info window.

Step 03: Temporarily turn the Time Machine off

  1. Go to System Preferences > Time Machine > Slide the Time Machine switch to Off.

Step 04: Copy your backup data from your original drive to your new drive

  1. Open a new Finder window for an original backup drive.
  2. Open yet another new Finder window for a new backup drive.
  3. Copy the ‘Backups.backupdb’ folder from the original backup drive to the new backup drive’s root level.
  4. Enter your administrator name and password to authenticate it, then click OK to start copying.

Note: Depending on the size of your backup, copying your backup data might take some time.

Step 05: Now set Time Machine to use your new drive

  1. After the copy has been finished
  2. Go to System Preferences > Time Machine > Click Select Disk in the Time Machine preferences window > Select the new backup drive > then click Use Disk.

Following these steps successfully, your transfer of the Time Machine backup drive is completed,

Hope it helps,

Thanks & Regards
Mandar Apte

Published by Mandar Apte

Mandar is a Mumbai-based multi-disciplinary designer with UX/UI, Logo, Symbol, and Brand Identity design expertise. He currently runs his Mudrkashar Linguistic Apple iPhone, iPad, and Mac app business in the heart of Mumbai city.

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