Time Machine won't backup

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Time Machine won't backup

Unfortunately, our Apple Time Capsule is no longer functional, so I had to replace the router with a new ASUS. ASUS supports Time Machine backups, so I set up a new hard drive connected to the ASUS router, enabled Time Machine on the router, and came to my mac.

This is a 2019 Macbook Pro. I have the power adapter plugged in and charging the laptop, and the lid remains open. I go to Time Machine, add the new backup disk, and click Backup Now. It searches for disk for a bit, and then goes to Preparing Backup. I watch it for a few minutes, and then leave it because I know the first backup can take hours. When I come back an hour later to check on it, the process has stopped. It is no longer preparing, has not completed any backups, and says it is waiting for the next backup in a few minutes, and the cycle continues.

Is there any way to figure out why it won't backup? Are there logs I can check? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

MacBook Pro (2017 – 2020)

Posted on Mar 26, 2023 08:32 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

John Galt

Level 10

153,490 points

Mar 26, 2023 01:44 PM in response to xtheguitarmanx

xtheguitarmanx wrote:

Unfortunately, our Apple Time Capsule is no longer functional, so I had to replace the router with a new ASUS. ASUS supports Time Machine backups, ...

Apparently not. Third party products that claim to support Time Machine are notoriously poor at it.

Time Machine can allegedly back up to third party NAS devices, but there are none I can personally recommend. My only experience was with a Synology NAS device and it didn't work either — it acted the same way you describe.

That was a long time ago though, and other knowledgeable participants of this site are reporting success with them. It's up to you whether you want to try it, but I do not know of anyone reporting success with Time Machine backup disks connected to an Asus router.

For reference: Backup disks you can use with Time Machine - Apple Support. Specifically, Network-attached storage (NAS) device that supports Time Machine over SMB. If you have any hope whatsoever of using Time Machine over a network without a genuine Apple Time Capsule, it will be that.

These other Discussions may be of interest:

TC may be dying - Apple Community

Synology NAS for Time Machine restores - Apple Community

Of course you could also replace your Time Capsule with another one you might find on the used market. They are not cheap.

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Answer 2

John Galt

Level 10

153,490 points

Mar 30, 2023 11:01 AM in response to xtheguitarmanx

The experience you describe mirrors mine. It doesn't inspire confidence in the viability of that backup strategy.

For recommendations I encourage you to post a new question in the Time Capsule Community. You are almost certain to find more useful, timely, and relevant support there than anywhere else — including Apple or Asus. If the Asus products are giving you even the slightest bit of trouble it calls into question the reliability of those backups, and in my opinion nothing less than 100% assurance of reliability is a prerequisite.

Discontinuing the AirPort product line is one of Apple's more boneheaded decisions, but there is nothing we can do about that. However, the Time Capsule Community can provide all the support you are likely to need, free of cost, forever.

I can't personally help with anything other than Apple's AirPort products, but others might be able to. On that subject I strongly encourage you to at least consider finding a used or NOS genuine Apple Time Capsule, while they remain available.

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Answer 3

Mar 30, 2023 08:46 AM in response to John Galt

Well, I was really hoping that I would be the first to successfully get it working. I was able to set it up, and get at least 30% complete, but it would then fail at some point and have to start over. After failing, it would then hang on Connecting to backup disk. It seems like it is at least possible, though likely unreliable.

Was hoping for some more support from Apple in here, since they discontinued the Time Capsules and left us without any great options. I have reached out to ASUS support and will see if they are able to assist.

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Time Machine won't backup

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