Backup drive for new MacBook Air (2025) for basic user

I have a new MacBook Air (2025) and would like to get a new external backup drive that I will only be using for backups with Time Machine. I've used a WD My Passport for Mac for many years without any problem but it's very old so I'd like to replace it. My new laptop is 1T so I understand I should get something with 2T storage. Please keep it simple, I'm a very basic user but have tons of pics, documents, etc that I want to protect. Thank you!

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 15.4

Posted on Jul 21, 2025 6:40 AM

Top-ranking reply

Phil0124

Level 10

216,944 points

Posted on Jul 21, 2025 9:08 AM

Pretty much any drive out there should work fine. A 2TB or even a 4TB SSD should work fine.

Time Machine will backup your Photo Library if using the Photos app, or folders in your user profile that may contain photos.

Good, know, and supported brands of drives include Samsung, WD, Seagate and Sandisk, PNY, Adata.

for example:

click here ➜ Samsung 2TB SSD - Amazon.com

or here ➜ Crucial 2TB SSD - Amazon.com

or here ➜ Seagate SSD 2TB - Amazon.com

or here ➜ Sandisk 2TB SSD - Amazon.com

etc...

View in context

20 replies

dialabrain

Level 10

135,893 points

Jul 21, 2025 11:07 AM in response to neuroanatomist

You can't always believe what you read.

dialabrain

Level 10

135,893 points

Jul 21, 2025 11:20 AM in response to neuroanatomist

Just to add, the three I can still find purchase dates for were from 2020, 2022, and 2024.

dialabrain

Level 10

135,893 points

Jul 21, 2025 11:32 AM in response to neuroanatomist

Luckily, I didn't read about the risk. As far as lawsuits, people will sue about anything.

Jul 21, 2025 1:43 PM in response to Ranpaeral

Erase and reformat a storage device in Disk Utility on Mac - Apple Support

Ranpaeral Author

Level 1

5 points

Jul 21, 2025 3:19 PM in response to Ranpaeral

Thanks everyone for the recommendations!

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Backup drive for new MacBook Air (2025) for basic user