Time Machine won't back-up due to "The backup disk image “Valerie’s MacBook Pro.sparsebundle” could not be accessed (error 19)."

Why won't Time Machine back-up?

MacBook, macOS 12.5

Posted on Aug 25, 2022 6:50 AM

Reply
8 replies
Sort By: 

Aug 25, 2022 8:31 AM in response to archivist-historian__

We need more information to be able to help. That means some questions, which will likely be followed by more questions depending on the answers to first set of questions.


What device are you backing up your Mac to? Is this an Apple AirPort Time Capsule, or another brand of hard drive?


We assume that you have already performed basic troubleshooting steps like powering off the backup drive, restarting your Mac, and powering up the backup drive again, correct? If not, that would be the first thing that you would want to try.

Reply

Aug 25, 2022 4:18 PM in response to archivist-historian__

Thanks for the info.


If no luck powering off the Time Capsule, Mac and restarting, etc......


Hold down the option key while you click on the Time Machine "clock" icon at the top of the Mac's screen


Select Verify Backups and run the diagnostic check


The process might take anywhere from 10-60 minutes or more to complete, depending on how much data is stored on the Time Capsule hard drive. Let the process run until it completes successfully.....or....until you see an error message appear.


If an error message appears, please post back with the exact text of the message.


You can watch the progress of the Verify Backups check if you want by clicking on the Time Machine "clock" icon at the top of the Mac's screen and then clicking on Open Time Machine Preferences.



Reply

Aug 25, 2022 4:30 PM in response to Bob Timmons

In the time it took me to type the above, an error message appeared: Time Machine detected that your backups on "Valerie A.'s AirPort Time Capsule.local" can not be reliably restored. Time Machine must erase your existing backup history and start a new backup to correct this. It gives me the option to "Remind Me Tomorrow" or "Erase Backup History."

Reply

Aug 25, 2022 5:05 PM in response to archivist-historian__

Unfortunately, your backup file has become corrupted and is no longer useable, so you'll need to erase the Time Capsule disk and start over again with a new backup and move forward.


Click "Erase Backup History" to start the process when you are ready.


With luck, things will work OK for the next year or two.

Reply

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.

Time Machine won't back-up due to "The backup disk image “Valerie’s MacBook Pro.sparsebundle” could not be accessed (error 19)."

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.