Time Machine tells me that my external disc that I use for backups is read only, which it is not. I have tried all the approaches (Desk Utility, Disc First Aid, etc.) recommended by Apple, with no success. How do I solve this problem?
iMac 24″, macOS 13.2
How is the drive formatted? If it's formatted APFS then it will be read only. If it was formatted before Ventura and OS X Extended (journaled) it could be read and write.
How do I solve this problem?
Are you having problem with Time Machine other than the formatting?
Normally when you are running Ventura which you seem to be, the drive will be reformatted as APFS. The only thing I can suggest is to remove the drive from Time Machine preferences then re-add it. Someone else may have a different idea.
What exactly are you trying to do with the external drive and/or the backups?
Time Machine owns the backup drive. If you try and do anything else with the drive or the backups, you will most likely mess up the backup structure and have to start over.
Time Machine has been backing up files for me to the external drive for a long time, with no problems. But since last evening it has been telling me that it cannot do so because "the backup disc is read only". Get info says that the backup disc is read and write for the system and for something called 'wheel'; and read only for everyone. I tried changing everyone to read and write and was told I lack permission to do so.
Sounds like maybe to old external drive is failing.
What I would do is get another external drive and start new Time Machine backups on it.
Then go back and try Disk Utility First Aid Repairs on the old external drive.
A Time Machine drive is in fact Read Only since the APFS format.
My drive is listed as read and write and in a Mac format. Do you have any suggestions for how to get Time Machine able to write to the drive?
Thank you. I cannot see how to remove the drive from Time Machine preferences. Would you please tell me how to do that?
Thank you. A new external drive sounds like a good idea. I've tried First Aid repairs on the current drive without success.
You’re welcome.
Once you get the new backup drive going, then maybe try erasing and reformatting the old drive.
The drive is Mac OS Extended. Get info says it is read and write for the system.
I'm not aware of any other problems with Time Machine.
As long as it's backing up successfully ignore it.
Unfortunately it's not backing up, which is why I sought help from this community.
I have followed den.thed's advice and installed a new external drive, which Time Machine is happy to back up to.
Time Machine backup disc 'read only'
