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User profile for user: davidramsey
davidramsey Author
User level: Level 1
9 points

Time Machine

I am trying to do a full backup in preparation of installing a new SSD. Directing Time Machine to a new Seagate 2TB drive. Backing up 870 GB. Everything moves "normally for the 1st 800 GB and then slows to a crawl. Started yesterday @ 9:00AM and the 1st 2-3 hrs went as expected. After that S L O W!!! left it running over night and still now complete. Stopped this morning, deleted to BU and started over. Same scenario. "Backing up: 803.18 GB of 870.44 GB. About 19 minutes remaining" for almost 2 hrs. Periodically it will increase about 7-8 GB and then "freeze" again. Thoughts? Thanks in advance, David

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Apr 2, 2023 9:22 AM

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User profile for user: judysings
judysings
User level: Community Specialist

Posted on Apr 5, 2023 6:06 PM

Thanks for posting in the Apple Support Communities David,


The initial Time Machine backup can be a pretty time intensive process. In addition to backing up all of your data, it's also being indexed so it can be quickly accessed if you need to recover an item.


That said, subsequent backups, especially if you keep the drive is attached or connect it to your Mac regularly, are typically much faster.


If subsequent backups take longer than expected, the following resource provides additional guidance and steps that may provide a solution: If Time Machine takes a long time to back up


Cheers!


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User profile for user: judysings
judysings
User level: Community Specialist

Apr 5, 2023 6:06 PM in response to davidramsey

Thanks for posting in the Apple Support Communities David,


The initial Time Machine backup can be a pretty time intensive process. In addition to backing up all of your data, it's also being indexed so it can be quickly accessed if you need to recover an item.


That said, subsequent backups, especially if you keep the drive is attached or connect it to your Mac regularly, are typically much faster.


If subsequent backups take longer than expected, the following resource provides additional guidance and steps that may provide a solution: If Time Machine takes a long time to back up


Cheers!


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Time Machine

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