User profile for user: Tiger927
Tiger927 Author
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How to erase and start fresh with Airport Extreme Time Capsule backups?

I use an airport extreme time capsule to back up three computers here at home. Today, when trying to back up a new Mini it told me that the drive was full. I want to erase the time capsule disk and start fresh with back ups from all three computers. i don't care about losing the old back ups because I have each computer also backed up to separate external drives. I like the redundancy of wireless back ups.

I note that these conversations are from 2018. Are they still accurate?

thank you for any help you can give.


[Re-Titled by Moderator]


Mac mini, macOS 15.3

Posted on Mar 8, 2025 7:58 AM

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User profile for user: Bob Timmons
Bob Timmons
Community+ 2025
User level: Level 10
175,070 points

Posted on Mar 8, 2025 8:23 AM

On your Mac......


Open AirPort Utility (Finder > Applications > Utilities > AirPort Utility)

Tap on the picture of the AirPort

Tap on Edit in the smaller window that appears





Tap the Disk tab at the top of the next window

Tap Erase Disk

Select the Quick Erase option

Tap Erase





The process will take maybe 5-10 minutes

You may see a message on each of the Macs that are backing up that the disk destination has changed.

It's going to take some time for Time Machine to copy the entire drive on each Mac over to the Time Capsule.


A note of caution. I would not trust the AirPort Time Capsule as your only backup plan because the product is likely 7 years old or older. Both the power supply and hard drive are suspect at this time.





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User profile for user: Bob Timmons
Bob Timmons
Community+ 2025
User level: Level 10
175,070 points

Mar 8, 2025 8:23 AM in response to Tiger927

On your Mac......


Open AirPort Utility (Finder > Applications > Utilities > AirPort Utility)

Tap on the picture of the AirPort

Tap on Edit in the smaller window that appears





Tap the Disk tab at the top of the next window

Tap Erase Disk

Select the Quick Erase option

Tap Erase





The process will take maybe 5-10 minutes

You may see a message on each of the Macs that are backing up that the disk destination has changed.

It's going to take some time for Time Machine to copy the entire drive on each Mac over to the Time Capsule.


A note of caution. I would not trust the AirPort Time Capsule as your only backup plan because the product is likely 7 years old or older. Both the power supply and hard drive are suspect at this time.





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How to erase and start fresh with Airport Extreme Time Capsule backups?

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