Time Capsule does not appear in Disk Utility

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Level 1

9 points

Time Capsule does not appear in Disk Utility

This exact question was asked in Nov. 2023.

Time Capsule does not appear in Disk Util… - Apple Community

The Time Capsule is connected via an Ethernet cable and I can see it in Finder. However, Airport Utility does not show the drive, only the internet connection so I can't reformat or perform maintenance as Neil suggests.

The reason I wanted to do this: I haven't been paying attention for some time and find that I can't do backups. Now when I try I get this.

[Edited by Moderator]

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 14.7

Posted on Jul 8, 2025 6:18 PM

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Answer 1

TJM-Tom Author

Level 1

9 points

Jul 12, 2025 4:59 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Have you successfully entered the airport device password to unlock access to the internals?

Inch by inch! This gave me a clue. By Clicking on "Other Wi-Fi Devices" and then the Lan, I get this.

And then this.

Thank you so much to you and the many others who have helped me with the various recent struggles.

[Edited by Moderator]

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Answer 2

John Galt

Level 10

154,432 points

Jul 9, 2025 9:09 AM in response to TJM-Tom

I posted my earlier reply as you were posting yours.

Click the 1 in the red circle. What does it say?

Refer to See your Wi-Fi network in AirPort Utility on Mac - Apple Support:

"If there’s a status message associated with a base station, a red badge appears to the right of the base station name. To view status messages, click the base station."

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Answer 3

Jul 9, 2025 8:17 AM in response to TJM-Tom

I have retired my airport device, but I distinctly remember FAR more information on the opening screen than what you posted in your initial screenshot.

Have you successfully entered the airport device password to unlock access to the internals?

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Answer 4

John Galt

Level 10

154,432 points

Jul 9, 2025 9:05 AM in response to TJM-Tom

TJM-Tom wrote:

Actually, the light is yellow.

An amber LED that never changes state = defective Time Capsule.

Nothing else matters. It's dead.

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Answer 5

kaz-k

Level 9

51,048 points

Jul 8, 2025 6:36 PM in response to TJM-Tom

Hi,

I just wonder if your your Time Capsule condition light is green. If it's green, I assume your Time Capsule HDD may be dead.

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Answer 6

Jul 9, 2025 2:56 PM in response to TJM-Tom

169.254/16 is self-assigned; no or bad DHCP, or related network issues.

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Answer 7

John Galt

Level 10

154,432 points

Jul 9, 2025 2:52 PM in response to TJM-Tom

So the flashing amber LED was to inform you that the TC has no Internet connection. That's ok, assuming you have it added to the network as a wired client.

Note: this is the only useful way to add a Time Capsule to a non-Apple network.

Time Machine will back up to it the same way it always has.

To use the Time Capsule strictly as a Time Machine backup device, Internet is optional.

Click that "status" message and select Ignore. The TC will reset and its LED will return to its happy green state.

If it's wise to disable, how to do it safely?

Not a bad idea. Click Wireless and choose Network Mode > Off

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Answer 8

Jul 14, 2025 7:27 AM in response to TJM-Tom

every network device gives itself a pseudo-random self-assigned IP address when it first wakes up. but if a Router is available, it will quickly get replaced by a local IP address you are more used to seeing.

You CAN continue with a self-assigned IP address. After all, it exists to give the new device an identifier.

If you had a path through a Router, [literally through a DHCP server] it could likely get a valid local IP address instead, which might make access slightly easier and might get the light to turn green.

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Answer 9

Jul 9, 2025 7:19 AM in response to TJM-Tom

You can't delete the sparse bundles because they are locked by Time Machine.

Are you using latest Airport Utility? I think it is version 6.3.9 ?

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Answer 10

TJM-Tom Author

Level 1

9 points

Jul 9, 2025 6:25 AM in response to kaz-k

Actually, the light is yellow. It's been that way for several years. I think that's because I used to have my wife's mac backing up over the wireless network. I stopped doing that when I set her up with her own external disk for backup.

I am quite sure the Time Capsule disk is okay since I was also using it to store some large files. Just yesterday I copied those files onto a different external drive. I could delete most of them and copied a file to the drive. I cannot delete the two sparse bundles and one other folder. (Haven't checked yet to see if there is a lock on something.)

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Answer 11

TJM-Tom Author

Level 1

9 points

Jul 9, 2025 8:07 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

You can't delete the sparse bundles because they are locked by Time Machine.

I was hoping Disk Utility would allow me to reformat the Time Capsule, but then I found that DU does not apply to Ethernet-connected devices. Then somewhere else it said the Airport Utility will do this. But, the Time Capsule doesn't show up there.

My AU is

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Answer 12

TJM-Tom Author

Level 1

9 points

Jul 12, 2025 5:14 PM in response to TJM-Tom

Update: It appears all is well now. I successfully Erased the Time Capsule and start the Time Machine. It's now about 60% finished creating the first sparsbundle.

On the blinking yellow light, my wireless connection is not through the Time Capsule. It served at my prior residence, but I no longer needed it after the move here 8 years ago. "DWL Network" was my old network before the move.

This leads me to the question: Are there reasons to keep everything as it is, or reasons to disable the wireless capability? (I'm thinking of possible security issues among other things.) If it's wise to disable, how to do it safely?

Again, to the various responders/helpers, my thanks. As an 86 y.o. duffer, you have managed to lead me through a pretty involved maze of tech.

[Edited by Moderator]

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