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The new volume will be created within seconds, and you can close Disk Utility. You'll be presented with format and size options. On the right side of Disk Utility above the graphs, you'll see a Volume +. Select your external drive in the list.Ĥ. Go to Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility.ģ. Connect your external drive connected so that you can see it in a Finder window sidebar.Ģ. Here's the steps I did to create the new volume:ġ. This volume will contain regular data, and can be used independently of the volume assigned the Backup role." You can’t access the Time Machine volume directly through the Finder and store other kinds of data on it, but Apple states you can add a volume in the same container.
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The Time Machine backup, however, takes place to a single volume in that container.
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Apple notes in its Big Sur guide on a page describing the kinds of disk formats supported with Time Machine that the backup requires the whole “disk.” This appears to be an error: Apple really means that the disk can only have a single container, which occupies the entire disk. "You can share the Time Machine container with volumes that aren’t being used for backups. Data is restored to your Mac.What's needed is to add a volume via Disk Utility to your external drive so that you can use it for non-Time Machine files too. Address any prompts that appear on the screen (grant Administrative access, etc.) The Graphical Timeline to the right of the Time Machine windowīrowse to, and select files/folders you wish to restore.You can navigate Time Machine through the following: Open Finder - Applications - Time Machine.At this point Time Machine prepares the drive and backs up selected data.
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At this point the folder size Calculations and Adjustments are made.
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