Best Time Machine External Hard Drives of 2025
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Time Machine External Hard Drives are a range of storage devices designed to provide secure and reliable backup solutions for Apple devices. These hard drives utilise Time Machine software, which comes pre-installed on Apple devices, to automatically back up data and enable easy recovery in the event of data loss. With a variety of storage capacities and sleek designs, Time Machine External Hard Drives are a popular choice for those seeking a dependable backup solution for their Apple products.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
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Top 3 Time Machine External Hard Drives
WD 2TB My Passport for Mac External Storage
The WD My Passport for Mac offers seamless compatibility with Mac devices, allowing you to easily drag and drop files or set up a backup routine using Apple's Time Machine. With both USB-C and USB-A cables included, it ensures you can connect to both modern and older Mac computers. Security is a priority, thanks to the built-in 256-bit AES hardware encryption and password protection, keeping your personal files safe. Additionally, the included WD Discovery software helps you effortlessly manage your social media and cloud storage, making it simple to back up your digital life.
Glyph Blackbox Pro 4 TB External Hard Drive
The Glyph Blackbox Pro offers a user-friendly experience right from the start. It comes preformatted with HFS+ and is compatible with Time Machine, making backups effortless for Mac users. If you're a Windows user, a simple reformat will get you set up quickly. The hard drive features a durable enclosure made from electro galvanized, cold rolled steel and aluminium, providing robust protection for your data. Additionally, its fan-less design ensures quiet operation while effectively managing heat, allowing you to work without distraction.
Glyph Blackbox Plus 1 TB External Hard Drive
The Glyph Blackbox Plus is a versatile 1 TB external hard drive that comes preformatted with HFS+ and Journaling, making it ready for Time Machine usage right away. You can easily reformat it for Windows compatibility, ensuring you can use it with various systems. With a speedy transfer rate of up to 140 mb/s, it allows you to quickly back up your important files. This drive is ideal for users who need reliable storage that works seamlessly with their devices.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can Apple Time Machine backup an external drive?
Create a Time Machine backup Connect an external storage device, such as a USB or Thunderbolt drive. Find out more about backup disks that you can use with Time Machine. Open Time Machine preferences from the Time Machine menu in the menu bar. Or choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Time Machine.
2. Is Time Machine an external hard drive?
If Time Machine has been previously set up: open Time Machine and choose Select Disk then select the external drive. Note that your first backup may take several hours, depending on how many files you have. However, you can still use your computer while the backup is in progress.
3. Does Time Machine delete external hard drive?
No it will not erase your existing files. Time machine will create a folder on your external hard drive called Backups.
During our time machine external hard drive research, we found 12 time machine external hard drive products and shortlisted 3 quality products. We collected and analyzed 1,625,297 customer reviews through our big data system to write the time machine external hard drives list. We found that most customers choose time machine external hard drives with an average price of £95.73.
The time machine external hard drives are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of time machine external hard drives, including WD, Glyph.
Kenneth Collin graduated from Imperial College, London, at 22. He is a UX/UI designer, a web developer, and a writer, amongst others. At age 14, Kenneth programmed his first app. Kenneth's app served as a remote control for censored devices. "When I was 8, I would pick up scraps from electronics and try to rebuild or at least fix them," Kenneth said in one of his recent articles on Home repairs for top gadgets.