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Best Time Machine External Hard Drives of 2026

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Kenneth Collin

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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

WD 5TB My Passport for Mac portable external storage, USB 3.0, Mac Compatible external hard drive, software for device management, backup and password protection, Time Machine Ready Cover #TOP 1

WD 5TB My Passport for Mac portable external storage, USB 3.0, Mac Compatible external hard drive, software for device management, backup and password protection, Time Machine Ready

9.9
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Seagate 5TB Portable External Hard Drive Cover #TOP 2

Seagate 5TB Portable External Hard Drive

9.8
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WD My Passport SSD, 2TB Portable External SSD, read speeds up to 1050 MB/s, write speeds up to 1000MB/s, Portable SSD Cover #TOP 3

WD My Passport SSD, 2TB Portable External SSD, read speeds up to 1050 MB/s, write speeds up to 1000MB/s, Portable SSD

9.6
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Top 6 Time Machine External Hard Drives

#TOP 1

WD 5TB My Passport for Mac portable external storage, USB 3.0, Mac Compatible external hard drive, software for device management, backup and password protection, Time Machine Ready

  • WD
  • WDBA2F0050BBL-WESN
  • Midnight Blue
WD 5TB My Passport for Mac portable external storage, USB 3.0, Mac Compatible external hard drive, software for device management, backup and password protection, Time Machine Ready Cover

WD 5TB My Passport for Mac portable external storage, USB 3.0, Mac Compatible external hard drive, software for device management, backup and password protection, Time Machine Ready, Midnight Blue

Features

  • Plays Nicely. The My Passport For Mac Drive Includes USB-C And USB-A Cables, So You Can Save Tomorrow's Content With The Mac Computers Of Both Today And Yesterday
  • Genius Compatible. My Passport For Mac Portable Storage Works Straight Out Of The Box With Mac Devices Which Makes It Easy To Keep You Moving On Your Journey. Simply Drag And Drop Files To And From, Or Setup A Backup Routine With Apple's Time Machine Software To Help Protect The Contents Of Your Digital Life: Photos, Videos, Music And Documents. Up To 6TB.
  • Social Friendly. Included WD Discovery Software Lets You Connect To Popular Social Media And Cloud Storage Services Like Facebook, Dropbox And Google Drive. Seamlessly Import, Organise And Share Your Photos, Videos And Docs To The My Passport For Mac Drive To Backup Your Online Social Life. Wd Discovery Can Also Manage Your Drive Through WD Drive Utilities
9.9
FTB Score
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#TOP 2 Best External Hard Drive for Mac

Seagate 5TB Portable External Hard Drive

Seagate 5TB Portable External Hard Drive Cover

Seagate Portable Drive 5TB, External Hard Drive, Dark Grey, for PC Laptop and Mac, Data Rescue Services, Amazon Exclusive (STGX5000400)

The Seagate 5TB Drive is an Amazon exclusive that simplifies file backups for both Windows and Mac users. You can easily back up your files using the drag-and-drop method, making the process quick and straightforward. Installing the drive is hassle-free as it connects directly to your computer and is automatically recognised, eliminating the need for software. With the included 46cm USB 3.0 cable, you can enjoy fast file transfers, ensuring that your data is moved swiftly and efficiently.

9.8
FTB Score
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What We Like

  • Easy drag-and-drop backups
  • Plug-and-play installation
  • Fast USB 3.0 transfer speeds
  • Mac compatible with reformatting
#TOP 3

WD My Passport SSD, 2TB Portable External SSD, read speeds up to 1050 MB/s, write speeds up to 1000MB/s, Portable SSD

  • WD
  • WDBAGF0020BRD-WESN
  • SSD Red
WD My Passport SSD, 2TB Portable External SSD, read speeds up to 1050 MB/s, write speeds up to 1000MB/s, Portable SSD Cover

WD My Passport SSD, 2TB Portable External SSD, read speeds up to 1050 MB/s, write speeds up to 1000MB/s, Portable SSD, Works with PC, Xbox and Playstation, Red

Features

  • PASSWORD PROTECTION WITH HARDWARE ENCRYPTION. Your Digital World Is Invaluable. Help Keep Your Data Safe With Password Enabled 256- Bit AES Hardware Encryption And Simple Backup.
  • ACCELERATED PERFORMANCE. Larger Files And More Content Demand Next-Level Performance. The My Passport SSD Delivers Read Speeds Of Up To 1050MB/s And Write Speeds Of Up To 1000MB/s , And Capacities Of Up To 2TB* So You Can Access Your Digital World Anytime, Anywhere.
  • THE NEW LOOK OF SSD PERFORMANCE. Stylishly Designed In A Range Of Colors, Enclosed In A Compact Sleek Metal Design. The My Passport SSD Is Engineered From The Ground Up To Be A Quality Drive, Inside And Out, To Deliver Reliable Performance.
9.6
FTB Score
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#TOP 4 Best WD External Hard Drive

WD 1TB My Passport External SSD with Encryption

  • WD
  • WDBAGF0010BGY
  • SSD Grey
WD 1TB My Passport External SSD with Encryption Cover

WD 1TB My Passport Portable SSD, External NVMe Solid State Drive, USB-C, up to 1050 MB/s, Works with PC, Xbox and Playstation, 2-meters drop resistance, Space Grey

The WD My Passport SSD offers lightning-fast NVMe technology, delivering speeds of up to 1050MB/s. This means you can transfer large files in seconds, making it ideal for gamers and creatives alike. It features password-enabled 256-bit AES hardware encryption, providing peace of mind as your data remains secure. Its shock and vibration resistance, along with a drop resistance of up to 2 metres, ensures your drive can withstand daily wear and tear. With a sleek design, this portable SSD is easy to carry wherever you go.

9.4
FTB Score
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What We Like

  • Blazing fast transfer speeds
  • Strong data encryption
  • Durable and drop-resistant
  • Sleek and portable design
#TOP 5

WD 1TB My Passport Portable SSD, External NVMe Solid State Drive

  • WD
  • WDBAGF0010BRD-WESN
  • SSD Red
WD 1TB My Passport Portable SSD, External NVMe Solid State Drive Cover

WD 1TB My Passport Portable SSD, External NVMe Solid State Drive, USB-C, up to 1050 MB/s, Works with PC, Xbox and Playstation, 2-meters drop resistance, Red

Features

  • PASSWORD PROTECTION WITH HARDWARE ENCRYPTION. Your Digital World Is Invaluable. Help Keep Your Data Safe With Password Enabled 256- Bit AES Hardware Encryption And Simple Backup.
  • ACCELERATED PERFORMANCE. Larger Files And More Content Demand Next-Level Performance. The My Passport SSD Delivers Read Speeds Of Up To 1050MB/s1 And Write Speeds Of Up To 1000MB/s1 , And Capacities Of Up To 2TB* So You Can Access Your Digital World Anytime, Anywhere.
  • THE NEW LOOK OF SSD PERFORMANCE. Stylishly Designed In A Range Of Colors, Enclosed In A Compact Sleek Metal Design. The My Passport SSD Is Engineered From The Ground Up To Be A Quality Drive, Inside And Out, To Deliver Reliable Performance.
9.2
FTB Score
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#TOP 6

LaCie Mobile Drive, 4TB, External Hard Drive

  • LaCie
  • STHG4000402
  • Space Grey
LaCie Mobile Drive, 4TB, External Hard Drive Cover

LaCie Mobile Drive, 4TB, External Hard Drive, Space Grey, USB-C, PC Mac iPad & iPhone, Data Rescue Service (STHG4000402)

Features

  • The Drive's Compatibility With Mac And Windows Systems, And USB-C Interfaces Also Make It Easy To Access Data
  • High Capacity External Hard Drive For All Your Data And Compatible With Mac & PC Without Reformatting
  • Turn Your Raw Footage Into Polished Productions With A Free Subscription To The Adobe Creative Cloud All-Access Program.
9.0
FTB Score
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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.

Editor's Notes

During our time machine external hard drive research, we found 8 time machine external hard drive products and shortlisted 6 quality products. We collected and analyzed 1,920,618 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 £133.32.

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, Seagate, LaCie.

Written by

Kenneth Collin Avatar

Kenneth Collin

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.