Encrypted External HD (APFS format) but now Time Machine won't/can't back up

[neocortex]

Earlier this month I begin to encrypt my WD 3 TB hard drive, I guess it automatically does an APFS encryption, but NOW...Time Machine can't back up to my External because I get this error : "The backup disk is not in Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format, which is required."

I don't have anything too terribly important on the HD, just old photos and music I'd like to keep. I'm only using about 100 GB of space (with 2.9 TB left free) so obviously I want to keep using it to back up my Apple's HD through Time Machine.

Q: How do I get Time Machine to accept my External HD without having to erase my pictures/vids/music.? Or do I have to? Will DE-crypting it help?

So far, I've gathered that I can "partition" a part of the HD...? Or I have to reset/erase it...and reformat to Mac OS Extended (Journaled)...but doesn't that defeat the point of the encryption in the first place?

p.s. I am running on the High Sierra OS

Thanks!

 

[harryb2448]

G'day and welcome to the forums.

Time Machine will work only with Mac OS Extended (Journaled) drives so if you want to use the external, hook it up and go into Disk Utility and format accordingly. Personally I have two external SSDs for backups and run both APFS using SuperDuper.

 

[chscag]

Q: How do I get Time Machine to accept my External HD without having to erase my pictures/vids/music.? Or do I have to? Will DE-crypting it help?

First, Welcome to our forums.

Decrypting the drive is probably not going to work if it has already been changed to the APFS format. You will have to copy your pictures, videos, and music off the drive to another drive and then reformat it as HFS+. Time Machine has yet to be updated where it works with APFS. Perhaps in the future as Mojave evolves, Apple will redesign Time Machine so that it will work with both HFS+ and APFS. But for now, it's best to stick with HFS+ for your backup strategy.

 

[neocortex]

harryb2448 ... when I go to reformat...it says it wants to "Erase My Disk and all content will be lost" : [Are you sure you want to erase the backup disk “My Book”? Erasing will destroy all information on the disk and can’t be undone.] furthermore...[The disk must be erased before it can be used for Time Machine backups because it has an incompatible file system].

Is it possible to reformat without wiping the disc clean again...or else I will have to do what chscag said and copy all of my files (again, only 100 GB) right on to my desktop, I suppose...and then erase.

Am I missing something?

 

[neocortex]

Thank you for the welcome...

I don't have another disk I can use, would it be wise to copy (it's only about 100 GB) to my desktop (this is what I was trying to avoid)...ERASE the HD, and set it back to HFS+? Wouldn't that defeat of the encryption in the first place?

Am I missing something?

Thanks!

 

[chscag]

You don't want to copy 100 GB of data to your desktop as that is asking for trouble. Buy another external hard drive and copy to that instead.

You can just as easily encrypt a drive that is formatted to HFS+ using FileVault.

 

[neocortex]

chscag,

I actually found an old 500 GB HD I had in storage, (when I bought it, it was $100...that's how OLD IT IS ...still has about 150GB free space. So just I am clear...I am going to:

1) copy my 100 GB over to the smaller HD
2) Erase/reformat my 3TB HD back to MacOS Extended (Journaled) format [or is it HFS<<<or is that the same thing?]
3) Encrypt my HD again...? Does the encryption come off after erasing?
if 3 is true, then
4) Encrypt the HD with FileVault...? is file vault on the operating system or is that separate software?

SORRY for all the NEWB questions =0 ... I am learning!

 

[neocortex]

Also, should I copy over the OLD backup files? Or is that pointless now?

I have begun to transfer over everything else...preparing for a total erase/reformat, but since I don't want to mess this up, I am waiting further instructions here HA!

 

[chscag]

Okay, it looks like you should be able to get the data moved over to that 500 GB hard drive you have and then proceed to encrypt the 3 TB drive.

You can activate FileVault by going to System Preferences, Security & Privacy, and then click on the FileVault tab. After clicking on the FileVault tab, you will need to click on the small lock at the bottom of the dialog and enter your admin password.

Keep in mind that once you enable FileVault, you must use a secure log in each time you startup your Mac. And... never forget your FileVault password or pass phrase! Write it down somewhere and keep it in a safe place.

 

[neocortex]

Just wanted to post an update on here really quick as to the final solution in case anyone else has this issue in the future...

I did find another external HD, moved the 100 GB from a 3TB drive over, ERASED the 3TB and reformatted it (through Time Machine preferences, it will do this for you if you choose that as the disk you want to use as backup).

APFS Encryption to an External HD DOES NOT work with High Sierra OS if you are backing up your time machine.

Thanks for all the help!

 

[IWT]

@neocortex

If I’m reading your post correctly, then it has been established from the start that whether your Mac’s Hard Drive is formatted HFS+ or APFS, the Time Machine External Hard Drive must be formatted HFS+.

HFS+ is aka Mac OS X External (Journaled).

Then you can encrypt it if you desire.

I presume that’s what you were meaning?

Ian

 

[neocortex]

IWT (Ian)...I may need some clarification from the other users as well, but YES...

When I went to just *Right Click* "Encrypt 'My Book'", it Encrypts in APFS format. THEN, time machine can NOT backup to an APFS formatted disk.

As of now, my HD is Decrypted, but in the correct format for Time Machine to backup on.

CHSCAG*^ Just to clarify, is it possible to Encrypt in HFS+ format? If so, how? Because when I just go to *right click* "Encrypt 'My Disk'" I do not see the option. Going the route of FileVault, also, I do not see an extra option for.

Thanks

 

[ferrarr]

In Time Machine Preferences, there is an option to Encrypt the Backup Disk. Look in System Preferences > Time Machine, then "Select Disk".

 

[neocortex]

In Time Machine Preferences, there is an option to Encrypt the Backup Disk. Look in System Preferences > Time Machine, then "Select Disk".

I do not see an option to Encrypt from Time Machine Preferences.

Can anyone clarify if you can Encrypt and still keep HFS+ format? I still haven't found the option...

Thank you.

 

[ferrarr]

If you go into Time Machine Preferences, and click on “Select Disk”, where you select which disk you use for your TM backup, there is a checkbox for “Encrypt backups”. If you don’t get that option, then you should, select your backup drive, then select “Remove Disk”.

Then select the drive again to use with TM, you may need to do a restart, after you remove the drive, just be sure to go right back in to select your drive to use with TM.

 

[neocortex]

Ferrarr, this option WORKED! Thank you.

 

[IWT]

Bravo, Bob.

Ian

 

[MacInWin]

I think Bob's option encrypts the backups, but not the drive itself. So any file added to the drive outside TM will not be encrypted. But it's a good solution if what you want is encrypted backups.