Time Machine is a fantastic tool for backing up your Mac, but did you know that you can use another Mac as the destination for your Time Machine backups? This can be useful for those who have multiple Macs and want to keep all of their backups in one place. In this article, we’ll show you how to access Time Machine files from another Mac.
First, you’ll need to create a folder for your Time Machine share. This is where all of the files will be stored. You can create this folder anywhere that is easy for you to keep track of. Once you have created the folder, go to System Preferences, then Sharing, and File Sharing. Check the File Sharing box, and then add your Time Machine share folder.
Next, right-click on the folder, select Advanced Options, and enable the option to share as a Time Machine backup destination. You can also limit the folder size if you wish.
Now, go to the computer that you want to set up Time Machine on. Navigate to System Preferences and select Time Machine. If you have already selected a backup disk, forget the backup disk, and select Backup Disk again. Choose the SMB share that pops up (this will be the Time Machine share folder you created on the other Mac). If your SMB share does not appear, you can navigate to the folder by going to Network and logging into the other Mac. Once you have mounted the folder, select Use Disk and enter the login and password for the other Mac.
If you encounter any issues, there are a few common problems to look out for. First, make sure that you are using the correct username and password for the destination computer. You can either use the option to use iCloud or enter the login and password correctly. Additionally, make sure that you have enabled Time Machine for the specific share folder on the destination Mac. Lastly, if you are having trouble finding the share to pop up as an option for Time Machine, you will need to mount the drive by connecting to the SMB share through Finder.
We hope this guide has been helpful in showing you how to access Time Machine files from another Mac. If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to comment below.