How to Set Up Backup on a Mac using Time Machine [2022]

This video walks you through the key steps for backing up your Mac to an external drive using Time Machine.
Includes:
* tips on how to make the process easier for yourself,
* how to choose the correct backup device,
* how to safely eject a backup drive,
* how to check if a backup is finished, plus
* a detailed list of the steps on a single page at the end for reference.

[@felm.974]

Thank you so much for all this hard work. I have a question, I had backed up by files using TM and after they were backed up, I decided to delete as much as I could from my computer because I wanted to regain some space on my computer, but after doing so and emptying my trash can, I went back to my external hard drive but I noticed that many of the folders I have deleted on my computer, became like "ghost" files, with a little thing to restore the files but it didn't work. My question is, can I delete files from my computer and after doing so, will I lose everything or will my files remain backed up on my external hard drive? And, are these files had, lost forever? Any tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[@computersdotmom]

The files backed up in Time Machine should be recoverable but that’s risky. If you want to keep the files but free up space on the computer, what about iCloud?