04-23-2025, 01:03 PM
Step 1: Prepare Your External Drive
Connect your external hard drive (USB/Thunderbolt) and open Disk Utility (Applications > Utilities). Select the external drive, click Erase, and format it as APFS (for modern macOS) or Mac OS Extended (Journaled) (for older systems). Ensure the drive has enough capacity (at least 1.2x your Mac's used space).
Step 2: Clone Using Carbon Copy Cloner (Recommended)
Download Carbon Copy Cloner (bombich.com) and select your Mac's internal drive as the source. Choose the external drive as destination, enable "Make Startup Disk", then click Clone. This preserves all files, settings, and bootability. For basic cloning, Apple's Disk Utility > Restore function also works but is slower.
Step 3: Verify & Boot
After cloning, restart while holding Option (⌥) to select the external drive. If it boots successfully, you now have a fully portable macOS backup. For regular updates, schedule incremental clones in CCC. *Note: M1/Mac Macs may require enabling "Full Disk Access" for CCC in System Preferences > Privacy & Security.*
Bonus: Lightweight Alternative with iBoysoft DiskGeeker
For users seeking a free solution, iBoysoft DiskGeeker offers simplified cloning alongside powerful disk management tools. Its "Disk Clone" feature handles APFS/HFS+ volumes efficiently while providing real-time progress tracking. The tool also includes partition resizing and error-checking capabilities - perfect for maintaining your backup drive. While less automated than CCC, it's ideal for occasional clones and works natively with Apple Silicon Macs.
Connect your external hard drive (USB/Thunderbolt) and open Disk Utility (Applications > Utilities). Select the external drive, click Erase, and format it as APFS (for modern macOS) or Mac OS Extended (Journaled) (for older systems). Ensure the drive has enough capacity (at least 1.2x your Mac's used space).
Step 2: Clone Using Carbon Copy Cloner (Recommended)
Download Carbon Copy Cloner (bombich.com) and select your Mac's internal drive as the source. Choose the external drive as destination, enable "Make Startup Disk", then click Clone. This preserves all files, settings, and bootability. For basic cloning, Apple's Disk Utility > Restore function also works but is slower.
Step 3: Verify & Boot
After cloning, restart while holding Option (⌥) to select the external drive. If it boots successfully, you now have a fully portable macOS backup. For regular updates, schedule incremental clones in CCC. *Note: M1/Mac Macs may require enabling "Full Disk Access" for CCC in System Preferences > Privacy & Security.*
Bonus: Lightweight Alternative with iBoysoft DiskGeeker
For users seeking a free solution, iBoysoft DiskGeeker offers simplified cloning alongside powerful disk management tools. Its "Disk Clone" feature handles APFS/HFS+ volumes efficiently while providing real-time progress tracking. The tool also includes partition resizing and error-checking capabilities - perfect for maintaining your backup drive. While less automated than CCC, it's ideal for occasional clones and works natively with Apple Silicon Macs.