Time Machine Backup Errors: The "No Backups for X Days" Mystery
Time Machine backups should be automatic and trouble-free. macOS only alerts you when problems occur. However, some users inexplicably receive the "No Backups for X Days" warning, even when their Mac is plugged in, citing battery power as the reason for backup failure. This message, while sometimes accurate, frequently appears incorrectly, even after successful backups.
A Macworld reader encountered this issue, prompting this troubleshooting guide. Several solutions exist, though none guarantee a fix.
Possible Causes and Solutions:
- Drive Issues: A faulty Time Machine drive (internal or external, networked or directly connected) might trigger the alert. Use Disk Utility to repair the drive. You may need to temporarily disable Time Machine in System Settings > General > Time Machine to repair the volume.
- Optimized Charging or Low Power Mode: Apple's Optimized Battery Charging can limit charging to 80% when plugged in, potentially confusing Time Machine. Disable this feature (and Low Power Mode if set to anything other than "Never" or "Only on Battery") in System Settings > Battery by clicking the info (i) icon next to "Battery Health." Note: Disabling Optimized Charging may impact long-term battery health.
-
Networked Backup Issues: If backing up to a networked drive on another Mac (especially a laptop), ensure that the destination Mac isn't on battery power and that Optimized Charging/Low Power Mode settings are checked on that machine as well.
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"Back up on battery power" Setting: In System Settings > General > Time Machine > Options, check the "Back up on battery power" setting. Enabling it should allow backups even on battery, but this isn't always the case.
Persistent Problems:
Even after trying all these steps, the alert might persist. This issue has been reported since at least macOS Ventura, suggesting a potential bug.
Troubleshooting Tip: Use the Time Machine menu bar icon (add it via System Settings > Control Center > Menu Bar Only) to manually check the last backup time. Backups might still fail, incorrectly reporting battery power usage.
This article addresses a question from Macworld reader Robert. For more frequently asked questions and answers, consult our comprehensive FAQ. Submit your own Mac questions to mac911@macworld.com (include screenshots and specify name usage preference). Note: Not all questions can be answered, and we cannot offer direct troubleshooting support.
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