How to back up and restore your Mac using Time Machine over a network (Time Capsule or NAS)

Backup & Storage KB-464

Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: How to back up and restore your Mac using Time Machine over a network (Time Capsule or NAS). Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

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Common Causes

Backing up your Mac over the network is a great way to keep your data protected without needing to plug in an external drive every time. Whether you're using an Apple Time Capsule or a third-party NAS device, Time Machine can automatically back up wirelessly and run on a schedule. This guide walks you through setting it up, restoring from a backup, and troubleshooting common issues.

Before You Begin

You'll need the following to get started:

A Mac running macOS Ventura or later (earlier versions work similarly but menu labels may differ slightly)
A network-attached storage device such as an Apple Time Capsule, Synology, QNAP, or similar NAS
The Mac and the NAS connected to the same network, ideally via Ethernet or a stable Wi-Fi connection
Admin access to both your Mac and the NAS

If you're using a third-party NAS, make sure it supports the SMB protocol and has a dedicated Time Machine folder set up. Most modern NAS devices have a Time Machine wizard in their management interface.

Set Up Network Time Machine Backups

Step 1: Prepare Your NAS or Time Capsule

If you're using an Apple Time Capsule, plug it in and ensure it's connected to your network. For third-party NAS devices, log into the NAS web interface and create a shared folder specifically for Time Machine backups. Note the folder name and any required credentials.

Step 2: Connect Your Mac to the Backup Destination

Open System Settings from the Apple menu.
Click General in the sidebar, then select Time Machine.
Click the Add Backup Disk button (or the + icon if a backup is already configured).
Select your Time Capsule or NAS from the list of available disks.
Click Set Up Disk.
Enter the username and password for the NAS if prompted.
Choose whether to encrypt your backups. Encrypting is strongly recommended for security.
Click Use to confirm.

If your NAS doesn't appear in the list, ensure both devices are on the same network subnet and that the Time Machine service is enabled on the NAS. Some routers isolate guest networks from main networks, which can prevent discovery.

Step 3: Configure Backup Options

Once connected, you can fine-tune how Time Machine behaves:

Back Up Automatically: Toggle this on to allow scheduled backups.
Show in Menu Bar: Enable this to quickly start backups or check status from the menu bar.
Options: Click to exclude certain folders or external drives from the backup.

Your first backup may take several hours depending on the size of your data and your network speed. Subsequent backups are usually much faster because Time Machine only copies new or changed files.

Restore Files from a Network Backup

Restore Individual Files

Connect to the same network as your backup destination.
Open System Settings and go to General → Time Machine.
Click Open Time Machine.
Use the timeline on the right edge of the screen or the arrow buttons to browse available backup snapshots.
Select the file or folder you want to restore.
Click Restore.

Restore Your Entire Mac

If your Mac is unbootable or you're migrating to a new machine, you can restore from a network backup using macOS Recovery:

Restart your Mac and hold Command (⌘) + R during startup to enter Recovery Mode. For Apple Silicon Macs, hold the power button until "Loading startup options" appears.
Select Restore From Time Machine Backup from the macOS Utilities window.
Follow the prompts to select your network backup destination.
Choose the backup snapshot you want to restore from.
Select the destination drive and complete the restoration.

Restoring over a network is slower than restoring from a directly connected drive. If possible, connect your Mac to the router via Ethernet for faster recovery.

Troubleshooting

Backup Disk Not Showing Up

Confirm the NAS or Time Capsule is powered on and connected to the network.
Restart your router, NAS, and Mac in that order.
Check that the Time Machine service is enabled on the NAS.
Verify there are no firewall rules blocking SMB (port 445) traffic.

Backups Are Slow or Failing

Move closer to your Wi-Fi access point or connect via Ethernet.
Check the NAS health and available storage space.
On the Mac, open Time Machine in System Settings and review any error messages.
Delete old backups from the NAS if storage is running low.

Authentication Errors

Re-enter the NAS credentials in Time Machine settings.
Ensure the user account on the NAS has read and write permissions to the Time Machine folder.
If using a Time Capsule, make sure the device password is current and matches what's stored in Keychain.

Backup Stuck or Won't Complete

Open Activity Monitor and check whether backupd is running.
Quit any apps that may be locking files, such as virtual machines or database software.
Restart the Mac and allow Time Machine to resume.

How to backup photos to external drive

If you've worked through these steps and your network backups still aren't functioning correctly, our support team can help. Open a Ticket with details about your NAS model, macOS version, and any error messages you're seeing.

Still Having Issues?

Need more help? If the issue persists after trying these steps, please open a support ticket and our team will assist you.

💻 Open a Ticket