The Chicago Apple User Group
Excluding and removing folders from Time Machine
06/05/2009 05:35 PM
Since I work from home backing up my data is critical to me. I use four backup procedures for my data. Two are
primarily used on my Macs. For my work machine I use Time Machine as my primary backup solution. I find it very
helpful with multiple document revisions as well as general changes to the system. I would like to clarify a few of the
points that I made while at the presentation in May.
Excluding folders
This can be done from the Time Machine Preferences pane. The Options button allows you to exclude certain folders
and files from the backup. This can be helpful to eliminate folders that store temporary data. For example, on my
machine, I have excluded the 'Downloads' folder. I like to download alot of documents to read, but I do not want to
keep them all. If I didn't exclude the 'Downloads' folder, every file inside would be copied and would take up extra
space and clutter up the backup archive for a very long time.
Removing Unwanted Documents / Folders from Time Machine
Let's say I realize I have been accidentally backing up the 'Downloads' folder and I do not want to. After I exclude the
folder the folder I wanted to remove any old copies from Time Machine's archive. It can easily be done by navigating
to my home directory in the Finder, and then starting Time Machine. Once Time Machine is running I select the
'Downloads' directory in the Time Machine window by clicking on it once. Then I click on the folder actions button (it
looks like a gear) on the top of the window which will give me a drop down window with the menu option of Delete
All Backups of "Downloads". That allows me to safely remove all copies of the Downloads folder and its contents
from all the backups. This is an all or nothing solution, this will not allow me to pick and choose individual backups.
Questions I have been asked
• How do I know if it is running? How do I know if there are errors?
• Open your Console app (Applications/Utilities), select "All Messages" and search for 'backupd'
• Should I not include my user account's Library Folder?
• This depends. Applications frequently store information that you don't explicitly save elsewhere within the
Library. Example applications are iCal, Mail, Addressbook, Stickies, Desktop Settings, and most Bookmarks
from Web Browsers. If you do not want to back up this data, then exlcude this Library folder. I like having my
web browser bookmarks backed up so I keep this folder.
• I looked at my Time Machine external disk and the sub folders are very large, why is it making full backups
every hour?
• I pulled some screenshots of my 500Gb drive and found that each subfolder in the backup is 50Gb. This means
I could only have 10 backups, but I have 87. Obviously my mac is lying to me. When I put the same hard drive
in to my other mini which is running 10.4 the numbers change drastically. The none technical explanation is
that Time Machine is acting normally. I will try to come up with a more technical explanation of how Time
Machine is working soon. in to my other mini which is running 10.4 the numbers change drastically. The none technical explanation is
that Time Machine is acting normally. I will try to come up with a more technical explanation of how Time
Machine is working soon.
• I want more technical information right away, can you give me something geeky to check with Time Machine?
• Sure. Besides the excluded folders option, the system also sets a hidden flag on certain files that it does not
want you to back up. You can see a list of these files for the logged in user by typing the following command in
the terminal,
mdfind "com_apple_backup_excludeItem = 'com.apple.backupd'"
I do not know why those files are excluded.
primarily used on my Macs. For my work machine I use Time Machine as my primary backup solution. I find it very
helpful with multiple document revisions as well as general changes to the system. I would like to clarify a few of the
points that I made while at the presentation in May.
Excluding folders
This can be done from the Time Machine Preferences pane. The Options button allows you to exclude certain folders
and files from the backup. This can be helpful to eliminate folders that store temporary data. For example, on my
machine, I have excluded the 'Downloads' folder. I like to download alot of documents to read, but I do not want to
keep them all. If I didn't exclude the 'Downloads' folder, every file inside would be copied and would take up extra
space and clutter up the backup archive for a very long time.
Removing Unwanted Documents / Folders from Time Machine
Let's say I realize I have been accidentally backing up the 'Downloads' folder and I do not want to. After I exclude the
folder the folder I wanted to remove any old copies from Time Machine's archive. It can easily be done by navigating
to my home directory in the Finder, and then starting Time Machine. Once Time Machine is running I select the
'Downloads' directory in the Time Machine window by clicking on it once. Then I click on the folder actions button (it
looks like a gear) on the top of the window which will give me a drop down window with the menu option of Delete
All Backups of "Downloads". That allows me to safely remove all copies of the Downloads folder and its contents
from all the backups. This is an all or nothing solution, this will not allow me to pick and choose individual backups.
Questions I have been asked
• How do I know if it is running? How do I know if there are errors?
• Open your Console app (Applications/Utilities), select "All Messages" and search for 'backupd'
• Should I not include my user account's Library Folder?
• This depends. Applications frequently store information that you don't explicitly save elsewhere within the
Library. Example applications are iCal, Mail, Addressbook, Stickies, Desktop Settings, and most Bookmarks
from Web Browsers. If you do not want to back up this data, then exlcude this Library folder. I like having my
web browser bookmarks backed up so I keep this folder.
• I looked at my Time Machine external disk and the sub folders are very large, why is it making full backups
every hour?
• I pulled some screenshots of my 500Gb drive and found that each subfolder in the backup is 50Gb. This means
I could only have 10 backups, but I have 87. Obviously my mac is lying to me. When I put the same hard drive
in to my other mini which is running 10.4 the numbers change drastically. The none technical explanation is
that Time Machine is acting normally. I will try to come up with a more technical explanation of how Time
Machine is working soon. in to my other mini which is running 10.4 the numbers change drastically. The none technical explanation is
that Time Machine is acting normally. I will try to come up with a more technical explanation of how Time
Machine is working soon.
• I want more technical information right away, can you give me something geeky to check with Time Machine?
• Sure. Besides the excluded folders option, the system also sets a hidden flag on certain files that it does not
want you to back up. You can see a list of these files for the logged in user by typing the following command in
the terminal,
mdfind "com_apple_backup_excludeItem = 'com.apple.backupd'"
I do not know why those files are excluded.
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