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Need to add password to Time Machine external disk

Adding a password to an external disk?

I just cleaned of the entire disk and used TimeMachine to save to the disk. But I realized I need it password protected.

How do I add that?

Thanks.

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Omar Soudani

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curiouswebster

ASKER

thanks

Omar Soudani

You're Welcome!

curiouswebster

ASKER

I can not select the hard disk. Neither right nor left mouse button does anything...

Omar Soudani

Can you please check and pictures and tell me which part is not working for you
Time-Machine.png
Time-machine-2.png

curiouswebster

ASKER

I can only see the drive from Time Machine Preferences and Disk Utility.

And there is no response to a right click or left click.

10.11.6 El Capitan

Omar Soudani

If you already set up the hard drive for backup without encryption, you have to move it first and then select it again with encryption and put in your password, the data will remain on the hard drive but it will take a while to finish, check this for more details:

https://www.howtogeek.com/305540/how-to-encrypt-your-macs-time-machine-backup/

curiouswebster

ASKER

This is so strange!

I see no way to even delete them!

I can right click and see no option to delete. Even here, the drive is not selectable...

BUT, from the Edit menu I see I can Erase the disk. Is this my next step?

curiouswebster

ASKER

thanks

Omar Soudani

Did it work? I'd say format the external HDD and try a clean job from the scratch.

curiouswebster

ASKER

I erased, then created a journaled, encrypted...

but when I try and back up from TimeMachine I get...

I even rebooted my PC, plugged in the drive, and entered the correct password, which I newly assigned.

even though the icon is showing on my desktop.

Omar Soudani

Try to go to time machine preferences and re select the disk again. Apple menu > System Preferences>Time Machine.

curiouswebster

ASKER

It now seems past the password issues and is "working."

But, after the backup is done, I see NO FILES on the disk.

It's like there is a hidden partition where it may be storing the files...

That is not right.

I thought I started fresh but may not have.

I think I need to start all over.

Can you tell me how to erase the disk and format it as a single Time Machine disk?