Time Machine backup to external drive encrypted

[JeffL]

I recently changed my Time Machine backups, to my external backup drive, to encrypted. I can't remember why, must have been offered to me and I thought 'Why Not' Seems crazy it takes so long. Personally I'm sorry I went down the encryption route, don't see the point as my backup disc is protected with a password so why have the addition of encryption? I'm going to see if I can change the setting in Time Machine not to encrypt. Prior to encryption my backups were done within 1 hour or so. What do you people do, encrypted or not? Thanks.

 

[ferrarr]

The reason it is taking so long is because of all the data already existing on the TM backup drive. If you selected encrypted prior to use, it would have been much quicker.

For now, wait out the process until completed.

 

[JeffL]

The reason it is taking so long is because of all the data already existing on the TM backup drive. If you selected encrypted prior to use, it would have been much quicker.

For now, wait out the process until completed.

OK will do. Thank you.

 

[Rod]

Not, for the reasons you have already stated. I am a little surprised that you say your TM backups were only an hour before, how long do they take now?
Perhapes you have more storage than my MacBook Pro (500GB). On a HDD external USB connected drive my daily backup takes about 10min.
Have a read of this web page and see if it helps. https://appletoolbox.com/time-machine-encrypting-backup-disk-takes-forever/

 

[JeffL]

Not, for the reasons you have already stated. I am a little surprised that you say your TM backups were only an hour before, how long do they take now?
Perhapes you have more storage than my MacBook Pro (500GB). On a HDD external USB connected drive my daily backup takes about 10min.
Have a read of this web page and see if it helps. https://appletoolbox.com/time-machine-encrypting-backup-disk-takes-forever/

Thanks for your reply, but what I actually said was "were done within 1 hour or so". I couldn't remember for certain how long they were taking so I said within 1 hour or so as I was comparing that to what the encrypted is taking which is at the moment still encrypting and it must now be, maybe, 15 hours. My backups a fairly quick normally. I've got about 164GB on my iMac which has capacity of 250GB. My WD My passport for Mac external disc is 2TB with about 624GB available. I will have a read of the link you sent though. Thank you for responding.

 

[Rod]

The worst case scenario here is you may need to erase the EHD or TM partition thereof and start over but as stated, encrypting the drive first is definitely the way to go.
Lastly, I would not bother to encrypt a TM backup.
Why? Because I'm more concerned with data retrieval than data security.
Data loss is more common than data theft.
If my HD crashes I want to be able to retrieve it. That may mean on a new computer. If my TM backup is encrypted all I'm likely to retrieve is some metal and plastic for recycling.

 

[JeffL]

The worst case scenario here is you may need to erase the EHD or TM partition thereof and start over but as stated, encrypting the drive first is definitely the way to go.
Lastly, I would not bother to encrypt a TM backup.
Why? Because I'm more concerned with data retrieval than data security.
Data loss is more common than data theft.
If my HD crashes I want to be able to retrieve it. That may mean on a new computer. If my TM backup is encrypted all I'm likely to retrieve is some metal and plastic for recycling.

Oh! I didn't know that, so it appears that what I said initially "I'm going to see if I can change the setting in Time Machine not to encrypt" is the way to go. Thanks.

 

[MacInWin]

Let it finish first. You started an encryption process and it should be allowed to complete before changing the setting back. And it may well take as long to unencrypt as it did to encrypt, so be prepared for that.

 

[harryb2448]

Encryption is vital ~ if you are a former assassin or wet agent.