MacSnapshotGUIDE · LOCAL COPIES
Time Machine and selected folders: which backup fits?
Understand Time Machine exclusions, version history and a simple updated folder copy before choosing how to back up your Mac.
Folder selection and version history are different needs
First decide what you want to recover after a problem: current documents or an earlier state of a file. Time Machine keeps successive backups. MacSnapshotBackup updates one copy of selected folders. Both can use an external drive, but their results are different.
How does selection work in Time Machine?
Time Machine offers exclusions for files and folders. That means choosing what not to copy, rather than a simple selection of one or two source folders. If you configure exclusions, review them when you reorganize your data.
On recent macOS versions, open System Settings → General → Time Machine → Options. Labels and layout depend on your macOS version. Use the current Apple settings documentation linked below for the details.
Which approach fits your task?
Choose Time Machine when recovering earlier versions and a broader set of Mac data matters. Use a manual Finder copy for a one-off copy before a particular change. A simple folder-copying app makes sense when you want selected folders updated regularly without repeating the copy yourself.
MacSnapshotBackup is the last option. It is not a substitute for Time Machine history. A changed file can overwrite its previous backed-up contents, so this copy cannot provide yesterday’s version of that document.
Can you use both?
You can use different methods for different needs. Keep their destinations separate and check available space. Do not place one app’s backup inside folders managed by another. Read disk setup prompts carefully: preparing a Time Machine destination may require erasing the selected storage.
A permanently connected copy can also be lost with the computer. For important files, consider another copy stored separately.
Try recovery before a failure
Do not wait for a failure to find out where your files are. Open the backup, find a sample document and restore it into a separate test folder. With version history, also try recovering an earlier version. With an updated copy, check the latest contents that were saved.
Sources and further reading
The MacSnapshotBackup description reflects the current product: one updated copy without version history. External tool documentation was reviewed on 27 September 2026.