APPLE SKILLS Mac software
Make a copy of your Mac
Create a one-off copy or scheduled backup using Carbon Copy Cloner
Whether or not Time Machine makes regular backups of your Mac, making a complete copy (a clone or mirror) of its contents is a good idea before you undertake to install macOS updates or upgrades. Carbon Copy Cloner 6 (£29.90, bombich.com) can make a one-off clone or regular backups in addition to, or instead of, Time Machine, and previous versions work for Mojave and earlier.
Catalina and Big Sur change the way that you restore from a clone. Rather than cloning back from the copy to your internal storage, it’s better to install macOS then migrate from the copy, and that’s the only way for M1 Macs. That means you don’t need to clone the System volume, which saves space, although CCC can still do that if you wish. CCC has dozens of options. Here we show how to get the best from them, like excluding items best copied separately, and making snapshots for quick file recovery. Whatever you choose, check your clone works by restoring test items. Howard Oakley