{"id":"backups.how-do-i-back-up-to-an-external-drive","url":"/faq/backups/how-do-i-back-up-to-an-external-drive","category":{"id":"backups","title":"Backups & restore points"},"subcategory":{"id":"destinations","title":"Where backups go"},"question":"How do I back up to an external drive with Data Backup?","alt_questions":["back up folders to external SSD Storage Studio","use a USB drive as backup destination","Choose a folder for backups","backup to external hard drive mac Storage Studio","set a drive as backup destination"],"short_answer":"Plug the drive in, open the set's Destination menu, choose Choose a folder… and pick the drive. Drive backups are encrypted automatically, with no passphrase to remember.","answer_markdown":"Connect the drive, then on your backup set open the **Destination** menu and choose **Choose a folder…**. Pick the drive (or a folder on it) and the set starts backing up there.\n\nBackups to a drive are **encrypted automatically** — there's no passphrase to set or remember. Each Mac keeps its backups in its own folder on the drive, named after the computer.\n\nAn external SSD is the fastest destination for a big first backup. If the drive isn't connected when a backup is due, the set waits and backs up once the drive is back. See [when the drive is unplugged](/faq/backups/what-happens-if-the-backup-drive-is-unplugged).","answer_html":"

Connect the drive, then on your backup set open the Destination menu and choose Choose a folder…. Pick the drive (or a folder on it) and the set starts backing up there.

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Backups to a drive are encrypted automatically — there's no passphrase to set or remember. Each Mac keeps its backups in its own folder on the drive, named after the computer.

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An external SSD is the fastest destination for a big first backup. If the drive isn't connected when a backup is due, the set waits and backs up once the drive is back. See when the drive is unplugged.

","answer_text":"Connect the drive, then on your backup set open the Destination menu and choose Choose a folder…. Pick the drive (or a folder on it) and the set starts backing up there.\n\nBackups to a drive are encrypted automatically — there's no passphrase to set or remember. Each Mac keeps its backups in its own folder on the drive, named after the computer.\n\nAn external SSD is the fastest destination for a big first backup. If the drive isn't connected when a backup is due, the set waits and backs up once the drive is back. See when the drive is unplugged.","tags":["external drive","destination","setup"],"related":[{"id":"backups.where-can-i-back-up-to","question":"Where can Storage Studio back up my files to?","url":"/faq/backups/where-can-i-back-up-to"},{"id":"backups.what-happens-if-the-backup-drive-is-unplugged","question":"What happens if my backup drive isn't connected?","url":"/faq/backups/what-happens-if-the-backup-drive-is-unplugged"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"How do I back up to an external drive with Data Backup? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"Plug the drive in, open the set's Destination menu, choose Choose a folder… and pick the drive. Drive backups are encrypted automatically, with no passphrase to remember.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Backups & restore points","path":"/faq/backups/"},{"name":"How do I back up to an external drive with Data Backup?","path":"/faq/backups/how-do-i-back-up-to-an-external-drive"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/backups/how-do-i-back-up-to-an-external-drive","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"How do I back up to an external drive with Data Backup?","alternateName":["back up folders to external SSD Storage Studio","use a USB drive as backup destination","Choose a folder for backups","backup to external hard drive mac Storage Studio","set a drive as backup destination"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Connect the drive, then on your backup set open the Destination menu and choose Choose a folder…. Pick the drive (or a folder on it) and the set starts backing up there.\n\nBackups to a drive are encrypted automatically — there's no passphrase to set or remember. Each Mac keeps its backups in its own folder on the drive, named after the computer.\n\nAn external SSD is the fastest destination for a big first backup. If the drive isn't connected when a backup is due, the set waits and backs up once the drive is back. See when the drive is unplugged.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/backups/how-do-i-back-up-to-an-external-drive"}}]},"fragment":"
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Backups & restore points · Where backups go

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How do I back up to an external drive with Data Backup?

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Short answer: Plug the drive in, open the set's Destination menu, choose Choose a folder… and pick the drive. Drive backups are encrypted automatically, with no passphrase to remember.

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Connect the drive, then on your backup set open the Destination menu and choose Choose a folder…. Pick the drive (or a folder on it) and the set starts backing up there.

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Backups to a drive are encrypted automatically — there's no passphrase to set or remember. Each Mac keeps its backups in its own folder on the drive, named after the computer.

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An external SSD is the fastest destination for a big first backup. If the drive isn't connected when a backup is due, the set waits and backs up once the drive is back. See when the drive is unplugged.

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Last reviewed

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