---
id: external-drives.stop-time-machine-asking-to-use-a-new-drive
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/stop-time-machine-asking-to-use-a-new-drive
category: "External drives"
subcategory: "Setting up your drive"
question: "How do I stop Time Machine asking to use my new external drive for backups?"
alt_questions:
  - "Do you want to use this disk to back up with Time Machine"
  - "Time Machine pop-up when connecting drive"
  - "Don't Use Time Machine prompt"
  - "stop backup prompt new disk mac"
short_answer: "Click Don't Use and macOS won't ask again for that drive. If you accepted by mistake, remove the drive in System Settings → General → Time Machine. Nothing happens to the drive unless you agree."
tags: ["time machine", "prompt", "new drive"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/can-i-use-my-time-machine-drive-as-the-fast-drive", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/how-do-i-add-a-volume-to-an-external-drive", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/how-do-i-set-up-my-external-drive"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# How do I stop Time Machine asking to use my new external drive for backups?

Click **Don't Use** in the prompt. macOS remembers that choice for that drive and won't ask again. If you clicked **Use as Backup Disk** by mistake, open **System Settings → General → Time Machine**, select the drive and remove it as a backup destination.

Time Machine erases or takes over a drive only after you agree, so the prompt itself changes nothing. If you'd like Time Machine **and** your own files on one drive, give Time Machine its own volume — see [adding a volume](https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/how-do-i-add-a-volume-to-an-external-drive) and [using a Time Machine drive as the fast drive](https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/can-i-use-my-time-machine-drive-as-the-fast-drive).