Creating a clone of your Mac hard drive is similar to creating a clone of a Windows machine, though there are some important differences. And it’s important to note that macs have a software they call Time Machine that helps create backups. This is perfect for safeguarding files and folders, but it’s not as comprehensive as a clone. Here are the steps you’ll need to take to clone a Mac:
Acquire a second hard drive.
The first step is to have a hard drive, that’s larger than your current, one that will hold your clone.
Double check your new drive is formatted.
To create a clone on a new hard drive, your drive must be ‘formatted.’ This can take some time if you’re using a drive that already had some information on it, so it’s best to get this out of the way early on.
Choose a cloning software.
With many options to choose from, you should look for a solution from an industry leading company that has ample experience with helping people backup or clone their devices. These companies will have the most robust solutions and lots of resources to help in case you run into a problem. Apple’s Time Machine creates backups to a local drive, so it won’t protect you from disasters and it isn’t as comprehensive as a clone.
Create your clone.
Once you have your new hard drive and you’ve chosen a cloning software, you’re most of the way there. The next steps happen once you’ve connected the new drive and booted up the software. Follow the steps to create your clone.
Safeguard your clone.
This last step is often overlooked, but it’s important. If you store your clone in the same room as your computer, a disaster like a flood or fire could destroy both. It’s recommended to keep your clone in a completely different location from its original.