Guide

Back up your Mac to an external drive

An external drive is the simplest place to start with Azivault: choose the folders that matter, point the backup plan at the drive, and keep an encrypted repository you can inspect and restore from later.

Before you start

Use a drive with enough free space for the files you want to protect and room for future changed versions. A fast SSD makes backup and restore checks more comfortable, but a hard drive is fine for larger archives.

Give the drive a clear name in Finder so it is easy to recognize later. If the disk contains other personal files, consider enabling disk encryption as a separate layer. Azivault encrypts backup contents before they are written, but whole-disk encryption can still protect anything else stored on the drive.

Create the backup plan

Connect the external drive and wait for it to appear in Finder.
Open Azivault and choose Create New Plan.
In Source, choose one folder to back up.
In Storage, choose Folder, then select a destination folder on the external drive.
Choose the schedule, recovery password, and Keychain option.
Review the plan, then add it.

Keep the first plan focused on folders that are genuinely important, such as documents, projects, photos, or exported records. A smaller, deliberate backup is easier to verify than a broad backup you never test.

Azivault creates one plan for one source folder. Create separate plans if you want different source folders to have different schedules, destinations, or recovery settings.

Run the first backup

After the plan is added, run it manually with Run Now or wait for its schedule. Leave the drive connected while Azivault writes the initial backup. The first run usually takes the longest because every selected file has to be read, encrypted, and copied into the repository.

When the run completes, confirm that the backup repository exists on the external drive and that the app reports the run as successful. Eject the drive normally before unplugging it.

Test a restore

A backup is only useful if restore works. After the first successful run, open Restore in Azivault, choose Open in Finder or Reveal in Finder for the completed run, and copy a small file to a temporary location. Confirm that the copied file opens and contains what you expect.

Repeat this check after major folder changes, after replacing the drive, or before relying on the backup during travel or hardware service.

Use external drives safely

Keep the drive connected until the backup run is complete.
Eject the drive from Finder before unplugging it.
Do not store the only copy of important files on the backup drive.
Keep another copy offsite for files you cannot afford to lose.

Add an offsite copy

External drives are good for fast local recovery, but they can be lost, stolen, or damaged alongside the computer. For important files, pair the external-drive plan with a second backup destination such as a network drive or S3-compatible cloud storage.

FAQs

Can Azivault back up to an external hard drive or SSD?

Yes. Azivault can store encrypted backups in a folder on an external drive, including portable hard drives and SSDs that are mounted in Finder.

Should I encrypt the external drive too?

Azivault encrypts files before writing them to the backup repository. Drive encryption can still be useful if the disk also stores other files outside Azivault.

Can I disconnect the drive between backup runs?

Yes. Keep the drive connected while a backup is running, then eject it normally when the run is complete.

Is an external drive enough for backup?

An external drive is useful for fast local recovery, but important files should also have an offsite copy. Azivault can use S3-compatible storage, network drives, or another location for that second copy.