Automatically Backup Files to External Hard Drive on a Mac Using Automator

In this video we teach you how to automatically backup your data and files to an external hard drive using Automator.

Automator is a free application that comes with Apple Mac computers on MacOS. In this video we will setup an automated task in Automator. The task will copy any data file you drop into a designated folder on your MAC to the external hard drive. Once this process is setup you don't need to worry about copying data to both locations and the automated task will copy the files for you.

So if you are interested in another way to backup your files and data in MacOS then watch this video. Having a folder that will automatically copy important files to an external storage device provides another method to protect your data. This process basically creates a mirror of your data in two locations and is simple to setup.

We provide step-by-step instructions on how to use Automator in order to accomplish this goal. In less than 5 minutes you can setup automatic copies of your data to off-site storage without the need of any third-party software. Free is always good and this process is free.

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[craigneidel]

Please Note: You need to setup subfolders the same way. It will only backup the files in the main folder you setup and not the subfolders underneath it. You need to set those folders up individually. Also, if you setup Automator on a folder already containing files it won't copy existing files in that folder. Only new files you copy to the folder are transferred since it only copies files from the time Automator was setup. Backup Your Data First and have fun but just remember that you need to setup all folders even subfolders.

[rfeliciano]

Please continue with Automator videos, just what I need.

[angelamoulton]

This is AWESOME Thank you so much!! I've been looking for something like this for a while :)

[LatriceFowler]

Awesome video. I had no idea this already existed on my mac. I purchased and downloaded Hazel that pretty much does the same thing but the latest update is a paid one. Now that I've found this little gem that I already had makes my day! Thanks for posting this!!!

[Giovani]

God bless you Craig. Thank you so much for your content!!

[Mattguitarmania]

Thank you for the very helpful and easy to follow Video!

[gregjames]

Thanks for the video, worked perfectly to an external drive. I've seen a couple of people ask this and so I just wanted to see if you had found a workflow for auto updating the folders if the external drive is unplugged. For example, if I unplug the external drive from a laptop and then so some work on a folder or file, when I come back and plug the drive back in, it would be great if there was an app that could compare the two folders and make sure they remain up to date. I can't seem to find anything that will do that.

[almasferas]

Does this work from one hard drive to another? I have a hard drive I use for my photos. I use it to back up my LR content, so my catalogue & images go into that drive. I also have a back-up drive for that drive, i.e. I have that content on two drives. Can I use that so I can update the back-up drive?

[lindstrem]

Can it be done, that when i plug in the camera, it woule automatically copy the files and separate jpg and raw files to separate folders, all without touching any buttons, so automatic once i plug in the camera? Thanks

[huwevans]

Thanks Craig - Happy New Year when it comes!

[topocom]

Great tutorial Craig. Stay save and healthy.

[hilmanjalil]

Nice tutorial man! Really useful and time-saving👍🏻

[FrostByte_AC]

Does this work if I have a project file (like Final Cut, Logic, Photoshop, etc.) that I am currently working on and I make changes to it? Say I make a change to the project file and I save those changes to the original location, will those changes also be saved in the backup drive?

[robertmyers]

So how do I copy a file moved into Desktop Folder to my NAS Share Folder?

[paulcracknell]

Hi Craig, Great video, well presented and easy to follow. I would like to know if it is possible for Automator to copy files to a folder on a NAS.

[oscarmonteroyoga]

Thanks for this video, it works, but I wonder if is possible to create a task that saves any change into a specific file i.e. pages file we are working on.

[eabz]

Hi, How to do incremental backup using Automator (to do continues backup for modified files), is that possible?

[gezma]

Is there a way to automate the copying of newly created folders? For example - If I create a new Logic X project in the 'Logic' sub folder on my mac, is there a way to automate the copying of that whole project and all the files within it, onto a back up hard drive? Many thanks for your help.

[nowaytoinvent]

Hey Craig, can you do this same method on an entire external drive being used as "the folder" ? So to copy that to a second external drive?
Basically I'm trying to automate and do periodic up-to-date, no redundant files clones of an external drive to another external drive.

[JoshMelton]

This is great, but when I add content inside sub-folders, it does not seem to copy those over...any suggestions?