Creating a backup of your important files can be a lifesaver. Whenever you encounter an error, file corruption, or any problem that prevents you from accessing your files, you can always rely on your backup to avoid data loss. Among the many backup tools available for Mac, Carbon Copy Cloner or CCC is one of the most reliable.
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What Is Carbon Copy Cloner?
Aside from being used to create file backups, Carbon Copy Cloner can also make complete images of your computer or clone your hard drives. This tool is quite flexible because you can either back up the whole disk or just a part of it to your external hard drive. It is capable of creating bootable backups and booting from your backup if a disaster strikes your hard disk.
You have the option to choose what time you want the backup to be processed — hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, and others.
CCC is equipped with a smart update function, which prevents you from copying all the files every time the backup is initiated. This means that the app will only update the newly added or modified files. You can also use Carbon Copy Cloner to create bootable backups. In case your hard disk fails or becomes inaccessible, you can boot from your bootable backup in no time.
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Tip: Avoid copying unnecessary files to your backup drive and save some storage space by regularly cleaning your computer using a Mac optimizer tool. It also prevents potential issues and keeps macOS performing at its best.
CCC 5 is the latest version of this software and it works with macOS version Yosemite (10.10) up to the latest Big Sur (11.0). CCC 4 only works up to High Sierra (10.13).
With the upcoming public release of macOS Big Sur, Bombich Software, the developers behind Carbon Copy Cloner warns of compatibility issues with macOS Big Sur. CCC has reported these issues to Apple and they are still waiting for an official response. Let’s look at some of the known issues and what you can do about them.
Compatibility Issues with Carbon Copy Cloner on Big Sur
There are three main issues that users have to be aware of when using CCC 5 on macOS Big Sur. Let’s discuss them one by one and the workarounds offered by CCC.
Issue #1: Big Sur startup disk can’t be cloned
With CCC, users are able to create advanced backups of your hard drive while keeping it functional and bootable. This ensures that you never lose your data if an accident ever occurs. But with Big Sur, the Apple Software Restore does not have the capability to close the Big Sur startup disk because of a broken seal. Apple’s Signed System Volume, which is very proprietary in nature, is preventing ordinary system calls and copy software from cloning the macOS System volume.
The Signed System Volume has been implemented starting macOS 10.15.5, but CCC was able to work around this restriction by using Apple’s APFS replication software. But with Big Sur, ASR no longer creates a bootable copy of the macOS System volume.
Fix: Apple has recently released the macOS 11.0.1 which resolves some of the issues with Apple Software Restore or ASR utility. However, CCC is still testing whether this patch has resolved all errors and if CCC is now able to create bootable backups.
If installing this update does not fix the problem for you, you can try the workaround suggested by CCC. Make your backup drive bootable by directly installing Big Sur onto the backup disk. You can also employ the help of Migration Assistant to restore all of your data and files to a clean installation, without having the need to install macOS on your backup drive.
Issue #2: Creating a bootable backup requires erasing the destination drive
With the release of macOS Big Sur, the system is now located on a cryptographically sealed “Signed System Volume”. And this seal is applied by Apple itself. This means that when you clone the System volume, they are not bootable copies because they do not have Apple’s seal. To create a bootable macOS 11 System volume, CCC uses the ASR tool mentioned above. Unfortunately, the ASR only copies entire volume groups, which includes System and Data, not just the System volume. Because of this, CCC has to erase the whole destination volume, including the existing snapshots on that volume, whenever a macOS update is released, in order to update the system on the destination.
Fix: CCC has reached out to Apple to request that the ASR be allowed to clone the System volume only. CCC is only waiting for the implementation from Apple. While the fix is not rolled out yet, CCC recommends erasing the destination only when you establish the initial backup, then use the built-in file copier to maintain your backup of user data, applications, and system settings. If you wish to update the macOS on the backup drive, boot your Mac from the backup drive and install any updates using Software Update in the System Preferences app.
Issue #3: Inconsistent display of ASR clones in the Startup Disk Preference pane
In the previous CCC versions, the Startup Disk Preference Pane shows all the available startup volumes, including those that were cloned by CCC, regardless of how they were copied ( via ASR or file copier). But in Big Sur, there are instances when the cloned volumes do not show in the Startup Disk Preference Pane, even though they are bootable.
Fix: If you want to boot from the cloned volume, reboot your Mac while pressing the Option key, then choose the cloned volume found in the Startup Manager. Then, you can set the startup disk to the current startup volume.
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Summary
Although Carbon Copy Cloner has released a version that works with macOS Big Sur, the developers are aware of the compatibility issues and limitations of the backup tool. It is working together with Apple to address these issues and hopefully iron everything out when Big Sur is finally released to the public. For now, we hope that the suggested workarounds above should help.
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Les Rosenbaum asks:
After five years, I am considering the purchase of a new iMac. In migrating from the old to the new is the best choice Migration Assistant, Time Machine, or SuperDuper?
It depends on the vintage of machines you’re migrating from and to. If the new Mac can run the same operating system as the old one, I’d lean towards using SuperDuper or Carbon Copy Cloner. However, if you can’t run the same version of macOS/OS X on both computers, a clone won’t work: it can’t boot on the new machine, and you need to pick Time Machine or Migration Assistant.
If you want to use a cloning tool, follow these steps:
- In SuperDuper or CCC, make a full clone of your current computer, either as a disk image or as a mountable volume. Either way, you’ll need to be able to access this clone on the new machine.
- Start the new computer using macOS Recovery: hold down Command and R during startup until you see a macOS Utilities screen.
- Select Disk Utility.
- Select the internal drive or boot partition in the list at left.
- Click the Restore button.
- From the Restore From popup menu, select your clone. If it’s a disk image, click the Image button to find it on a mounted drive.
- Click Restore and be prepared to wait a long while!
- When the restoration is complete, exit Disk Utility and select > Startup Disk.
- Select the drive to which you restored your clone, and then click Restart.
If you miss and can’t complete step 9, restart and hold down the Option key at startup, and select the startup volume you just restored.
If this doesn’t work, it’s possible your old Mac doesn’t have all the system files necessary to work with your new Mac.
You can also pursue Migration Assistant during initial setup of a new computer or after setting up an account. Migration Assistant can guide you through connecting another Mac, or you can select a Time Machine backup.
I’m inclined here to recommend a Time Machine backup on an external drive that can be connected directly to the new machine. The process should be faster and have less complexity than connecting two computers.
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