Create on-demand Time Machine backups to cut down the wait
As I was in the process of migrating from my Macbook Air to the new 2018 Macbook, I had to create a Time Machine backup in order to move all my apps and content over.
Typical Time Machine backups take over a day to transfer ~300GB of data.
Entering the following in Terminal speeds it up to ~1hr:
sudo sysctl debug.lowpri_throttle_enabled=0
You’ll notice that Time Machine backup speeds will now fly. Power consumption will also increase.
After you’re finished with your “on-demand” Time Machine backup, enter the following in Terminal again:
sudo sysctl debug.lowpri_throttle_enabled=1
Notes:
- The command works because it removes the throttle on low priority system tasks like Time Machine backups
- Applications running in the background will slow your Time Machine backup
- You might hear your Mac’s fan engage over the course of the backup
- You’ll be required to enter your account password