Show the Time Machine icon in your Mac's menu bar

Why it happens

Time Machine keeps backing up in the background whether or not you see its icon. The menu bar icon is just a shortcut, and it's switched off on a new Mac. Turning it on gives you one-click access to start a backup or see how the last one went.

How to fix it

1. Choose Apple menu > System Settings and click Menu Bar in the sidebar.

2. Scroll to Menu Bar Controls and tick Time Machine. Untick it later if you'd rather hide the icon again.

   Menu Bar›Menu Bar Controls›Time Machine

3. Look at the top right of your screen for the Time Machine icon, a clock with a curved arrow around it. Click it to choose Back Up Now or check when the last backup finished.

Still not fixed?

1. On a MacBook with a camera notch, a crowded menu bar can hide icons behind the notch. Untick controls you don't use in the same list, or hold Command and drag icons you don't need off the bar.

   Menu Bar›Menu Bar Controls

2. If the icon shows but backups never run, Time Machine may not have a backup disk yet. Set one up in General > Time Machine.

   General›Time Machine

3. If the tick keeps clearing after a restart, install the latest macOS update in General > Software Update.

   General›Software Update

4. If your backup disk isn't recognised or backups keep failing with the icon showing, contact Apple Support. If the disk makes clicking noises or won't mount on any Mac, the disk itself may be failing and a repair shop can check it.