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KB ID: 6117

Product: TS5010 Series | TS6000 Series | TS5020 Series | TS71210 Series | TS3010 Series | TS3020 Series | TS-Essentials Series 2022 | TS3030 Series | TS Essentials Series 2025 | LS700 Series | LS700 SoHo Series | LS200 Series | LS200 SoHo Series

Configuring macOS Time Machine with a Buffalo NAS

NOTICE:
As of September 15th 2025, with the release of MacOS 26 Tahoe, Apple has deployed step 1 of 2 towards the removal Time Machine over AFP protocol functionality. With this major release version of MacOS (26), only Existing Time Machine over AFP configurations will continue to function; it has been disclosed that in the next release, step 2, will completely remove Time Machine over AFP functionality.

Model Series Compatibility

LS700: Fully compatible with MacOS 26 Time Machine
TS3030/5020/71210: Fully compatible with MacOS 26 Time Machine
 
LS200: Not Compatible with MacOS 26 Time Machine, Firmware update Investigation in progress
TS3010/TS3020/TS5010/TS6000: Not Compatible with MacOS 26 Time Machine, Firmware update Investigation in progress

LS400/LS500:  No firmware update is planned, will continue to work with MacOS 15.x or older
TS1000/TS3000/TS5000: No firmware update is planned, will continue to work with MacOS 15.x or older
Older/Unlisted:  No firmware update is planned, will continue to work with MacOS 15.x or older

 

Configure Time Machine on LS700/TS3030/TS5020/TS71210/TS3010/TS3020/TS5010/TS6000
 

1. Access Settings, the TeraStation's web user interface, by entering the current IP address of the unit into a web browser. If the current IP is unknown the unit can be located using NAS Navigator. If NAS Navigator is not installed, download and install the application by clicking on the provided URLs here: Windows or Mac.
2. From the main GUI screen click on the "File Sharing" tab and click the button on the right to open the "Folder Setup" menu.
   
    
3. For this example, we will create a new shared folder for Time Machine. 
   While you can use an existing folder it is NOT recommended.
   To create a new shared folder, click Create Folder.
   
    
4. Name the folder (the example will use "TimeMachine" as the name). To enable the Share to be used as a TimeMachine target, enable "AFP" or "SMB" base on your Buffalo NAS model and macOS version.
   
   
   Note: Starting from MacOS 26 Tahoe, Apple is starting to deprecate Time Machine over AFP protocol. Only existing Time Machine over AFP configurations will continue to function.
   
   
    
5. The new folder is now listed in the shared folder list. Click Close on the lower right.
   
    
6. From Settings, click "Backup" tab and click the widget to the right of "Time Machine".
   
    
7. The "Target Folder" field should display "Not configured". Click Edit to configure the target folder.
   
    
8. Select the folder you wish to use for Time Machine and click OK.
   If you did not see the Time Machine Share you just created here, check if SMB or AFP are enabled in the created Share settings, or if the SMB or AFP services are enabled in the File Sharing tab.
    
9. The correct folder should now be listed as the target.
   For LS700 series: Enter a limit size to save backup data from Time Machine.
   Click OK when finish.
   
    
10. From Settings, click the slide switch to enable Time Machine. It should turn blue.
    
    
     

Configure Time Machine on LS200/LS400
 

1. Open Settings for the LinkStation. It should default to the Easy Admin screen. Click on the "Advanced Settings" tile. You may be asked to log in with the "Admin" account.
   
    
2. From the "File Sharing" tab, click on the configuration icon to the right of "Folder Setup".
   
    
3. For purposes of this demonstration we're going to create a new shared folder to use for Time Machine.
   While you can use an existing folder it is NOT recommended.
   To create a new shared folder, click Create Folder.
   
    
4. We're going to name our folder "time-machine" but you can choose a different name. The only requirement is that "AFP" is chosen for "LAN Protocol Support".
   Note: Starting from MacOS 26 Tahoe, Apple is starting to deprecate Time Machine over AFP protocol. Only existing Time Machine over AFP configurations will continue to function.
   
   
    
5. Our new folder is now listed in the shared folder list. Click Close in the lower right.
   
    
6. From the Settings screen go to the "Backup" tab and click the button to the right of "Time Machine" to configure the service.
   
    
7. It should the "Target Folder" as "Not Configured". Click Edit configure the target folder.
   
    
8. Click Browse to bring up a list of folders.
   
    
9. Select the folder you wish to use for Time Machine and click OK.
   
    
10. The correct folder should now be listed as the target. Click OK.
    
     
11. If the service is not enabled you will get this notification.
    
     
12. Back at the main screen click the slide switch to turn on the Time Machine functionality. It should turn blue.
    
    
     

Complete Time Machine setup on macOS
 

1. From the Mac desktop, click on Apple icon from the menu bar and select " System Settings".
   
    
2. Click "General" at the left, then click "Time Machine" at the right.
   
    
3. Click on "Add Backup Disk".
   
    
4. Click on the Time Machine share that was created earlier, click "Set Up Disk..."
   
    
5. Click "Connect" to connect to the NAS Share.
   
    
6. Enter the login information. This can be an user created for this purpose or the admin login.
   
    
7. You can setup Encrypt Backup or setup Disk Usage Limit as desired.
   Click "Done" to finish TimeMachine setup.
   
    
8. Time Machine should automatically be turned on now. 
   At this point setup is finished. Log out of Settings and close all windows.
   

Related Articles

• KB6060 MacOS 26 Tahoe deprecated Time Machine over AFP