MacOS – add /home to time machine backup list

backupmacostime-machine

I would like to backup the /home directory on a macbook pro running osx 10.8.5 using time machine, unfortunately this is directory is ignored by default. According to this post:

On OS X, what files are excluded by rule from a Time Machine backup?

the file:

/System/Library/CoreServices/backupd.bundle/Contents/Resources/StdExclusions.plist

stores the list of built in exclusions where the /home path is under paths that are excluded. Can I delete the line that contains the /home directory in order to add it to the list of directories that time machine will back up? What are some unintended consequences that I might run into by doing this?

Best Answer

You don't need to do this. OS X uses /Users/(username) instead. /home is there for compatibility.

This Apple Support Document describes how Mac OS X handles multiple users.

Your home folder isn’t actually named “Home.” It’s named with your user name. If your Mac has several users set up, each user has a home folder.