Choose a backup schedule

Cadence backs up on an interval you choose, from the Cadence menu in the menu bar. It only counts a backup as done when Time Machine itself records it as complete.

Pick an interval

Choose how often to back up: every 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12 or 24 hours. The default is every 2 hours.

A backup is due when that much time has passed since the last successful backup. There’s no catch-up queue: if your disk has been away for three days, a backup is due the moment it comes back. Cadence checks once a minute using the wall clock, so the schedule stays right across sleep and restarts.

When a due backup actually runs

A backup that’s due starts only when all of these are true:

• Time Machine is still in Manual mode. If you switch it back to Automatic, Cadence steps aside instead of competing with it.
• Your backup disk is really mounted. Cadence asks Time Machine instead of guessing a path in /Volumes.
• Your Mac is on power, if Only when on power is on (it is by default). Power is checked during the backup too, so unplugging stops the run.
• At least 20 minutes have passed since the last attempt.

Back up when the disk connects

With Back up when the disk connects on, Cadence notices your backup disk within seconds of you plugging it in and starts a backup if one is due. It’s a good default for laptops that meet their backup disk at a desk.

Snapshot cleanup

Cadence can delete leftover local snapshots after a successful backup, keeping the newest one (you can keep more). There’s also a Purge button for doing it by hand. It never deletes the snapshots Time Machine uses as the starting point for its next backup, so cleanup won’t force a full re-copy. Cleanup only affects local snapshots on your Mac, not the backups on your Time Machine disk.