Apart from the semantics, there’s not much difference between turning off and disabling Time Machine. The distinction lies in the method, meaning whether you use the app or a Terminal command to prevent automatic backups. Most users gravitate toward the first option since it’s more straightforward. Although there’s nothing inherently unsafe about using command lines, it is slightly more demanding. Either way, you're left with the option to manually back up your files. All you need is an external or USB drive with ample storage space, and you're good to go. Just follow these simple steps: 1. Open Finder and select “Preferences.” 2. Scroll to the “Hard Disks” section and check the little box to show the item on the desktop. 3. Create a new folder in the backup disk for the backup files. 4. Open the local computer disk and select the “Users” folder. 5. Drag your cursor over the files you want to back up and move them to the external drive folder. 6. Wait a few seconds until the process is complete.  The time may vary depending on the size and amount of files.