> Does macOS’s file versioning system require Time Machine?
If I turn Time Machine backups off, will I lose access to earlier versions of my work?
No, macOS’s version management system doesn’t depend on a backup drive, or Time Machine even being configured. You can browse old backups at any time: hold Alt, click Time Machine’s menu bar icon and choose ‘Browse Other Backup Disks’.
If the apps you use are built to make use of macOS’s Auto Save and Versions features — check for File > Revert To — make sure you save new files early on; that will enable you to preserve milestones in your work, and to roll back changes even with Time Machine turned off. However, when Time Machine is turned off, backups are no longer made on external storage, and although your work in apps that support versioning will be protected against changes made accidentally or which you reverse, it’s vulnerable to drive failure.
The Revert To command in apps which support Auto Save and Versions displays an interface like that of Time Machine, enabling you to roll back any changes you’ve made to a document. Their similar presentation is a cause of confusion, but the versioning system doesn’t need Time Machine to be turned on.
The Versions browser includes file versions from Time Machine only if your backup drive is available. You’ll always see those from when you saved manually or the app autosaved — although the latter are slowly weeded out over time.