If you used Time Machine to create a backup of your Mac, you can restore your files from that backup or a local snapshot on your startup disk. You might want to restore your files after the originals were deleted from your Mac, or the hard disk (or SSD) in your Mac was erased or replaced, such as during a repair.
Restore from a Time Machine backup
Apple's Time Machine is the go-to backup method for many Mac users. Apple's termination of the AirPort/Time Capsule series, however, puts some users in a lurch over how they will be continuing to back up their Macs using Time Machine. Luckily there are Apple approved Time Machine backup options sans Time Capsule. The first backup will take a long time. But future backups will be quick as Time Machine will backup only the files that have changed since the previous backup. Time Machine on your Mac automatically makes hourly backups for the past 24 hours and daily backups for the past month. Further, it also makes weekly backups for all previous months. Download Time Machine for Mac to see what day of the week any date in history fell on. How to restore a Time Machine backup on a new Mac Note: these screenshots are photos taken with my iPhone’s camera, as macOS doesn’t allow you to take screenshots during the setup process. Step 1: On the Transfer Information to This Mac screen, choose the first option—From a Mac, Time Machine backup, or startup disk and click Continue. Mac Time Machine allows you to back up all files to an external disk like hard drive or USB. Those can be restored later or you can see them how they were in the previous. Mac Time Machine allows you to take below backups and those are safely stored in its destination. Main Backups Time Machine keeps safely. Hourly backups for the past 24.
When you restore from a Time Machine backup, you can choose to restore all your files, or restore both the Mac operating system (macOS) and all your files.
Restore all your files
- Make sure that your Time Machine backup disk is connected to your Mac and turned on. Then turn on your Mac.
- Open Migration Assistant, which in the Utilities folder of your Applications folder.
- If your Mac starts up to a setup assistant, which asks for details like your country, keyboard, and network, just continue to the next step. The setup assistant includes a migration assistant.
- If your Mac doesn't start up all the way, or you also want to restore the macOS you were using when you created the backup, follow the steps to restore both macOS and your files.
- When you're asked how you want to transfer your information, select the option to transfer from a Mac, Time Machine backup, or startup disk. Then click Continue.
- Select your Time Machine backup, then click Continue.
- If you're asked to choose from a list of backups organized by date and time, choose a backup and click Continue.
- Select the information to transfer, then click Continue to start the transfer. This screen might look different on your Mac:
- If you have a lot of content, the transfer might take several hours to finish. When the transfer is complete, restart your Mac and log in to the migrated account to see its files.
Restore both macOS and your files
These steps erase your hard disk, then use your backup to restore both your files and the specific version of macOS you were using when you created the backup.
- Make sure that your Time Machine backup disk is connected and turned on.
If your backup disk isn't available, keep going: You might be able to restore from a local snapshot on your startup disk. - Turn on your Mac, then immediately press and hold Command (⌘)-R to start up from macOS Recovery. Release the keys when you see the Apple logo or spinning globe.
- When you see the macOS Utilities window, choose the option to restore from a Time Machine Backup.
- Click Continue until you're asked to select a restore source, then select your Time Machine backup disk. Or select your startup disk (Macintosh HD), which might have a local snapshot you can restore from.
- Click Continue. If your disk is encrypted, you're asked to unlock the disk: Enter the administrator password you used when setting up Time Machine, then click Continue again.
- Select a backup, if available, then click Continue.
- Select a destination disk, which will receive the contents of your backup. If restoring from a local snapshot, you aren't asked to select a destination.
- Click Restore or Continue. If your Mac has FileVault turned on, you're asked to enter your administrator password to unlock the disk.
- When done, restart your Mac.
Restore specific files
Learn how to use Time Machine to restore specific files, including older versions of your files.
Learn more
- What to do if you can't restore with Time Machine. If you need help, contact Apple Support.
If you used Time Machine to create a backup of your Mac, you can restore your files from that backup or a local snapshot on your startup disk. You may want to restore your files if the original files were deleted from your Mac or the hard disk (or SSD) in your Mac was erased or replaced, such as during a repair.
Restore from a Time Machine backup
When you restore from a Time Machine backup, you can choose to restore all your files or restore both the Mac operating system (macOS) and all of your files.
Restore all of your files
- Make sure your Time Machine backup disk is connected to your Mac and turned on. Then turn on your Mac.
- Open Migration Assistant, which is in the Utilities folder of your Applications folder.
- If your Mac starts up to a setup assistant, which asks for details such as your country, keyboard and network, just continue to the next step. The setup assistant includes a migration assistant.
- If your Mac doesn't finish starting up, or you also want to restore the macOS you were using when you created the backup, follow the steps to restore both macOS and your files.
- When you're asked how you want to transfer your information, select the option to transfer from a Mac, Time Machine backup or startup disk. Then click Continue.
- Select your Time Machine backup, then click Continue.
- If you're asked to choose from a list of backups organised by date and time, choose a backup and click Continue.
- Select the information to transfer, then click Continue to start the transfer. This screen may look different on your Mac:
- If you have a lot of content, it may take several hours for the transfer to be completed. When the transfer has been completed, restart your Mac and log in to the migrated account to see its files.
Restore both macOS and your files
These steps erase your hard disk, then use your backup to restore both your files and the specific version of macOS you were using when you created the backup.
Apple Time Machine
- Make sure your Time Machine backup disk is connected and turned on.
If your backup disk isn't available, keep going. You may be able to restore from a local snapshot on your startup disk. - Turn on your Mac, then immediately press and hold Command (⌘)-R to start up from macOS Recovery. Release the keys when you see the Apple logo or a spinning globe.
- When you see the macOS Utilities window, choose the option to restore from a Time Machine Backup.
- Click Continue until you're asked to select a restore source, then select your Time Machine backup disk. Or select your startup disk (Macintosh HD), which may have a local snapshot you can restore from.
- Click Continue. If your disk is encrypted, you will be asked to unlock the disk. Enter the administrator password you used when setting up Time Machine, then click Continue again.
- Select a backup, if available, then click Continue.
- Select a destination disk, which will receive the contents of your backup. If restoring from a local snapshot, you won't be asked to select a destination.
- Click Restore or Continue. If your Mac has FileVault turned on, you will be asked to enter your administrator password to unlock the disk.
- When finished, restart your Mac.
Restore specific files
Download Time Machine Backup Machines
Find out how to use Time Machine to restore specific files, including older versions of your files.
Learn more
Imac Time Machine Setup
- What to do if you can't restore with Time Machine. If you need help, contact Apple Support.