With all that can go wrong, if we are concerned about the information we have on our Mac, it is normal that we want to have an easy, simple and reliable way to make a backup copy of both our files and our configuration. And, luckily, Apple has a very useful tool that helps us enormously in the process.
It is Time Machine , a totally and completely free service, which was originally presented with macOS X 10.5 Leopard, and which is the company’s solution for those who want to make system backups , storing them on an external hard drive or on the cloud.
For example, it is useful when capturing our files , to be able to recover them later whenever necessary, or to use the application to carry out backup copies, and restore the entire system or only important files. It is even possible to use it with iLife, iWork and many other applications in order to recover files without leaving those applications.
As we explained to you on a previous occasion, if we choose to configure Time Machine to make backup copies automatically, the service saves the data every hour, keeping it on a daily basis for a total period of one month, before storing the weekly captures.
While it is true that this tool works better with Apple’s Time Capsule , which becomes a wonderful combination between an AirPort base station Wi-Fi router and an external hard drive, we must remember that it is an option not available since Late 2018, it is now perfectly possible to use Time Machine with a hard drive connected to your computer via Thunderbolt, FireWire, or USB.
In addition, its use is quite simple, in such a way that, if we have OS X Yosemite, or a much more recent version, we can let Time Machine do the rest. This is because these newer versions have enabled, by default, the option to generate automatic daily backups when we use the Local Snapshots function.
However, even if you are an expert in the use and configuration of this tool, it is possible that you have never faced the agonizing moment of having to recover accidentally deleted files, or recover the operating system completely after an incident. or problem. How is it possible to restore macOS using a backup copy generated through Time Machine? We explain the process to you.
Restoring files from Time Machine
Before starting the process, you need to access the tool. To do this, we go to the Apple Start menu, click on System Preferences and, in the new window that has just opened, double-click on Time Machine .
We mark the Show Time Machine box in the menu bar , and now, after clicking on the Time Machine icon that we will find located in the upper menu bar, click on Enter Time Machine .
Now we will see how a new screen appears with a series of overlapping windows. We simply have to go to the timeline where we find that certain file or folder that we have accidentally deleted, and once we have found it, click on the Restore button.
Clever! Time Machine will copy that file back to the original location on your hard drive.
Restoring the hard drive from a Time Machine backup
At times, it is normal to have problems with our current hard drive. Or we may also need to update the Mac after we have had issues (for example, after having factory restored macOS due to a technical problem). If so, Time Machine becomes the essential tool to help us get back to normal without losing our temper.
We just have to turn on our Mac and immediately hold down the Command and R keys at the same time, which will offer us the possibility of accessing the macOS recovery partition. Now your Mac should display the macOS Utilities window.
Once it appears, we must click on Restore from Time Machine , and click on Continue . We read the information that we will find on the Restore the system page, and we click Continue again .
Now we have to select the Time Machine backup from which we want to restore the system, and click on Continue . The most normal thing is that we choose the most recent backup.
Finally, our Mac will begin to restore the Time Machine backup that we have selected.
What to do if we don’t have a Time Machine backup?
It may also happen that we do not have as much experience in using Mac (there is always a first time for everything), and that even after reading these lines you have found out about the existence of Time Machine. If so, and you find yourself needing to restore macOS, first of all, relax and don’t panic.
In these cases, when we do not have a Time Machine backup that offers us the possibility of restoring macOS, and we also do not have the original installation disc, Apple allows us to restore macOS from the Internet .
While it is true that this is a unique option to get back to using our Mac quickly, you must bear in mind that this will not recover lost files and folders.
