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Apple’s all-new Mac mini is more mighty, more mini, and built for Apple Intelligence. Learn more >
If I backup my MacBook Pro, running Big Sur OS, can I restore that backup to my new MacBook Pro that's running Catalina OS or does the new MacBook Pro need to have the same OS as the Time Machine backup?
MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 11.1
Hi wolf56,
As a rule of thumb (for Migration Assistant), you cannot restore a newer backup to a Mac that's running an older version of macOS.
For Time Machine backups made in macOS Big Sur, Time Machine no longer backs up the operating system itself (only your data). Your best route would be to upgrade your new MacBook Pro to macOS Big Sur.
Hi wolf56,
As a rule of thumb (for Migration Assistant), you cannot restore a newer backup to a Mac that's running an older version of macOS.
For Time Machine backups made in macOS Big Sur, Time Machine no longer backs up the operating system itself (only your data). Your best route would be to upgrade your new MacBook Pro to macOS Big Sur.
Hello and welcome to Apple Support Communities, wolf56.
If we understand your post correctly, your MacBook Pro is running macOS Big Sur and you'd like to restore the backup from that MacBook Pro to another which is running macOS Catalina. We’d like to help.
Your new MacBook Pro will need to be running the same OS as your Time Machine backup. This guide will show you how to upgrade:
How to upgrade to macOS Big Sur
Let us know if that resolves this issue for you.
Thanks for using the Apple Support Communities. Take care.
Time Machine backup and restore to new computer
