Hello
I cannot restore my time machine backup of Photos.
I follow the instructions to go into time machine, locate file, but the restore button does not light up.
My iPhotos was backed up late last year on a 2012 Mac 21"
Has anyone else experienced this?
Gary
iMac 27″, macOS 11.2
Above/below "today now" are arrows you can click to step through the different available backups.
Also to the right of the screen should be a clickable time line to go back to a particular date more quickly. If time machine is actually in the process of making a backup, then these might not be available, until it has completed. However if the backup disk is from an old machine you should stop it from making a new backup, as it might delete the old backup to make space.
(Time machine preferences, uncheck "backup automatically", and cancel any backup in progress)
for more detail, see:
Above/below "today now" are arrows you can click to step through the different available backups.
Also to the right of the screen should be a clickable time line to go back to a particular date more quickly. If time machine is actually in the process of making a backup, then these might not be available, until it has completed. However if the backup disk is from an old machine you should stop it from making a new backup, as it might delete the old backup to make space.
(Time machine preferences, uncheck "backup automatically", and cancel any backup in progress)
for more detail, see:
OK - you can't select the backup drive after you have entered time machine. Then that is just looking for a backup OF your backup
You need to go into time machine preferences (open time machine prefernces from the icon on the menu bar). Then click the "Select Disk" button and choose the backup disk with your backup on it.
Check that is now the drive shown next to the select disk button.
If you now enter time machine, you should be able to browse the different dates that are available on that backup disk.
Hello Tony
Thanks for your response.
I haven't selected a date/time and it does say "today (now)". (I actually don't know how to set a restore date.😊)
When I bought my computer, I didn't set it up from backup cause there was not enough room. So decided to restore specific data, including photos, documents etc.
So, hopefully you can help.
Kind regards
Gary
Tony
Once again thank you for your time.
I enter time machine, but it doesn't locate my backup disk, I have to do that manually; I locate the backup from my old machine, locate the photos backup, the restore button does not light up.
The arrows don't move or take me to any older backups, even though there are 4 or 5 there; I have unchecked the "backup automatically" and there is no backup in progress
For something that should be as easy as click and drag...I am horrified it is something that can waste so much time.
Unfortunately, the apple support link you shared was well short of helpfulI.
Do you think that getting rid of Big Sur and going back to Mojave would help? The backup Im trying to access was done on Mojave...
Once again..thank you so much for sharing your time and helping me with this problem. It is very much appreciated.
Kindest regards
Gary
Tony
Thank you. Followed your line of suggestions and was able to browse the different backups. Unfortunately the restore button would still not activate.
So I closed down the window again; followed the suggested line to my latest backup of photos; then right clicked on the photos library logo; the menu had a restore option; I clicked on it, it asked where I would like to restore; I went for Macintosh HD; users; me; Pictures. I was asked if I wanted to replace the Photo library already there or add a copy. I replaced cause I had nothing in the old photos. And it is restoring as we speak....
Thank you again Tony, you showed great patience and encouragement. Problem is solved.....
Hope life hands you a pile of nice bits.
Kindest regards
Gary
Hi
Have you selected a date/time to restore from which is different from "today (now)"
Good news. Thanks for letting me know.
Restoring time machine Backup of iPhotos on Mac 2020 big sur
