grayed out Time Machine

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Level 1

4 points

grayed out Time Machine

Hi

My Time Machine back-up drive was disconnected and I've accidentally deleted an important Mail folder which I'd like to retrieve.

On entering Time Machine I can see all of the emails that I want to restore and they all load OK in the preview pane below. However the 'restore' button is grayed out.

Also if I exit Time Machine and then reenter, none of the emails can be viewed, I assume because it updates to the actual situation.

I know all of the emails are in the system somewhere as I can see them, but how can I get them back into my Mail folder?

Many thanks for your help.

Grant

iMac 27″, macOS 10.13

Posted on Nov 27, 2021 2:46 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Grant 777 Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 27, 2021 11:59 PM in response to D.I. Johnson

It worked! Many thanks! When I found the folder I wanted I then copied it and placed it in Documents. I then found it there when going to Mail > File> import Mailboxes. I copied and pasted it because I couldn't navigate to Library from Mail.

Again many thanks!

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Answer 2

tbirdvet

Level 6

17,048 points

Nov 27, 2021 4:25 PM in response to Grant 777

TM no longer supports the email app. starting with Catalina. All your emails are in your user/library/mail/V folders. However, finding a specific email is very time consuming and tedious at best. I recommend users to now use a third party app like MailBackupX to keep a good backup of all the emails.

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Answer 3

Grant 777 Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 27, 2021 6:11 PM in response to tbirdvet

Thanks for the info, however I can't find user/library/mail/V folder in Finder 'Find' or 'Go to Folder'.

My system is macOS High Sierra.

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Answer 4

Nov 27, 2021 6:27 PM in response to Grant 777

In Finder, click the Go menu, then press the option key and select Library. When the Library folder window opens you can navigate to the other folders in the path as listed above post by @tbirdvet.

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Answer 5

Nov 28, 2021 9:59 AM in response to Grant 777

You're welcome.

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grayed out Time Machine

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