Recovery directly with Time Machine versus fresh install + Migration Assistant

Out of curiosity, Is there a source that explains the conditions for being able to directly recover macOS from a Time Machine backup as opposed to reinstalling the operating system followed by the Migration Assistant (with Time Machine)?

If I'm not mistaken, it was after I upgraded from Catalina to Big Sur that I was no longer able to directly recover the operating system from a Time Machine backup. I deleted my old Time Machine backup volumes once I realized that I could use Time Machine with a volume in an APFS Container.

I now use the Migration Assistant regularly and like its various options.

- Pie Lover

Mac mini 2018 or later

Posted on Dec 11, 2021 5:35 PM

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steve626

Level 6

14,229 points

Posted on Dec 11, 2021 7:19 PM

Starting with Big Sur, to recover your entire drive, you have to first clean install the MacOS and then on first boot up Migration Assistant runs and you are supposed to use Migration Assistant to restore everything else. As described here:

https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/recover-all-your-files-mh15638/11.0/mac/11.0

With older operating systems, under certain conditions the operating system could be restored directly from a Time Machine backup, with certain types of Mac hardware. But not anymore, starting with Big Sur.

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Recovery directly with Time Machine versus fresh install + Migration Assistant

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