Retrieving photos from time machine

When I got a new computer (Macbook Pro) a few years ago I backed up the Macbook Air I was using at the time with time machine and then wiped it for a family member to use. I wanted to use a different Apple ID for the new computer so I moved my documents manually with a usb and forgot about my photos until after I had reset the computer. How can I access the photos now?

MacBook Air (2020 or later)

Posted on May 22, 2022 7:16 PM

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léonie

Level 10

200,519 points

Posted on May 22, 2022 10:36 PM

You can selectively restore your Photos Library from a Time Machine backup.

Connect the old backup drive to your Mac. Open your Pictures folder on your Mac in the Finder.
When you launch Time Machine Time, hold down the options key ⌥. Select to "Browse other backups", if you are now using a different Time Machine volume.
In the Time Tunnel display click the time line to the right to go back to the time, when you saved your Photos Library. Open the Pictures folder in Time Machine window and select the Photos Library and click "restore". If you are having a new Photos Library with the same name on your Mac, that you do not want to overwrite, rename it before you restore the old library.

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Retrieving photos from time machine

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