Move only select files from Time Machine to new Mac

Question

Move only select files from Time Machine to new Mac

Hi there!

I just got a new MacBook Pro and want to move only certain files from my last Mac's time machine onto my new machine. Migration Assistant seems to only allow migration of categories of data- not select files, for example a particular Logic Pro project.

When I try another method- to enter the old Time Machine drive manually on my new Mac, I'm having trouble locating such files. Could that be because the old Mac was running a previous OS?

Thanks for your help

Posted on Jun 23, 2022 7:22 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Luis Sequeira1

Level 9

64,718 points

Jun 23, 2022 8:24 AM in response to grabbingatair

Are you trying to navigate the Time Machine drive directly in the Finder? Don't.

Hold down the Option key and from the Time Machine menu in the menu bar, choose Browse Other Backup Disks...

and choose the one you want. Then you will access to the usual TM interface to navigate your backup and copy files from there to your working drive.

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Answer 2

Jun 23, 2022 9:12 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Thanks Luis! Strangely, when I enter the old backup disk, I see the regular TM interface but it doesn't show the backups from my previous Mac. instead it shows my current Mac's finder, and it doesn't allow me to go back in time- only the current snapshot.

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Answer 3

Jun 23, 2022 9:47 AM in response to grabbingatair

Your screenshot was removed, but I tried doing the same on my mac with and older Time Machine drive. I understand that it does not put the present and old drive side by side, as we might have expected.

However, it is not hard to navigate, either with the Time Machine interface or using the Finder directly.

I have to revise my previous advice.

Is you know that the files you want were in the last backup in that drive, just use the Finder:

1) Click the backup drive in a Finder window Sidebar

2) Navigate down Backups.backupd>(Computer Name)>Date>Macintosh HD-Data>Users>(yourname)>....

and find the files you want. There will be the usual folders: Pictures, Music, Desktop, Documents...

3) Copy to your working drive

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Answer 4

PRP_53

Level 10

85,207 points

Jun 23, 2022 7:42 AM in response to grabbingatair

Restore items backed up with Time Machine on Mac - Apple Support (CA)

MacOS Monterey should be able to see a Time Machine Backup on a HFS Journaled Drive ( older computer drive formats )

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Answer 5

Jun 23, 2022 10:00 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Solved! Thanks so much Luis- that did the trick: just navigating from finder.

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Move only select files from Time Machine to new Mac

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