My MacBook Air is playing up and I'd like to use it via my external hard drive on an different Mac. When I plug in I only see all the backed up folders, but can't seem to access the backed up Mac. Any ideas what I'm not getting?
MacBook Air 13″, macOS 13.5
Here is what another contributor suggested if you are trying to access a Time Machine Backup from another Mac:
Access time machine backup from another Mac -- @Linc Davis - Apple Community
courtesy of the original contributor @Linc Davis:
Hold down the option key and select
Browse Other Backup Disks...
from the Time Machine menu in the menu bar. The menu icon looks like a clock running backwards. If you don't have that menu, open the Time Machine preference pane and check the box marked
Show Time Machine in menu bar
Here is what another contributor suggested if you are trying to access a Time Machine Backup from another Mac:
Access time machine backup from another Mac -- @Linc Davis - Apple Community
courtesy of the original contributor @Linc Davis:
Hold down the option key and select
Browse Other Backup Disks...
from the Time Machine menu in the menu bar. The menu icon looks like a clock running backwards. If you don't have that menu, open the Time Machine preference pane and check the box marked
Show Time Machine in menu bar
Let's start with: Are these backups on this external drive, Time Machine backups?
If so, your "different" Mac will not have the necessary permissions to directly access this drive by using the Finder.
Typically to access these TM backups, with a Mac that did not create them, is to use the Migration Assistant.
Is the MacBook Air still functional? If so, you may be better off by just copying the files that you need to another external drive, and then, access them from this drive with your other Mac.
Migration Assistant is pretty much an "all or nothing" means of transferring data between Macs.
You also haven't provided us with the exact models (& respective macOS versions) each of these Macs are. This would be helpful to see what potential options you would have.
Ah, thanks Tesseray, yes, they are Time Machine backups.
When I open Migration Assistant on the older Mac will it then automatically wipe out all the data that's on the old one to use the back up?
I don't really want to transfer ALL the data.... to the other hard drive (not enough space)...
thanks, yes, the MacAirbook (Retina, 13-inch, 2018, 1.6 GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i5) is still operating, but today funny flirring lines appeared on the screen and worried me.
Since I have three big work days coming up, I thought I'd play safe and try if I can work from my older Mac (MacbookAir 13 inch Mid 2013), - whilst using the back up for all my log ins etc.
Ok, I still think you should just copy the files you need from your 2018 MBA to another external drive, or even just a USB stick ... and then, just access them from your older MBA.
Once you get past these work days, we can assist you with troubleshooting your 2018 Mac. Lines on the display can be caused by a number of things, but do not necessarily mean a pending hardware failure.
ok, thank you very much Tesserax! at the moment the fuzzy lines are gone....
You're very welcome!
How to access Mac back up from external hard drive
