In this modern world, data is considered the most valuable asset. It is seen as a digital asset. It is not incorrect to say that this digital asset has the power to ruin everything if it gets lost. You must take periodic backups of your smartphones and laptops to prevent such an event.
Taking about Mac, with your backups at bay, you can restore your data and start from where you left off. There are some quick solutions to achieve this. Let’s check out how to restore Mac from backup.
4 Quick Ways to Restore Mac Data from Backups
1] Restore Files using the Time Machine
The first approach of most users is to restore Mac from Time Machine backup. The beauty of Time Machine is that after the first backup, it takes a backup of only the changes made to files for subsequent backups, making the process much faster. To restore individual files, you can follow the steps below.
- Attach your external hard drive to your Mac.
- Hit the Command + Space bar to launch Spotlight. Otherwise, click the magnifying glass icon.
- Type ‘Time Machine’ and hit Enter.
- Navigate through the results and click on the file you want to restore.
2] Restore MacOS using Time Machine and Migration Assistant
Another aspect is to restore Mac from Time Machine backup in case your macOS malfunctions for some unknown reason. In such an event, you can use Migration Assistant, a built-in utility, to restore your MacOS to an earlier date when it worked fine.
- Go to the Utilities folder and open Migration Assitant from there.
- An introductory window for Migration Assitant will pop up. Tap on the ‘Continue’ button to proceed.
- Several options will be listed for restoring backup. Choose the option with Time Machine.
- Attach your external hard drive to your Mac.
- Restore the earlier backup by choosing the desired backup file.
Note: Restoring to a previous date backup will delete those files that were not backed up after the last backup activity.
3] Restore Data to the New Mac from the Time Machine
If you have purchased a new Mac and want to transfer all your data there or have set up your current Mac from scratch, you can do it with a few clicks. The process is straightforward.
- Turn on your new Mac.
- Plug your external hard drive with it.
- Upon starting the Mac, it will ask if you want to transfer data. Choose the option that has Time Machine.
- Let it restore the backup.
4] Restore Mac Data from iCloud
One thing to note is that iCloud does not back up everything. It backs up data of photos, videos, app data, calendars, contacts, and notes. To restore Mac from iCloud backup, follow these steps.
- Launch a web browser of your choice.
- Log into your iCloud account.
- Navigate to the data recovery option.
- Select the data type that you want to restore, like contacts, files, or bookmarks.
- Select the file and restore.
Conclusion
Safeguarding data is crucial, as it lets you bring your old data back into your Mac and can save you a lot of trouble. Luckily, there are a couple of options to restore data to your Mac, depending on what you want to restore. We have explained every possibility and the steps you can follow. You can use the methods explained above and get your Mac started with the data with just a few clicks.
