How to Restore a Mac from a Time Machine Backup

Restore your Mac to a previous state using Time Machine. Follow these steps to recover your files or perform a full system migration from an external drive.

1. Connect the backup drive. Connect your Time Machine backup drive directly to your Mac. If using a network-attached storage device, ensure you are connected to the same local network as the drive.
2. Enter Recovery Mode. Shut down your Mac completely. Press and hold the power button until you see 'Loading startup options' on the screen. Select Options, then click Continue.
3. Launch Migration Assistant. From the macOS Utilities window, select 'Restore from Time Machine' and click Continue. If this option is not visible, select Utilities in the top menu bar, then choose Migration Assistant.
4. Identify the source. Select your external Time Machine drive or network location as the source for the restoration. Click Continue to view available backup snapshots.
5. Choose the restore point. Browse the list of available backups organized by date and time. Select the specific snapshot you wish to restore, then click Continue.
6. Initiate the restoration. Select the destination disk where the backup should be restored. Confirm the operation when prompted and allow the process to complete without interrupting power to the Mac.
7. Restart your Mac. Once the restoration progress bar completes, the system will restart automatically. Log in to your user account to verify that your data has been successfully recovered.