How to: Restore your Mac using Time Machine


Instructions

NOTE: If you're looking to restore certain files, you can follow our solution on recovering individual files using Time Machine.

  1. Shut down your Mac.

  2. Once your Mac has shut down completely, press the power button to turn it on. While it's starting up, press and hold the command+R keyboard combination.

    Mac keyboard with the Command and R keys highlighted

  3. Choose Restore From Time Machine Backup. Then, click Continue.

    macOS Utilities window with “Restore From Time Machine Backup” selected and the “Continue” button highlighted

  4. Click Continue.

    Restore from Time Machine window with the “Continue” button highlighted

  5. If you have an encryption password set up on your backup disk, choose your backup and click Unlock. Otherwise, skip to Step 7.

    Select a Restore Source window with the backup disk highlighted and the “Unlock” button selected

  6. Type your backup disk encryption password and click Unlock.

    Password pop-up window with the backup disk password field and the “Unlock” button highlighted

  7. Choose your backup disk and click Continue.

    Select a Restore Source window with the “Backup” disk highlighted and the “Continue” button selected

  8. From the list of backups, pick the one that you wish to restore. Then, click Continue.

    Select a Backup window with multiple backup dates bracketed, one date selected, and the “Continue” button highlighted

  9. If your Mac is encrypted, choose your destination and click Unlock. Otherwise, skip to Step 11.

    Select a Destination window with “Macintosh HD” option selected and the “Unlock” button highlighted

  10. Type your admin credentials and click Unlock.

    Macintosh HD password entry window with the "Password" field and "Unlock" button highlighted

  11. Pick a destination disk and click Restore.

    Select a Destination window with “Macintosh HD” selected and the “Restore” button highlighted

  12. Read the warning. If you agree, click Erase Disk.

    Erase confirmation window with the warning “The disk ‘Macintosh HD’ will be erased” and the “Erase Disk” button highlighted

Outcome

You have restored your Mac from a Time Machine backup.