You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

I backed up my old Mac on a G-drive. How do I find documents on it when I connect it to my new Mac?

I backed up my old Mac on a G-drive. How do I find documents on it when I connect it to my new Mac?

iMac 21.5″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Jan 28, 2023 5:53 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jan 28, 2023 6:40 PM

Time Machine is tightly integrated into MacOS so that it can have the access needed to perform backups of everything. Time machine stores the smallest possible amount of additional files possible with each incremental backup, and uses a database it creates with file links to point to older files already on the backup set.


DON'T use Finder on your backup drive. To examine and restore from those backups, you use Time Machine.app (not to be confused with Time machine Preference pane):




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


.

2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jan 28, 2023 6:40 PM in response to lglangstaff1

Time Machine is tightly integrated into MacOS so that it can have the access needed to perform backups of everything. Time machine stores the smallest possible amount of additional files possible with each incremental backup, and uses a database it creates with file links to point to older files already on the backup set.


DON'T use Finder on your backup drive. To examine and restore from those backups, you use Time Machine.app (not to be confused with Time machine Preference pane):




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


.

I backed up my old Mac on a G-drive. How do I find documents on it when I connect it to my new Mac?

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.