User profile for user: damianapple
damianapple Author
User level: Level 1
97 points

Can I use a Mac OS Extended (Journaled) Time Machine backup to set up a new MacBook Air on Big Sur?

I've been backing up my 2013 MacBook Pro (which is running Catalina) to an external hard drive in the Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format.


The old laptop has just died so I'm looking to get a new MacBook Air which will obviously run Big Sur, but I'm getting confused by all the talk about the new format it uses for Time Machine.


Main question: can I set up the new laptop and restore all my old files using my existing backup?


If yes - can I then continue to use that external hard drive to backup the new laptop? (Or will I have to format it and start again? That's problematic because I have other files on the HDD... not an insurmountable challenge, but a bit annoying.)

Posted on Mar 31, 2021 1:49 AM

Reply
Question marked as ⚠️ Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: Owl-53
Owl-53
User level: Level 10
96,519 points

Posted on Mar 31, 2021 1:59 AM

Move your content to a new Mac - it should work as HFS Journaled is readable / writable in the New M1 CPU of Apple.


As for using the same drive post migration as the Time Machine backup - firstly remove the Non- Time Machine Backup files from the drive to some other reliable drive. Once done - when you setup Time Machine Backup on the New machine - it ( TM ) will automatically Convert the drive format from HFS to APFS and everything on the drive will be lost and can not be retrieved.


View in context

Similar questions

1 reply
Sort By: 
Question marked as ⚠️ Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: Owl-53
Owl-53
User level: Level 10
96,519 points

Mar 31, 2021 1:59 AM in response to damianapple

Move your content to a new Mac - it should work as HFS Journaled is readable / writable in the New M1 CPU of Apple.


As for using the same drive post migration as the Time Machine backup - firstly remove the Non- Time Machine Backup files from the drive to some other reliable drive. Once done - when you setup Time Machine Backup on the New machine - it ( TM ) will automatically Convert the drive format from HFS to APFS and everything on the drive will be lost and can not be retrieved.


Reply

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Can I use a Mac OS Extended (Journaled) Time Machine backup to set up a new MacBook Air on Big Sur?

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