How to Restore Mac Outlook using Time Machine

How I completed restoration for Mac Outlook using time machine and Mac's native programs (not 3rd party apps). This may take you 1 hour learning how to do, and 2-3 hours for the Mac to complete the job.

I'm writing this to help the community as there is no useful answer to the question in How can I unhide the Library folder in a … - Apple Community

My Mac outlook crashed and automatically copied to a new profile. I spent 30 mins waiting for it and cancelled, thereby needing to pull from Time Machine. The good news is Time Machine backs up Outlook folders, contrary to what Apple Advisors generally know.

Things you'll need :

i) Time machine (on Mac)

ii) Time machine (on External HDD)

Step 1. Use Disk Utility and run first aid to check that the disc is working fine.

Ensure you quit Outlook through the steps.

Step 2. Using Finder, you can retrieve the MAC outlook in either time machines.

Find Library on i) : Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvOkw3Qhun8

Find Library on ii) : How can I unhide the Library folder in a … - Apple Community

a) my path in both was /Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346g9.Office/Outlook

Step 3. As the above a) path was corrupted in Mac, replace it using Time Machine

I renamed the file Outlook to Outlook Corrupted (leave the copy in case backup is unsuccessful so it can be renamed back).

Step 4. Copy FOLDER from Time machine

and replicate into MAC library e.g. /Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346g9.Office/Outlook

Outlook seems to point to Outlook (and the path) automatically

Step 5. Set the main profile as default and open outlook

Taken off "https://www.kingcomputer.com.au/mac-fix-outlook-2019-or-office-365-or-corrupted-database-when-repair-fails-and-opens-a-new-profile/"

Finder, open Applications folder.

Right-click Microsoft Outlook, select Show Package Contents.

Open Contents > SharedSupport, and then launch Outlook Profile Manager.

set the main profile as default

Open outlook

Whereas I pulled my data from ii) and MAC spent 3 hours importing 200,000 files from HDD. You will not want to do anything on your Mac so that it can dedicate the job. Turn on the AC so it won't slow down due to heat.

In retrospect, I should have used the latest profile from i) instead of pulling backup from ii)

To get the latest profile, you'll need to use terminal in order to identify and copy it. I lost the guide and will include here if I come across it (I backed-up from ii too so I don't know if this will work though).

Step 6. Opened Outlook, it worked, went back to /Library to delete Outlook Corrupted.

Recommended steps for a hygienic outlook :

1. Use SDD HDD for your External HDD. Buy a SDD if you have to.
2. Keep your outlook attachments as small as possible. Use smallpdf or whatever.
3. Remove duplicates. Backing up from 500 duplicate files, each 2GB will prolong your pain.
4. Keep big files on Mac, not outlook. Get rid of large files. This can be sorted using Smart Folders and Size.
5. Time Machine backup constantly.

Step 7. Let me know if you backed up from i) Mac's own Time Machine instead of the external drive.

Post will be edited as corrections will be made.

Thanks and good luck.