Restoring Time Machine backup from erased iMac to new account on MacBook Air

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Level 1

35 points

Restoring Time Machine backup from erased iMac to new account on MacBook Air

I needed to let my late wife's computer (iMac) go, so I backed it up and verified the backup and then (stupid me) erased the iMac and then created an admin account on my MacBook Air. When I try to restore the backup to her new account, Time Machine only shows my backups, not hers. I can't even see the TM account on the drive I used, it only shows my backups. The iMac is erased and has gone to my grandson. Any thoughts?

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: I backuped up my wife's computer and tried to restore the backup to a new account on my computer

MacBook Air 15″

Posted on Aug 19, 2025 9:47 AM

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Answer 1

John Galt

Level 10

153,784 points

Aug 19, 2025 5:05 PM in response to John Beaty

Am I to understand that you used one backup drive to back up two separate Macs?

You can do that but it's not ideal. Suggest booting macOS Recovery and choose Restore from Time Machine. Depending on the particular macOS version had been running on your late wife's iMac when it was last backed up, you may be able to choose her User Account to restore:

How to start up from macOS Recovery - Apple Support

Restore your Mac from a backup - Apple Support

You will require her User Name and password, as well as the password used to encrypt that backup (if you chose encryption).

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Answer 2

John Galt

Level 10

153,784 points

Aug 20, 2025 9:48 AM in response to John Beaty

When you boot Recovery and select Restore from Time Machine it will ask you for an Account to restore. It will not overwrite the contents of another User Account.

Two caveats, the first of which reflects a personal bias against using any non-Apple NAS for Time Machine backups. I have tried and failed to find a reliable non-Apple NAS solution. Specifically, I experienced 100% failures attempting restore a Mac's entire contents. It never worked. So that's why I don't use them, and can't provide much in the way of assistance with your particular TM installation.

The second caveat is related to that. Don't rely upon one and only one backup. Given your valid concerns I recommend obtaining at least one, simple, inexpensive, "slow" USB hard disk drive and creating a separate backup for the present contents of your MacBook Air. Then, you are free to experiment without concerns for its contents.

You can add as many redundant backup disks as you wish.

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Answer 3

John Beaty Author

Level 1

35 points

Aug 20, 2025 8:39 AM in response to John Galt

Yes, I back up both accounts to a NAS with separate TM folders. It has worked well for us so far, but once this is solved I have no need to keep it going.

What I'm concerned about is erasing my entire computer: that mustn't happen. When I do recovery, is that only for her account? Or will it recover her account overwriting the whole machine?

How do I boot into macOS Recovery just for her account?

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Answer 4

Aug 20, 2025 8:50 AM in response to John Beaty

cie vous plas

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