Unable to view previous Time Machine backups on Mac

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Unable to view previous Time Machine backups on Mac

I have my backups on an external LACIE drive and on my Mac Pro 2017 - running on Ventura. I have lost quite a number of files, so have been trying to find them in both areas. When looking on my Pro, it will only show me on TODAY, & its not letting me see previous back ups, whilst on the LACIE it shows me a few backups - but I cannot find what I am looking for.

Any idea how I can please - Im not very tech savvy, but I have been searching for hours now!

Many thanks

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Seeing Time Machine backups

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 13.7

Posted on Oct 11, 2025 6:19 AM

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Answer 1

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John Galt

Level 10

154,868 points

Oct 11, 2025 11:09 AM in response to Karen1411

I understand some files have gone missing. Basic instructions for restoring items from a Time Machine backup drive are here: Restore items backed up with Time Machine on Mac - Apple Support. It's fairly comprehensive.

I am not quite sure what you mean by having backups in two different places though. Are you attempting to restore files from a single backup drive, or...?

It is also possible that more than one set of backups exist on that one backup drive. To eliminate the possibility of that, press and hold an Option key while selecting the Time Machine icon in your Mac's menu bar. A previously unseen "Browse Other Backup Disks..." option will appear. Select it. If a separate set of backups exists on that disk, select it and determine if it contains backups of your lost files.

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