Backup from Time Capsule

[Serge88]

I want to restore my Macbook Air from my Time Capsule. I put my MBA in recovery mode choose TC and choose a back up from september 2023 then I got a warning, "You must use Migration Assistant to transfer data from this backup...Reinstall Macos and use Migration Assistant".
I'm surprise because I thought Time machine backup everything, data and Macos. Also when Migration restore data, does it restore everything ? apps from Homebrew, data in hidden folder ?

 

[Mike Boreham]

I want to restore my Macbook Air from my Time Capsule. I put my MBA in recovery mode choose TC and choose a back up from september 2023 then I got a warning, "You must use Migration Assistant to transfer data from this backup...Reinstall Macos and use Migration Assistant".
I'm surprise because I thought Time machine backup everything, data and Macos. Also when Migration restore data, does it restore everything ? apps from Homebrew, data in hidden folder ?

No, since the System volume became a separate immutable signed sealed volume Time Machine only backs up the Data volume which has absolutely every bit and byte you have ever added to the machine...apps, settings, homebrew etc.
Quickest and easiest way on a silicon or T2 Mac is to use Erase All Data and Settings, which wipes the Data volume, leaves the SSV and reboots the machine in Setup Assistant, in which you can chose your TM backup to migrate from.

 

[Serge88]

OK thanks, that's interesting because it means I don't need to reinstall MacOS, just erase the data and import data from a previous backup.