Time Machine restore from backup on new Macbook

[noobinator]

Just got a new MacBook and when I went to set it up on first boot my old time machine backups were not showing so I set it up fresh.

Now that I got it all set up, I got it to be able to connect to my time capsule where my backups are. When I go into time machine though it is only showing backups from today. My last MacBook I had up until probably a month ago and I was backed up frequently. I can go into the actual time capsule and see the old backup files but I cannot see them in time machine for some reason.

Any ideas how I can restore from my backups on my time capsule that I can see? My old MacBook was on Catalina, a is this new MacBook.

 

[CoastalOR]

You need to get the new Mac to inherit the TM backups from the old Mac. Be aware, if you do the inherit then the old Mac will no longer be able access the TM history form the ol TM backups.

If your new Mac inherits your backup history

If your new Mac “inherits” the backup history from your old Mac, you can’t use that backup history on your old Mac.

support.apple.com

 

[noobinator]

You need to get the new Mac to inherit the TM backups from the old Mac. Be aware, if you do the inherit then the old Mac will no longer be able access the TM history form the ol TM backups.

If your new Mac inherits your backup history

If your new Mac “inherits” the backup history from your old Mac, you can’t use that backup history on your old Mac.

support.apple.com

Thank you. This is helpful knowing what it is called. When I connected my time capsule and set up time machine on my new MacBook it didn't ask me if I wanted to inherit my old backups. Do you know how I can set this up? I'm trying to search online but only finding what to do once it asks, not how to get it to ask you.

 

[CoastalOR]

Thank you. This is helpful knowing what it is called. When I connected my time capsule and set up time machine on my new MacBook it didn't ask me if I wanted to inherit my old backups. Do you know how I can set this up? I'm trying to search online but only finding what to do once it asks, not how to get it to ask you.

The link I provided lists some conditions that you will be asked if you want to "inherit".

I've had it work in earlier macOS (before Catalina) when using the Migration Assistant app in the Application>Utilities folder. A wrinkle might be that it sounds like you already connected the Time Capsule/Time Machine to your new Mac. I would caution you to not use Migration Assistant to migrate your accounts and settings if the old Mac had a same account that you already set up on the new Mac. I've heard of problems when Migration Assistant tries to merge 2 of the same accounts.

I would recommend calling Apple Support for their assistance to see if they have any other suggestions since you have a new Mac.

Apple Support

getsupport.apple.com