Therefore, regularly, and even continually, connecting an external hard disk to a Mac provides Time Machine with the best chance to recover even a single missing file, when needed. Note that, to work well, Time Machine must regularly perform a backup of your Mac’s contents. Time Machine will place a copy of the file back in that location and return the Mac to regular operation. Click the Restore button to complete the recovery action. For example, if the file was previously stored on the Desktop, click on Desktop and using the provided up/down arrows, return Time Machine to the date and time the file was present, as shown in Figure C.įigure C Time Machine provides the ability to essentially go back in time and view snapshots of the state of your Mac’s hard disk, thereby enabling individual file recovery. Using the provided Time Machine Finder window, navigate to the location of the file you wish to restore. If the Time Machine icon doesn’t appear within the status menu portion of the macOS menu bar, enable the icon by opening System Preferences, clicking Time Machine and checking the Show Time Machine in Menu Bar box, as shown in Figure B.įigure B Selecting the checkbox prompts macOS to display Time Machine within the menu bar.Īfter clicking on Time Machine, choose Enter Time Machine from the resulting menu. With the external backup drive connected to your Mac, locate the Time Machine icon within the macOS menu bar, as shown within Figure A.įigure A Mac users can access Time Machine from the macOS menu bar. Here’s how you can perform the same steps.

Rather than having to locate and then download the file in question (an internet crime report), again, I recovered the single lost file using Time Machine.

SEE: Feature comparison: Time tracking software and systems (TechRepublic Premium) I subsequently lost a needed file: 2021_IC3Report.pdf, previously parked on my desktop, as a result. I’d enabled iCloud Drive’s Desktop and Documents Folders backup but changed my mind before the corresponding synchronization could complete. Recently, I needed Time Machine to assist recovering from a self-induced error. ICloud Usage Policy (TechRepublic Premium) How to boost your iPhone’s battery chargeĬlean your Mac before you break down and buy a new one Fortunately, Time Machine users regularly backing up their Macs should be able to recover a single file quickly and with minimum disruption. Other times a document, download, spreadsheet or other content simply goes missing. Here's how to use it to restore an individual file. If you use macOS Time Machine, recovering a file may require only a few clicks. How to recover an individual macOS file using Time MachineĮver lose a file on your Mac? Maybe it was there but now it's gone.

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