Time Machine, More Than Just A Backup

ByMike Moffit

With Apple’s Time Machine utility, backing up data is as easy as flipping a switch. When configured properly, Time Machine will perform automatic backups of a Mac to storage devices such as connected external hard drives or networked Apple Time Capsules and macOS servers. These backups can be extremely valuable in the event that a Mac’s internal hard drive fails. However, the Time Machine utility provides some great additional features other than just preventing data loss. The Time Machine utility also provides the ability to view and restore the contents of a Mac’s filesystem through Apple’s familiar Finder file management interface just as it was hours, days, weeks and months into the past.

By entering Time Machine through the Time Machine menu, one is able to navigate through snapshots of their Mac’s files with the timeline bar. While in Time Machine, specific files can be viewed and restored to the way they were at specific times in the past. This feature is particularly valuable for understanding how a specific file, or a Mac’s entire filesystem, has changed over time. For example, if one wanted to know how exactly they filled up their internal hard drive so fast and are now running out of storage space, the answer could be found with Time Machine by navigating the past of their Mac’s filesystem and viewing the files being added through time.

Time machine can also be utilized to restore specific files to the way that they were at precise times in the past that have since been edited. This could be extremely useful for the writer, musician, or filmmaker that wants to restore their project’s draft to an earlier working version. Because Time Machine is an automatic backup application that runs in the background, it is hard to know when it is operating correctly and backing up your data. By frequently using these additional features one can quickly verify if Time Machine is working correctly and better understand the evolution of their Mac’s filesystem as time progresses. 

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    Patrick McCormack
    “patrickm@smalldog.com”:mailto:patrickm@smalldog.com