Backups are great, not only can they be used to restore your whole system, they can also be used to restore deleted or older versions of files!
This guide will take you through the steps to Restore a File with Time Machine:
Opening Time Machine
1. The first thing you will want to do will be to plug your backup drive into your Mac if its not already connected.
2. Navigate to the last location on your mac where the file you would like to restore was (in this example, we are starting from the Desktop). Once you are in the correct location, click the Time Machine logo in the upper right hand corner of the screen:
3. Choose the Enter Time Machine option from the menu that opens:
In Time Machine
1. You will now be in Time Machine, the place you start will be the same place you start will be the same place you were when you opened Time Machine:
If this is not the location you want to be in, you can use the Navigation bar on the left to pick your location:
2. Once you are in your desired location in Time Machine you can either use the Up and Down arrows to the right of the window to scroll through one day at a time, or, if you know the general date you last saw the file, you can use the Date bar on the far right of the screen:
Up and down arrows:
Date bar:
3. Once you have located the file, click on it to select it, and then click Restore:
4. You will see an animation while your file is restored, after which, you will be back on your Mac and the folder where the file is located will be open:
That's it, you have now restored a file using Time Machine.
