{"id":"mac-storage-basics.how-do-i-restore-a-single-file-from-time-machine","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-restore-a-single-file-from-time-machine","category":{"id":"mac-storage-basics","title":"Mac storage basics"},"subcategory":{"id":"time-machine","title":"Time Machine basics"},"question":"How do I restore one file or an older version from Time Machine?","alt_questions":["restore file time machine","browse time machine backups","get older version of file mac","enter time machine","recover deleted folder time machine"],"short_answer":"Open the folder in Finder, enter Time Machine, go back on the timeline, select the file and click Restore. Recent versions may come from local snapshots.","answer_markdown":"Open a Finder window on the folder where the file was (or is), then enter Time Machine from its menu bar icon or the Time Machine app. Use the timeline on the right to go back to a date, select the file and click **Restore**.\n\nIf a file with the same name exists, macOS asks whether to keep both or replace it. Recent versions may come from local snapshots even if the backup drive isn't connected.","answer_html":"

Open a Finder window on the folder where the file was (or is), then enter Time Machine from its menu bar icon or the Time Machine app. Use the timeline on the right to go back to a date, select the file and click Restore.

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If a file with the same name exists, macOS asks whether to keep both or replace it. Recent versions may come from local snapshots even if the backup drive isn't connected.

","answer_text":"Open a Finder window on the folder where the file was (or is), then enter Time Machine from its menu bar icon or the Time Machine app. Use the timeline on the right to go back to a date, select the file and click Restore.\n\nIf a file with the same name exists, macOS asks whether to keep both or replace it. Recent versions may come from local snapshots even if the backup drive isn't connected.","tags":["time machine","restore","files"],"related":[{"id":"mac-storage-basics.are-local-snapshots-a-backup","question":"Are local snapshots a real backup?","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/are-local-snapshots-a-backup"},{"id":"mac-storage-basics.how-do-i-recover-something-i-deleted-from-the-trash","question":"Can I get back a file after emptying the Trash?","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-recover-something-i-deleted-from-the-trash"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"How do I restore one file or an older version from Time Machine? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"Open the folder in Finder, enter Time Machine, go back on the timeline, select the file and click Restore. Recent versions may come from local snapshots.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Mac storage basics","path":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/"},{"name":"How do I restore one file or an older version from Time Machine?","path":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-restore-a-single-file-from-time-machine"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-restore-a-single-file-from-time-machine","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"How do I restore one file or an older version from Time Machine?","alternateName":["restore file time machine","browse time machine backups","get older version of file mac","enter time machine","recover deleted folder time machine"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Open a Finder window on the folder where the file was (or is), then enter Time Machine from its menu bar icon or the Time Machine app. Use the timeline on the right to go back to a date, select the file and click Restore.\n\nIf a file with the same name exists, macOS asks whether to keep both or replace it. Recent versions may come from local snapshots even if the backup drive isn't connected.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-restore-a-single-file-from-time-machine"}}]},"fragment":"
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Mac storage basics · Time Machine basics

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How do I restore one file or an older version from Time Machine?

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Short answer: Open the folder in Finder, enter Time Machine, go back on the timeline, select the file and click Restore. Recent versions may come from local snapshots.

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Open a Finder window on the folder where the file was (or is), then enter Time Machine from its menu bar icon or the Time Machine app. Use the timeline on the right to go back to a date, select the file and click Restore.

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If a file with the same name exists, macOS asks whether to keep both or replace it. Recent versions may come from local snapshots even if the backup drive isn't connected.

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Last reviewed

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