Mac storage basics · Disks, APFS and formats
What does Restore do in Disk Utility?
Short answer: It copies the whole contents of one volume or disk image onto another, erasing the destination first. Double-check the destination; use Finder to copy only some folders.
Restore copies the entire contents of one volume (or a disk image) onto another, erasing the destination first. It's useful for making an exact copy of a data drive or writing a disk image to a drive.
Double-check which volume is the destination — everything on it is replaced. To copy only some folders, use Finder instead.