if files are stored in iCloud, does my time machine have them, too?

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Level 1

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if files are stored in iCloud, does my time machine have them, too?

I’m about to get a new MacBook Air, and my current MacBook has hourly Time-Machine backups always being performed. However, not all my files are on my MacBook’s storage drive, as many (ones I haven’t used in a while) are just in my iCloud storage. Will my Time-Machine backup have all my current MacBook files and applications backed up on it, so that when I do my new MacBook's initial setup I can just transfer all my files from my Time-Machine backup to my new Mac? Or, will I have to get get files from both my Time-Machine backup and my iCloud backup, too? TIA!

MacBook Air 11″

Posted on Aug 25, 2023 11:58 AM

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Answer 1

sberman

Level 10

272,436 points

Aug 25, 2023 5:59 PM in response to atobteam1

Be very careful - you mention iCloud backup. iCloud is a place that houses backups for iPhones and iPads. A Mac cannot back up to iCloud.

So what you have is some data you housed in iCloud, that is associated with devices signed in using your Apple ID. Without restoring anything, if you were to sign in to a new Mac using your Apple ID and properly set your iCloud settings (to use, for example, Contacts in iCloud), the data would appear.

The rest of your data should be in your Time Machine backup.

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Answer 2

sberman

Level 10

272,436 points

Aug 26, 2023 9:54 AM in response to atobteam1

There’s a lot of information on this question here.

Optimize storage space on your Mac - Apple Support

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Answer 3

atobteam1 Author

Level 1

35 points

Aug 26, 2023 9:45 AM in response to sberman

Good to hear. Yes, M2: runs cool with no fan: Wow. My mid-2012 MacBook Air runs really hot! And, thanks again.

Related follow up: since my new MacBook Air will have 1 TB, and since my current one has 256 GB, when I sign in to iCloud with my new Mac, will some of my files in iCloud storage come back to reside on my new, 1 TB SSD? Or, will they not reside on my new Mac until I use each one?

Thank you!

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