Why Can't I See My Time Machine Backup on Mac? How to Fix It?

Do you use Time Machine on your Mac? For the uninitiated, its importance to Mac users is unparalleled. It's a built-in backup feature that lets users automatically back up their personal data. This means you can now repair or format your system without fear of losing everything.

Time Machine backups reside on an external disk connected to the device. You can view and restore Time Machine backups from the menu bar. However, in certain situations, users have reported that their Time Machine backup is not showing up on Mac.

If your Time Machine backup is not showing and the Time Machine restore option is grayed out, don't worry! This article covers 4 tried-and-tested methods to fix this issue.

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Why is Time Machine backup not visible?

There are a few reasons why your Time Machine backup might not be visible, including:

• ❌ Incomplete Driver: If your Mac doesn't recognize an external hard drive set as a Time Machine backup disk, your Time Machine backups will be invisible.
• ⛔ Connectivity Issues: Faulty connections between the backup disk and your device can cause this error; for example, if the external hard drive isn't showing up on Mac Ventura due to connection problems. You need to ensure that the connection is secure.
• ❎ Wrong Backup Disk: Check if you've connected the wrong drive to your device. If Time Machine selects the wrong backup disk, it won't be visible.
• ⚠️ Unable to Mount Backup Disk: If your Mac can't mount the disk (referring to the backup drive) on your Mac, Time Machine won't be able to locate it. In such cases, the backup will remain invisible.
• ?$ Corrupted Backup Disk: A virus attack, software issues, or physical damage can corrupt the backup disk, making it unrecognizable by Time Machine.
• ?$ Accidental Formatting: It's crucial to understand that formatting your MacBook Pro erases all data from the drive.

In this case, you need to resort to a powerful data recovery tool like Data Recovery Wizard for Mac Pro to get your data back. It can recover formatted hard drive on Mac, fix a damaged hard drive, and even restore permanently deleted files without Time Machine backup.

Moreover, when your Time Machine fails to work, the Mac data recovery software can also assist you in backing up important data.

Read next: How to schedule Time Machine backups

How to Fix: Time Machine Backup Not Visible on Mac

There are several approaches you can take to resolve the issue of Time Machine backups not showing up. Before diving into them, however, it's essential to check the following four items first:

1. Verify disk connection: First, ensure the disk is properly connected. If there's an issue with the connection, the Time Machine backup drive won't appear.
2. Review Time Machine settings: It's crucial to check your Time Machine settings. Make sure no options have been altered or disabled.
3. Check network connectivity: Both your Mac and the backup drive need to be on the same network. If not, Time Machine won't be able to connect to the backup drive.
4. Update macOS: Go to the App Store and update your Mac, ensuring it's running the latest version. This might resolve the issue of the Time Machine backup being invisible.

Fix 1: Recover a deleted Time Machine backup

If you can't find your Time Machine backup on Mac, it might be because you accidentally deleted it. But don't worry! You can recover deleted Time Machine backup with the help of Mac data recovery software.

Moreover, with the Data Recovery Wizard for Mac Pro tool, you can recover deleted files on Mac without Time Machine. Follow these 3 steps to restore your crucial data:

Note: You can create a backup of your Mac first by clicking "Disk Backup" on the left. The software will recover deleted files from the backup image, which prevents further damage to your disk and data, making it safer and more reliable.

Step one: Choose a location and scan it.

Launch Data Recovery Wizard for Mac and select the disk where you lost your data. Click “Find Lost Files” to start scanning.

Step 2: Preview and select the lost files

After the scan, you can use the file type filter on the left or in the top-right corner to find the deleted files you need.

Step 3: Recover Lost Data or Files

You can double-click a file to preview its content or select multiple files for recovery at once. Click “Recover” to restore the lost data to your local or cloud drive.

Solution 2: Restart your Mac in Safe Mode

Safe Mode is a great feature on a Mac that allows users to determine if an issue is being caused by software that loads when the system starts up. In this mode, only the basics are started up, allowing for detection and repair of problems.

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The steps for entering Safe Mode vary depending on your device model.

To restart your Intel-based Mac in Safe Mode, follow these steps:

Step 1: Restart the system.

Step 2: Hold down the "Shift" key.

Step 3: Hold the key down until you see the login window.

Step 4: Log in to the device.

To restart your Apple Silicon Mac in Safe Mode, follow these steps:

Step 1: Click the Apple menu and choose “Shut Down.”

Step 2. Press and hold the Power button. Release it when you see “Loading startup options.”

Step three: Volume. Hold down the “Shift” key.

Step 4. Click “Continue in Safe Mode.”

Fix 3: Select the Backup Disk Again

Another way to resolve the issue of Time Machine not showing is by reselecting the backup disk. Make sure the backup disk is connected to the system and check if it's mounted in Finder.

To select a different disk, follow these steps:

Step 1: Click the Apple menu and choose “System Preferences.”

Step 2: Select General from the left side.

Step 3. Click on Time Machine preferences on the right.

Step 4: Make sure the Time Machine window shows the backup disk. Select it.

5. Click the “-” next to it, and choose “Remove This Destination.”

Step 6: Click “Add Backup Disk,” and then select it. You might be asked to enter a password, if necessary.

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Fix 4: Run First Aid to repair the Time Machine drive

Another way to resolve an issue where Time Machine isn't showing up is to run First Aid. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Open the Disk Utility app > Utilities folder

Step 2: Select the disk from the left sidebar and click “First Aid.”

Run First Aid on your Mac

Step 3: Click “Run” to check the disk.

If the First Aid process failed or you see the "First Aid found issues that need to be repaired" message, don't worry! This article will help you fix the issue, so read on.

That is not to say that the US should abandon its principled stance on human rights and democracy.

What should I do if First Aid detects errors that need repair?

This article will guide you on how to fix errors detected by First Aid. Read more >>

Fix 5: Remount the Time Machine Drive

If the disk isn't mounted on your Mac, that could be why your Time Machine backups aren't showing up. To fix this, you'll need to remount the drive. Here's how:

Step 1: Open the Disk Utility application > Utilities folder

Step 2: Click on “View,” then select “Show all devices.”

Click to show all devices.

Step 3: Select the volume that contains the backup.

Step 4: Click on the "Load" button. If you see "Unload," click that twice instead.

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Conclusions

Can't find Time Machine backup? Well, there could be multiple reasons behind the Can't see Time Machine backup error on Mac. Luckily, there are multiple solutions to apply. You can check the connection, restart the system safely, run First Aid, and more.

However, in case of data loss, you must seek the help of professional data recovery software like Data Recovery Wizard for Mac Pro. This tool can quickly retrieve your data, regardless of the reason for its loss. The software can restore audio, video, photos, emails, and more.

"Frequently Asked Questions: 'Time Machine Backup Not Visible on Mac'"

For more information about Time Machine backups not appearing on your Mac, read the questions and answers below:

1. How can I view backups on my Mac?

To view a backup on your Mac, go to Time Machine in the menu bar, and choose Browse Time Machine Backups. Use the arrows and timeline to browse your backups.

2. Why can't I see my Time Machine backups?

There can be several reasons why you can't see Time Machine backups, including disk damage, backup disk errors, connectivity issues, network problems, incomplete or accidentally formatted drivers, and more.

Where did my Time Machine backup go?

Click the Time Machine menu bar icon and use the arrows and timeline to browse your backups.

4. Does Time Machine delete older backups?

Yes, Time Machine does delete older backups. However, this only happens when your disk space is running low. If you don't want to lose your backups, you can transfer them to another external drive.

5. How do I enable Time Machine backups on my Mac?

Go to the "Time Machine" option to enable Time Machine backups on your Mac. Select the external storage device that you want to use as your backup drive. Click the "Add" button or select the disk to back up to. Follow the on-screen instructions.