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All iPads DESPERATELY NEED HELP: How to access Time Machine?

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BeautifulWoman_1984

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Original poster
Sep 5, 2016
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Hey guys,

I didn't want to make a thread on this but I've searched the Internet and I can't get a concrete answer...

I desperately want to access my Time Machine 1TB USB HDD that has all of my Mac Mini mid2011's files on it. I have an old iPad Mini 3 and a new iPad. How can I access Time Machine?

I don't have another Mac computer available so this is why it's a desperate problem...😭

Thank you for any advice!
 
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if what you are trying to do is get files from your old Mac Mini to one of your iPads, that's not something that Time Machine was designed to do. If you have no access to any Mac to restore from your last TM backup, I might suggest going to the Genius Bar at an Apple Store (Best Buy might work if you have no Apple Store near you) and seeing if they can restore a Genius Bar computer to your old backup, grabbing what files you need to an external then using the Files app on the iPad to import them. (Or pethaps using AirDrop if it's not a while lot of files.) However for security reasons, it might not be something they will do.
 
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OP, have you connected the external HD to the iPads, if so, see if the volume gets mounted in the files app. If I remember correctly the file structure of the HD should be visible hence you might be able to get to the file.
 
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I'm in the out-of-luck club, as OP said Mac Mini 2011, so that's HFS+ format, which Files will not support.

Note: A USB drive must have only a single data partition, and it must be formatted as FAT, FAT32, exFAT (FAT64), or APFS. To change the formatting of a USB drive, use a Mac or PC.
Click to expand...

Connect external storage devices to iPad

On iPad, use files stored on USB storage devices and SD cards.
support.apple.com
 
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Time Machine works only for macOS. Information cannot be pulled from a TM backup onto an iPad.

DON'T reformat the HD you're using for the Time Machine! That'll erase everything.
 
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iPad doesn’t support retrieving files made by Time Machine. And even if the file is magically visible on your iPad you would still not be able to get anything from it because files are not stored in “human readable” way.

You must have a Mac to get your files back. There’s no way around it.
 
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BeautifulWoman_1984 said:
Thanks so much for your replies!

While I was searching I came across this article. Would this be of help to me?

Link:

Easily Browse your Time Capsule Files with iPad / iPhone

Easily connect to your Apple Time Capsule with your iPhone / iPad. Browse your files and folders with ease with FileBrowser. Follow our guide.
www.stratospherix.com www.stratospherix.com
Click to expand...
Sadly no. This is for a regular file access to a network-attached storage (which a Time Capsule is).

Time Machine uses its own format to store files and their incremental changes as they happen which enables the whole ‘going back in time’ feature so the only thing that will let you read it is another Mac.
 
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dsusanj said:
Sadly no. This is for a regular file access to a network-attached storage (which a Time Capsule is).

Time Machine uses its own format to store files and their incremental changes as they happen which enables the whole ‘going back in time’ feature so the only thing that will let you read it is another Mac.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your reply dsusanj.

The most recent MacOS I have running here is only High Sierra.

I'm so confused on which MacOS versions can't access Time Machine.

Could someone please explain this?
 
It seems that it's necessary to have 2 Macs running to be able to make full use of Time Machine?

It sucks that iPads are unable to access Time Machine...😭
😭😭
 
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Is my best bet now to buy another Mac desktop and try to access the Time Machine from there?

Do I need to worry about MacOSX compatibility because this Mac Mini mid2011 can only run High Sierra as the latest MacOSX 😭😭😭😭😭
 
Mr_Brightside_@ said:
Are you actively trying to restore files, or just browse?
Click to expand...
Thank you for your reply Mr_Brightside. I know I can always count on you for technical help!

At the moment I'd just be happy to browse the files.

I have 2 500gb USB HDDs here that I can use. Will they help in any way?? 😭😭
 
BeautifulWoman_1984 said:
Thank you for your reply Mr_Brightside. I know I can always count on you for technical help!

At the moment I'd just be happy to browse the files.

I have 2 500gb USB HDDs here that I can use. Will they help in any way?? 😭😭
Click to expand...
I don’t follow. Is there a Time Machine backup currently on a hard drive of yours?
Does it not work with High Sierra?
 
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Browsing an old TM archive should be possible- I've done it myself more than once in the past. So first, I would not be overly worried about being able to get to your files. As long as the TM drive is stable and not damaged, you should be able to get at them.

As others are offering, I think there's nothing for your iPad to do, so you are going to need access to a Mac. Borrow? Maybe a friend has one? Maybe a local library or school has one that can be publicly used? Maybe there's one at work?

Through a Mac, I recall that I could use Finder to get into the space where the TM backup is stored. And then it was click or maybe double click to "open" the "sparse bundle." Maybe that was 2 clicks or 2 double clicks to get all the way in. Inside that is the files, directly accessible, as if they are in any other HDD or SSD or USB storage made on a Mac.

You have to be VERY CAREFUL when you are doing direct access to not alter your TM backup. Instead of moving anything OUT, select and COPY anything you want to have available on that iPad onto another drive or USB storage. If this other storage is formatted so iPad can access it, the Files app should be able to access it too.

If in doubt, take the drive to an Apple Store and get their help. They should know exactly how to get at the files, copy them to other storage (or iCloud) and then access them on your iPad.
 
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Not sure why this thread revived from 2022, but it does look like some information that was initially shared may have changed over that time, and you may be in luck.

1) The Files app on iPadOS does support HFS+ formatted drives and APFS drives, so whatever format your Time Machine drive is in is supported.

2) There should be no problem browsing the file structure of your old Time Machine backup and restoring files by copying to a new location. Not sure why this was ever in question, I've done this with Time Machine backups for as long as they've existed.

3) The only issue I really can see you running into is power - iPad may not put out enough power to spin up your drive, depending on the iPad and depending on the drive. If this is the case, you should be able to attach it via a powered USB-C dock / hub.
 
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redpandadev said:
Not sure why this thread revived from 2022, but it does look like some information that was initially shared may have changed over that time, and you may be in luck.

1) The Files app on iPadOS does support HFS+ formatted drives and APFS drives, so whatever format your Time Machine drive is in is supported.

2) There should be no problem browsing the file structure of your old Time Machine backup and restoring files by copying to a new location. Not sure why this was ever in question, I've done this with Time Machine backups for as long as they've existed.

3) The only issue I really can see you running into is power - iPad may not put out enough power to spin up your drive, depending on the iPad and depending on the drive. If this is the case, you should be able to attach it via a powered USB-C dock / hub.
Click to expand...
Have iPad 5th generation IOS 18.1 and I could access Time Machine backup from 5T Seagate HD w/no external power . Saved me as my iMac died after I was able to do a full back up! Just needed USB adapter cable.
 
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