Time Machine & New iMac

Hello danpink,

Thank you for posting. I see you have a question about Time Machine, and I'm happy to help.

If I understand correctly, you want to set up a new Mac with a Time Machine backup from a previous Mac, and it sounds like you want to preserve your old backups and continuing using the same external drive on the new Mac; is that right?

The best way to set up the new Mac would be with the steps in this link: How to move your content to a new Mac

Regarding the backup history, it would depend on whether you're going to continue using the old Mac. Here's some helpful information from the resource titled If your new Mac inherits your backup history:

"You can move the backup history from one Mac to another, but after the new Mac “inherits” the backup history, you can’t use the backup history on the original Mac.

You’re asked to specify whether you want a new Mac to inherit a backup if you do any of the following:

• Use Migration Assistant to transfer your settings from an old Mac to a new one.
• Use Migration Assistant to transfer your settings from a Time Machine backup of an old Mac to a new one.
• Clone the disk you use to start up your Mac, or physically move it from an old Mac to a new Mac.
• Replace your computer’s main logic board.

If you’re replacing an old Mac and want the new Mac to use the backups from the old one, click Inherit Backup.

If you plan to continue to use your old Mac, click Create New Backup to preserve the backup history and start separate backups for the new Mac."

I hope this helps! Take care.

Hello danpink,

We appreciate the reply. That's awesome news. Enjoy the new Mac!