How to backup and restore /opt with Time Machine on macOS High Sierra?
I have an old MacBook Pro running High Sierra. Time Machine backs up /Users
but not /opt
.
The Time Machine preferences let me exclude directories, but does not let me add directories that I want to back up.
How can I get Time Machine to backup /opt
on High Sierra and how can I restore it?
How can I get Time Machine to backup
/opt
on High Sierra?
You don't need to do anything special to back it up: Time Machine backs up all folders on your Mac.
However, you may get the impression that /opt
(and other folders like /bin
or /cores
, as you mention in your comment) are not included because the Finder hides those folders by default:
But don't let the Finder mislead you:
- either press ShiftCommand. to let the Finder display all folders (press ShiftCommand. again to hide them),
- or open Terminal, list the contents of the backup folder and you will see that everything is there:
How can I restore
/opt
?
Proceed as follows:
- Open a Finder window.
- Enter Time Machine.
- Press ShiftCommandG and enter
/
to display the root folder of your drive. - Press ShiftCommand. to display hidden folders. You should see
/opt
now. - Browse the timeline on the right-hand side and select the desired date.
- Select
/opt
. - Press Restore. Note that Time Machine will probably ask whether you want to keep a copy of your current files.