Time Machine Utilities
I wrote some shell scripts to automate "fixing" old Time Machine backups, particularly Time Machine backups from previous computers. I've personally experienced a lot of friction with this, and found out that some of the metadata stored in the Backups.backupdb and individual snapshot directories prevent successful use with Time Machine on other computers in some cases. Time Machine itself does not always handle this gracefully. These utilities should help users wrangle older backups to make them work with Time Machine on their current Mac.
Time Machine Utilities launched on October 23, 2023 with 14 votes, #1,404 of 4,393 launches that month and more than 75% of that year's launches. The site was still online in September 2026, 3 years on.
In plain words
Time Machine Utilities is a collection of shell scripts that automate the process of fixing old Time Machine backups, especially those from previous computers. It addresses compatibility issues where metadata in backup files prevents Time Machine from working properly on different Macs. The scripts modify backup structure and metadata to make older backups functional with Time Machine on current computers, solving a problem that Time Machine itself does not handle gracefully.
written from the facts on this page · September 2026
From the sources
Time Machine utilities for Mac to import a backup history, mark individual snapshot directories as valid for the current computer, and deduplicate files in parallel directories (e.g., between snapshot directories). - torstenvl/tmutils
Does a similar job
all alternatives →
- SH
A tool for painless automated backups2018 · github.com · ▲22:floppy_disk: Painless automated backups to multiple storage providers with Docker and duplicacy. - christophetd/duplicacy-autobackup
More life & fun this month
the category →
A free city-building game in your browser. You are the mayor. You know what the city needs. Now get it past the zoning board, the neighbors, the appeals court and the next election.
Life & fun · 3d ago · permit.petercai.com
- IV
Life & fun · 15d ago · tanzaniaeducationproject.org
Turn a phone, tablet or TV into a sign. Type a message and it fills the screen: welcome signs, timers, Wi-Fi passwords and more. No app, no account, free.
Life & fun · 16d ago · bigwords.page
Play a free virtual guitar online with your keyboard or by touch. Slow songs down and see every chord, string and strum. Acoustic, classic, electric and bass.
Life & fun · 10d ago · guitoro.com
Carrier settings from iPhone, Pixel and Galaxy firmware, decoded and compared: APNs, VoLTE, 5G and Wi-Fi Calling per carrier, and what each build changed.
Life & fun · 14d ago · carrierexplode.com
Life & fun · 24d ago · space.bl2.net
Source: Show HN post ↗
Launched alongside, October 2023
the whole month →
Nudge 2.0▲1,051In-app experiences to activate, retain, & understand users
Growth · 2023 · nudgenow.com
Unlock AI magic for elevated customer engagement, fast
AI · 2023 · tiledesk.com
Effortlessly discover API behaviour with a Chrome extension that automatically generates OpenAPI specifications in real time for any app or website.
Dev tools · 2023 · github.com