{"id":44912,"date":"2018-06-07T10:43:26","date_gmt":"2018-06-07T15:43:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/?p=44912"},"modified":"2018-06-08T11:49:36","modified_gmt":"2018-06-08T16:49:36","slug":"new-capabilities-limitations-how-disk-utilitys-restore-feature-changed-in-high-sierra","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/44912-new-capabilities-limitations-how-disk-utilitys-restore-feature-changed-in-high-sierra\/","title":{"rendered":"New Capabilities & Limitations: How Disk Utility’s Restore Feature Changed in High Sierra"},"content":{"rendered":"

Disk Utility’s Restore function can be used to copy the content from one volume to another. In this respect, it\u2019s similar to the process of cloning a volume, and indeed, the Restore function can be used to create bootable clones. But if this is your primary reason for using the Restore function, I recommend the use of dedicated cloning apps, such as Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper<\/a>, that have a great deal more features that are highly serviceable in the cloning process.<\/p>\n

The Restore feature can also be used to copy disk images to a target volume, restore an image of your startup volume, or simply copy the content of one volume to another.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve already covered the basics of using the Restore feature for cloning in the Rocket Yard article: Tech Tip: How to Use the Restore Feature of Disk Utility to Clone a Drive.<\/a><\/p>\n

In this guide, we\u2019re going to look at how Disk Utility’s Restore feature has changed in macOS High Sierra; specifically, the new support for APFS containers and volumes, and how they bring new capabilities as well as limitations to how you restore data from one storage device to another.<\/p>\n

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(When you select a destination volume from the Disk Utility sidebar, you can verify the file system in use on the selected volume by checking the information pane. In this example, the destination volume is formatted with APFS.)<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What Hasn’t Changed in the Disk Utility Restore Function<\/strong>
\nThe basic concept remains the same; you use Disk Utility to select a destination volume from the sidebar, and then choose a source to copy from. Once the copy (Restore) starts, the destination device is unmounted and erased, and the content from the source is copied to the new location. Once the copy is complete, the destination is mounted, and you\u2019re ready to make use of the information.<\/p>\n

Restore can also make copies of disk images, as well as just about any device that can be mounted on the Mac’s Desktop. This means you can make copies of just about anything you wish, including creating archives of videos from your camera\u2019s flash drives before you perform any type of edits, creating clones before upgrading an OS or important app, and just as important, being able to return to a known good state should something befall an upgrade.<\/p>\n

Warning<\/em><\/strong>: The destination volume you select from the sidebar in all of the restore processes outlined below will have all of their contents erased. Make sure you have valid backups <\/a>before trying any of the restore instructions.<\/p>\n

Restore Basics: Copy a Volume<\/strong>
\nLaunch Disk Utility, located at \/Applications\/Utilities.<\/p>\n

Select a destination volume formatted with the HFS+ file system from the Disk Utility sidebar.<\/p>\n

You can tell the format by looking at the description just below the device\u2019s name in the main Disk Utility panel. As an example, when I select my startup volume it shows up as a standard HFS+ volume: Macintosh HD SATA Internal Physical Volume, Mac OS Extend (Journaled).<\/p>\n

APFS volumes, on the other hand, will say Volume Name APFS Volume . APFS (or they could say APFS Encrypted).<\/p>\n

With an HFS+ volume selected as the destination, click the Restore button in the toolbar, or select Restore from the Edit menu.<\/p>\n

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(When the destination is an HFS+ volume, the Restore from: dropdown menu will display all mounted devices on your Mac. It\u2019s generally considered a good idea to only select HFS+ volumes when the destination is an HFS+ volume.)<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A sheet will drop down asking if you would like to restore to “the selected device name”? Just below is a description of what will occur, including a warning that the destination device will be erased during the process.<\/p>\n

From the dropdown sheet use the dropdown menu to select a source to be used to copy data from.<\/p>\n

When you’re ready, click the Restore button.<\/p>\n

The restore process will start and a new sheet will appear with a status indicator. When the copy is complete, the status indicator will have filled up and you can click the Done button.<\/p>\n

Restore Basics: Copy From a Disk Image<\/strong>
\nThis process follows the same steps: select a destination volume from the Disk Utility sidebar, and then click on the Restore button in the toolbar.<\/p>\n

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(Once you select a disk image as the source for a restore, the dropdown menu will display the disk image name.)<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At this point, the Restore dropdown sheet is asking you to use the dropdown menu to select a source. Instead of using the dropdown menu, click the Image button just to the right of the menu.<\/p>\n

A standard Finder Open window will appear; navigate to the disk image file you wish to use as the source. Disk Image files usually end in .dmg. Once you locate the disk image, select the .dmg file and click the Choose button.<\/p>\n

The Restore from dropdown menu will now contain the image file name.<\/p>\n

When you’re ready, click the Restore button.<\/p>\n

The restore process will begin, displaying its status bar. When it completes, you can click the Done button.<\/p>\n

Restore Basics: Copy an APFS Volume<\/strong>
\nSo far, we\u2019ve looked at restoring when the source volume is formatted as HFS+. In this example, we\u2019re going to select an APFS volume as the source, to see how the process works.<\/p>\n

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(When the destination is an APFS volume, the Restore from: dropdown menu will only show APFS volumes that are mounted on your Mac.)<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In Disk Utility’s sidebar, select an APFS volume. You can verify that it\u2019s an APFS volume by reading the volume description in the main panel.<\/p>\n

With the APFS volume selected, click the Restore button in the toolbar.<\/p>\n

In the sheet that drops down, use the dropdown menu to select a source for Restore to use.<\/p>\n

You may notice that only APFS volumes are being displayed in the menu’s list. Restore in Disk Utility can only use devices formatted with APFS as sources for copying to APFS formatted volumes.<\/p>\n

Select an APFS formatted source, and then click the Restore button.<\/p>\n

Disk Utility will display the process sheet. When the copying is complete, click the Done button.<\/p>\n

Restore Basics: Copy APFS Disk Images<\/strong>
\nWhen the destination is an APFS formatted volume, only APFS formatted disk images can be selected as the source. Otherwise, copying an APFS disk image works the same way.<\/p>\n

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(Only disk images that contain an APFS volume can be restored to an APFS volume or container.)<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Select an APFS formatted source in the sidebar.<\/p>\n

Click the Restore button in Disk Utility’s toolbar.<\/p>\n

In the dropdown sheet, click the Image button.<\/p>\n

Navigate to the APFS disk image you wish to use, and then click the Choose button.<\/p>\n

The disk image name will be placed in the Restore from: dropdown menu.<\/p>\n

When you\u2019re ready, click the Restore button.<\/p>\n

The status sheet will drop down, displaying the copy progress. When it\u2019s complete, click the Done button.<\/p>\n

Restore Advanced: Copy to Containers<\/strong>
\nDisk Utility doesn\u2019t support using the Restore function to copy the content of a container, including any volumes it may contain. However, you can select a container as the destination for restoring<\/a>.<\/p>\n

When you select a container to restore to, all of the volumes within the selected container will be erased and a new volume containing the content of the selected source will be created.<\/p>\n

\"\"
(When copying to a container, be aware that all volumes the container may hold will be erased and replaced by a single new volume that houses the data from the selected source.)<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In Disk Utility’s sidebar, select a container as the destination for a restore.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re only seeing volumes in the sidebar, you can alter the sidebar settings to view containers as well by clicking on the View button in the Disk Utility toolbar and selecting Show All Devices.<\/p>\n

With a container selected in the sidebar, click the Restore button in the toolbar.<\/p>\n

Use the Restore from: dropdown menu to select a source for the restore. When the destination is a container, you can select any type of volume as the source, including those formatted as HFS+ or APFS.<\/p>\n

You can also use the Image button to select a disk image to use as the source.<\/p>\n

Once you have the source selected, click the Restore button to start the erase of the destination and the copying from the source.<\/p>\n

Disk Utility will display a progress bar. Once the process is finished, click the Done button.<\/p>\n

Restore Limitations<\/strong>
\nDisk Utility’s Restore function has a few limitations that may not be apparent right away. Many of these limitations are caused by the Disk Utility app itself, and not the underlying file formats being used. You may find the use of dedicated cloning apps a more versatile choice for making copies of volumes and disk images.<\/p>\n