How on earth do I restore my old Address Book from Time Machine?

Problem: I really, really need to retrieve someone's number. I know it'll be in an old version of my Address Book. I can see when I open time Machine that my address book is backed up, but no matter the date I go to, it says the Address Book was last modified in 2012! I know for a fact I've updated (and backed up) the Address Book many times since then.
Whenever I try to restore the Address Book, I do Time Machine > Applications > Address Book > 'restore'. But whenever I do this, the mac refuses to open the restored Address Book because it's 'required by mac OS X'.
I don't understand.
Please, how on earth do I dredge my Address Book from the depths of Time Machine?
Please help!
M

Look at Q15 here. http://pondini.org/TM/FAQ.html
There are separate sections for iphoto and itunes.
It has to be so complicated because Apple made TM to do too much and be too many things to too many people.. a horse designed by a committee. It has become flakey in later editions.
If you still have the iMac you can move the files directly from the source.. you don't need to use TM backups at all.

Similar Messages

How do I restore a lost address book from time machine

a address book that I have name is gone how do I restore it

See How do I restore my entire system?

How to restore my address book from Time Machine?

First I know there are other threads with this (Properly) but non of them seemed to be specifically what i needed!
So by accident I deleted all my address contacts on my mac by accedeint. (I was trying to stop my Mac user account picture from changing all the time). I knew I had deleted them but didnt think anything of it. I came to text someone today and half my contacts have gone from my iPhone and my iPad . But i dont know how to get them back on to my address book via time machine.
I have tried the simple going back to where the last backup was and hiting restore, but nothing happens. I can i get them off iCloud if timemachine wont work? or have i truly lost them?

Open Address Book and then go to File > Import and select the most recent Address Book backup from your Time Machine Backup > Users > Your Name > Documents and import that should work.
Pete

How do I import address book from time machine backup

My address book was populated on an imac running Lion and I used time machine to back up to an external hard drive.
The imac crashed and I've purchased another one running Mavericks.
How do I import the contents of my address book from the backup on the external drive to the address book on the new imac?
Whenever I try to select or open an earlier version of the address book in the backup applications folder on the external drive, I get a message saying that I can't open the file because it is a time machine backup.
There is also a diagonal line going through the address book thumbnail icon and various other applications in the backup applications folder and I get the same error message informing that these apps are time machine backups.
If you have a solution please be as clear and precise as possible with instructions as I am not a computer boffin.

Here's the situation:
I have a G4 with Tiger OS that has 2 years of saved emails and Address Book entries. I just got a G5, installed brand new drives, and did a fresh install of Leopard. I did not use Migration Assistant during the install, because I have no router.
Then I connected the 2 'puters with firewire, and started the G4 in Target Mode, and attempted to Import my old mail and Address Book. I diddled around and was able to import my old mailboxes. I did just realize, though, that only about half the emails were imported; there's a huge gap of nearly a year up until I stopped using the G4.
Also, when I go to the Address Book and try to import my old one, it shows up not as a solid icon that I can select, but a ghostly icon, for lack of a better word, and it will not let me select it.
I really thought this should be easier and less painful. I'm open to suggestions, including whether I should try to use the Leopard install DVD to try the Migration Assistant with a Firewire connection or an ethernet cable.
Thanks.

How can I restore an old iPhone backup from Time Machine?

Hi there,
I lost my iPhone 4S but have a extra iPhone 4 (used for travel) that I would like to restore the 4S backup to.
The problem is that the backup of my 4S has somehow disappeared from itunes and the only one that shows up is the iPhone 4 backup even though they are set up as different devices with different names. I know that the backup for my 4S is included with my Time Machine backups (on external harddrive) but I can't find the files. Also very strange is that I don't have the folder "MobileSync" in /Library/Application Support/MobileSync on my computer. I can't find that folder anywhere.
My computer is less that 6 months old and I know that I have not deleted that folder or any other that are preinstalled.
I'm using OS X 10.9.4 and I don't want to restore my hole computer from Time Machine, just the files that hold my 4S backup.
Also note that I have not backed up everything from my 4S phone to iClould so that's not an option.
I've tried everything including:
- Restoring the settings on the iPhone 4 to factory settings and then connecting to itunes.
- Deleting itunes and restoring it from Time Machine at a date that i knew had the original iphone backup.
Who ever can solve this for me deserves a gold medal. I'm truly desperate. I've searched all forums and haven't found a solution for this.
Thanks.

caxx wrote:
Also very strange is that I don't have the folder "MobileSync" in /Library/Application Support/MobileSync on my computer. I can't find that folder anywhere.
Correct.
You need to go to ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/.
The ~ indicates your User folder not the top level /Library/ folder.
Click on the desktop, then hold Option and go to Finder menu Go and Library will be there (only when holding Option as it is hidden).

Help with restoring Address Book from Time Machine

Problem: I really, really need to retrieve someone's number. I know it'll be in an old version of my Address Book. I can see when I open time Machine that my address book is backed up, but no matter the date I go to, it says the Address Book was last modified in 2012! I know for a fact I've updated (and backed up) the Address Book many times since then.
Whenever I try to restore the Address Book, I do Time Machine > Applications > Address Book > 'restore'. But whenever I do this, the mac refuses to open the restored Address Book because it's 'required by mac OS X'.
I don't understand.
Please, how on earth do I dredge my Address Book from the depths of Time Machine?
Please help!
M

Hello mb9236,
Thank you for the details of the issue you are experiencing with restoring a contact from Time Machine.
It sounds like you are trying to restore the Address Book application. The Address Book application is just the application and does not include the content in Address Book.
Instead, you will want to open Address Book and then launch Time Machine and restore your contacts from there. Use the steps below to restore your contacts form a previous date (in step one instead of opening Mail or Finder, be sure you have Address Book open and in focus):
If you use Time Machine to back up your computer, you can easily bring back one or more items you’ve lost, or recover older versions of files you’ve changed.
Open a window for the item you want to restore. For example, if you accidentally deleted a file from your Documents folder, open the Documents folder. If you want to recover an email message, open your inbox in Mail.
If you’re missing an item from the desktop, you don’t need to open a window.
Click the Time Machine icon in the Dock, or open the Time Machine menu in the menu bar and choose Enter Time Machine. If you back up to a Time Capsule or other network disk, a message briefly appears while Time Machine connects your computer to the backup disk.
Use the arrows or the timeline along the right side of your screen to browse through all the snapshots and backups Time Machine created. Gray tick marks on the timeline represent snapshots stored on your internal drive (portable computers only). Pink tick marks represent backups stored on your backup disk.
If you need more information about an item, double-click to preview it. The windows in Time Machine behave just like Finder windows, so you can open folders, click items in the sidebar, and use the search field in the upper-right corner of the window.
When you find the item you want to restore, select it, and then click Restore. You can restore individual items, multiple items, folders, or your entire hard disk. The restored item is returned to its original location. For example, if the item was found in the Documents folder, it is returned to the Documents folder. Time Machine may ask if you want to re-create one or more folders in order to return a restored item to its original location.
If an item you restore has the same name as another item on your computer, you’re asked if you want to keep the current item, the restored item, or both.
You can use Time Machine from within many applications. For example, you can open Address Book and then click the Time Machine icon in the Dock to recover contacts you may have accidentally deleted, or open iPhoto and then click the Time Machine icon in the Dock to view past versions of your iPhoto albums.
OS X Lion: Restore items backed up with Time Machine
https://support.apple.com/kb/PH4256
Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.
Best,
Sheila M.

Restoring my address book from Time machine

Hello. I am not very technical. I backed up my old computer files on a Time Machine back up and can access my old documents but not my former address book contacts. My old computer has been wiped by my daughter who has set it up with a new account and cannot recover anything of mine.
The Address book appears in the applications folder of the TimeMachine back up in the applications folder - but has a locked symbol and error message 'You can’t open the application “Address Book” because it is in a Time Machine backup"
I am worried I have lost 20 years worth of contacts!

Ok, due to the changes in Mail the old address book is not able to be used in the new OS.
If your daughter wiped your Mac and changed the OS you won't be able to restore it either.
The trick is to restore the entire backup to a different location. Get a USB and plug it into your computer.
Then do a full restore of the old OS to the hard disk.
See the instructions in pondini to manage this. Same reference as above the Q14-17 covers restore. Restore the entire backup to the USB drive.
From there your new version of the software can hopefully translate the addressbook into readable form.
If that doesn't work on your computer, then it should work on your old one. Do a simple disk clone using a software like CCC or superduper so you can wipe the computer.. and do the full restore, assuming the trick of using the USB doesn't work. Once you have a full restore of the OS, including your address book with mail, you should
A. Be able to make a clone of disk.. NOT TM BACKUP.. from the Clone you have real files as they exist in a working OS.. not a TM backup where files do not work until restored.
B. Export the data from the address book.
Export and email it to yourself.
http://email.about.com/od/macosxmailtips/qt/How-To-Export-Your-Mac-Os-X-Mail-Add ress-Book-Contacts-To-A-Csv-File.htm
I always export mail contacts to a database or spread sheet before doing major computer changes or upgrades.. it keeps these kind of problems at bay.
If the problem is simply you cannot open the old contacts in the new version of mail, copy the address book to a stick and use it on another computer running the correct version of mail.
If it is just permissions issue then fix permissions.
After a restore permissions can be very messed up. See.
http://pondini.org/TM/E10.html

Restored address book from Time machine no images on contacts

hello all
had an issues with my address book
unfortunately i deleted my contacts from adress book fom my macbook and lost al my contacts even from iphone (so propably deleted the icloud contacts)
now thank god i found a way to restore them from Tiem Machine
everythin is good and have al contacts back
BUT
not contact images
is thetre any way to get them back?
thank you!

This worked for me:
From Time Machine, restore a good backup of the entire "/Users/james/Library/Application Support/Address Book" folder to a different location, like to a folder on your desktop.
(note: the Library folder typically won't show up in Finder. To make it visible, in Terminal, issue this command:
        defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles YES
        then restart Finder: killall Finder )
Go offline. Do whatever you need to do to get completely disconnected from the internet (turn off Wireless, unplug the ethernet cable, etc.). Otherwise, iCloud will immediately overwrite your restore.
Delete the real folder: /Users/james/Library/Application Support/Address Book
Copy your restore (at the different location), to the real location ( /Users/james/Library/Application Support/Address Book )
Restart Contacts. Your restored data you want should be there. Before going online again, Export all these contacts (File - Export - etc...)
Go online again. iCloud will wipe out your Address Book with what's on iCloud. Re-import contacts as needed from your Export.

Restore Address Book from Time Machine

if i lost all my address book data, is there a way to restore it from a date in time machine that has my data?
shouldnt there be a simple way in addres book to select a time machine backup?

To restore address book data from Time Machine, launch the Address Book application, then click on the Time Machine icon in the dock. Within the Time Machine user interface, you'll be looking at an Address Book window that displays the data it had at the time of the Time Machine backup. You can go back in time to find a particular contact to restore, or you can choose the Restore All option.

How can I restore my Address Book from Time Machine, iCloud keeps overwriting

This was all done on my MacBook Pro, using Mavericks updated. With the Address Book, and iCloud.
Ok, this is really a mess. I have close to a 1,000 contacts in my address book. I'm not going to manually sort them. I have a bunch of groups in my address book. These groups are very important, and not something simple to sort out. I have already read this thread: https://discussions.apple.com/message/18790074?searchText=How%20can%20I%20restor e%20my%20Address%20Book%20from%20Time%20Machine,%20iCloud%20keeps%20overwriting# 18790074
My situation is similar, and yet a little different.
I accidentally deleted a group in my address book. So, with my handy dandy Time Machine backup, I quickly went into Time Machine, and restored the group. However, I was connected to the internet, and iCloud promptly deleted the nicely restored group. So I went into Time Machine again, and restored the username/Library/Application Support/Address Book folder. Again, opened the Address Book, was content to see my group was intact and there. After about 20 seconds it disappeared before my very eyes. I was now starting to get frustrated. iCloud had again erased my ‘restored’ group.
          I promptly disconnected from the internet, restored my address book, and exported a copy in abbu format. I then reconnected to the internet, and as I expected, iCloud once again deleted my ‘restored group’. I then imported my abbu ‘backup’ file, and everything was once again intact… for about 20 seconds before iCloud again deleted my group.
          Ignorantly, I deleted everything in my address book (while connected to the internet). I then allowed iCloud to update everything. After it seemed like it was done (it doesn’t tell you what is going on). I went ahead and imported my abbu file. This again resulted in nothing in my address book. I again disconnected from the internet, and imported the abbu file. I then exported all my contacts and each group in the vcf format. I started importing each group into iCloud.com online, and everything was working smoothly. Then, it started getting errors, and not importing all the contacts.
          OBVIOUSLY there is a bug, or problem, or something wrong here. iCloud is being extremely stubborn, and extremely un-friendly to it’s user. I’m kind of at my wits end with this. If anyone has any ideas, I really could use some help I think that iCloud could use some help too. Perhaps some lessons in politeness. Perhaps a lesson in ‘restoration.’ Perhaps a compatibility with Apples own Time Machine??? Please any help would greatly be appreciated!
Shane

I don't know why you moved the app. Move the application back into your "Applications" folder which is where it belongs and should always stay. Then drag the app down to your Dock, if the Dock icon is not there already.
Now, open AddressBook. The click on the TM icon on your Dock. Now do you see the TM screen with AB open? Good. Use the TM time arrow back button until AB appears the way it used to be. Then click restore.
-mj
[email protected]

Restore entire Address Book from Time Machine?

Mac Mid 2011, OSX Lion 10.7.5, Time Machine
After enabling iCloud my address book got "replaced" with an outdated version. Time machine allows me to update individual records but I want to
replace the entire Address Book. Can this be done and if so then how? Thank you.
Dan from New York

I SOLVED this problem:
1. Selected ALL entries from my current (outdated) address book, then deleted them.
2. Selected ALL entries from a good version in Time Machine, then restored.
3. Address book updated.
Piece of cake..I made this issue more complicated than it needed to be...all is well.

Restore Address Book from Time machine backups

Hi,
I need to restore my Adress Book contacts from my Time machine external harddrive backup. I found to Library/Application Support/Adress Book thing, but has Library is hidden in my MacBook, it seems to be hidden in my backup harddrive. A simple ''option'' click doesnt seem to work. How can i make it visible on my external harddrive?!
Thanks!
(On that hardrive i went: ''backup folder''/users/''user''/. Then used ''Option'' to make is visible. But still hidden. If i go ''backup folder''/Library/Application Support, the AddressBook folder does not appear.)

Navigate with the Finder into the location where your lost data would be located. Click on the Time Machine icon in the Dock or open the Time Machine application in the Applications folder. Navigate back to just before you deleted your data. You should find the missing data, select it, click on the Restore button.

Restoring Address Book from Time Machine. "Error Message"

"Address Book can't be modified or deleted because it's required by Mac OS X.
I had HD wiped clean at Apple Store and just trying to restore from TM copy. Not trying to delete or modify. At least that I know of.
HELP.
Quilterlynn

"Address Book can't be modified or deleted because it's required by Mac OS X.
I had HD wiped clean at Apple Store and just trying to restore from TM copy. Not trying to delete or modify. At least that I know of.
HELP.
Quilterlynn

Trying to restore Address Book from Time machine

I lost all but 32 0f my 1200 address book entries recently. I know not why. I tried to restore from my Time Machine back up in line with other posts I have found. The machine shows the 1200 entries as having been restored but as I watch they all disappear and go back to the orginal 32. I have tried a number of times and using differet back ups but the same thing happens. Any ideas would be gratefully received.
I sync my devices via iCloud. I have a G$, Mac Brook Pro, Mac Book Air, Ipad and iPhone 4.
Thanks in anticipation of your help.

Leicasnap wrote:
I sync my devices via iCloud.
That's the culprit.
iCloud, by definition, thinks it has the "master copy." So when you restore your 1200 entries, iCloud immediately overlays it with the contents of the cloud, which is, apparently, the 32.
See the 5th post here for a possible workaround: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3453735

How to remove old backup files from time machine? Lion OSx

Hi everyone,
I am just wondering how to efficiently and safely remove the old backup files from time machine? I tried once with command, but it damaged my extra-disk... Does Lion OSx have fixed that?
Many thanks
Hong

Blue-
Time Machine will automatically delete back-ups as the need for space arises. If you want to delete a certain file (application, document, whatever) and have it gone for good you can do that as well.
The best place on the web for information about Time Machine is...
http://pondini.org/TM/Home.html
...it covers everything!
Clinton

How on earth do I restore my old Address Book from Time Machine?

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