Searching through Time Machine

[utunumsint]

Is it possible to search through all Time Machine backups for certain files? I am missing some podcasts and some other audio files after the update to iTunes 12. I am sure they are on my time machine but I not having much success searching for them.

 

[chscag]

If those files that are currently missing were previously backed up with Time Machine, then they will be located in the Time Machine backup where they normally are on your hard drive. If you've looked in the same place but can't find them, they may not have been backed up.

 

[Rod]

I'm sure chscag is referring to the Time Machine application interface. Have you Entered Time machine? If you think you know what folder the item was in you simply open that folder and move the slider back a date at a time until it appears, select it and click Restore. If you mean can you use the Finder search function or Spotlight then the answer is no. This can be done with a cloned copy of your hard drive using say Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper which is one reason why I have a Time Machine backup and a CCC clone.
The Time Machine interface looks like this (excuse me if your are already there) we can never know what level of expertise people have.:

 

[Slydude]

You can search Time Machine Backups for specific files or filters though the process can be a little slow if the backup is very large. When you enter the window in Rod's screenshot above enter the name of the file / folder in the search field. If you want to search specific locations navigate to that location first. Here's more info The article is for an older version of Time Machine but the process is the same.

 

[Rod]

You can search Time Machine Backups for specific files or filters though the process can be a little slow if the backup is very large. When you enter the window in Rod's screenshot above enter the name of the file / folder in the search field. If you want to search specific locations navigate to that location first. Here's more info The article is for an older version of Time Machine but the process is the same.

Yes, my bad, you can search within each time frame window, good point. I was referring to using Finder or Spotlight to search all backups. This method may be helpful if you don't know which folder the item may be in.

 

[Slydude]

Is this the kind of search you were thinking about doing?