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To protect Mac workflow settings and automations, make a current Time Machine backup, then use Migration Assistant to transfer selected information to another Mac or restore from the backup. For an individual automation, keep its .shortcut or .workflow file and import it into Shortcuts. After a move, open and test the workflows you depend on: Apple’s backup and migration instructions do not guarantee that every trigger, privacy permission, login authorization, or third-party app configuration will behave exactly as before.
Choose the backup or transfer route that fits your goal
Time Machine and Migration Assistant solve related but different problems. Time Machine makes a broad Mac backup to an external storage device. Migration Assistant uses a Mac, Time Machine backup, or startup disk as a source and lets you select information to transfer. Importing a .shortcut or .workflow file is the more targeted route when you need to move an individual automation.
| Route | What it covers | How much you choose | Key consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time Machine | A broad backup of Mac files, including apps, music, photos, email, and documents, according to Apple Support’s “Back up your Mac with Time Machine.” | It is primarily the backup source; it is not the individual automation import method. | Requires a configured backup destination. Apple recommends a disk with at least twice the Mac’s storage capacity. |
| Migration Assistant | Apps, accounts, files, folders, and settings from a Time Machine backup or another supported source. | Choose categories and, in some categories, specific items. | Review how existing accounts are handled; transfers can take hours. |
Import a .shortcut file |
One shortcut artifact. | Import the individual file into Shortcuts. | Having the shortcut file does not by itself establish that its referenced apps, files, or access will be available. |
Import a .workflow file |
An Automator workflow that Shortcuts attempts to convert into a shortcut. | Import the individual workflow file into Shortcuts. | Unsupported actions may be reported; Apple does not promise that every workflow will convert without changes. |
These methods can complement one another: maintain a Time Machine backup for the Mac, use Migration Assistant for a broad move, and preserve individual automation files as an additional recovery path. Apple’s general instructions do not promise a separate archive containing every Shortcuts setting or every dependency of every automation.
The choice depends on what you need to recover. If the Mac fails or you need to bring a wide range of information to a replacement, the backup-and-migration route covers more than an exported automation file. If a single shortcut is missing or you want a copy of one workflow, importing its file is more direct. A targeted import does not substitute for backing up documents and other Mac data, while a broad transfer does not eliminate the need to inspect automation behavior afterward.
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Prepare a reliable Time Machine backup
Choose and connect a backup disk
Connect an external USB or Thunderbolt storage device, then configure it as the Time Machine destination. Apple’s setup instructions for macOS Ventura 13 or later use System Settings > General > Time Machine > Add Backup Disk. Menu names and the precise route can differ across macOS releases, so follow the labels on the Mac you are backing up if they do not match this path.
For a practical purchase, look for an external drive for Mac backup that connects over USB or Thunderbolt and has enough capacity for the Mac and the backup history you want to keep. Apple recommends a Time Machine disk with at least twice the storage capacity of the Mac. Treat that as Apple’s capacity guidance, not as a guarantee that a particular disk is compatible or that every backup will fit. The practical aim is to leave room for backup history as files change. If you enable encryption, keep the backup password somewhere you can retrieve it: Apple says it is needed to restore files from the encrypted backup.
Capacity is worth checking before the first backup rather than after the disk fills. Apple describes Time Machine as keeping a history: for the Ventura 13-or-later schedule, backups are hourly for the previous 24 hours, daily for the previous month, and weekly for prior months. When the disk is full, the oldest backups are deleted. A disk with more room can therefore retain a longer history as files change; the two-times recommendation is a useful planning guide, not a promise of a fixed retention period.
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- Connect the external disk and add it as the Time Machine backup disk in the settings for your macOS version.
- Allow the Mac to make a backup. Apple notes that the first backup may take longer; subsequent backups copy changed files.
- Check Time Machine’s status or interface and confirm that the latest backup has completed before beginning a migration or relying on it for recovery.
- If the first backup is still running, the disk is unavailable, or the latest completed backup is older than expected, resolve that before erasing or handing off the original Mac.
For macOS Ventura 13 or later, Apple describes a configurable schedule of hourly backups for the previous 24 hours, daily backups for the previous month, and weekly backups for prior months; when the disk fills, the oldest backups are deleted. These schedule details and settings are version-sensitive, so do not assume another macOS release presents the same controls or wording.
For a move, make the final backup close enough to the transfer that it reflects the files and settings you still need. If you keep working on the old Mac after the last completed backup, changes made afterward may not be present in that backup. Check the completion status again before you start Migration Assistant, and keep the disk available until the transfer is finished. This is especially important if you are about to retire, erase, or hand off the original computer.
There is no need to buy a particular model based on the procedures here: the relevant product category is an external USB or Thunderbolt storage device used as a Time Machine destination. The key planning points are capacity, a connection supported by your setup, and retaining the password if you choose an encrypted backup. No specific drive price or model is established by Apple’s cited guidance.
Keep standalone automation files in a recoverable place
If you have important .shortcut or .workflow files, put them somewhere included in the backup or preserve copies by another method. This is a practical safeguard based on Apple’s documented file-import options; it is not a claim that Time Machine creates a special export archive of every automation or Shortcuts preference. Make sure you know where the files are before you need to restore them.
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It helps to identify the automations you actually rely on and locate any files you have saved for them before migration day. Keep the standalone files together with other items you know you need, or confirm that their location is part of the backed-up information. An individual file gives you a way to import that artifact, but it does not necessarily include all of the apps, source files, services, access, or trigger configuration the automation uses. Treat it as one recovery tool alongside the Mac backup, not as a complete copy of the working environment.
Restore or transfer information with Migration Assistant
For a new Mac—or a transfer into a Mac that is already configured—Apple documents Migration Assistant as the route for transferring information from a Time Machine backup. Apple’s “Restore your Mac from a backup” instructions were published November 13, 2025. The source choice described there is Mac, Time Machine or startup disk.
- Connect the Time Machine disk containing the backup to the Mac that will receive the information.
- Open Migration Assistant on the receiving Mac. If prompted, allow the Mac to close apps before proceeding.
- Choose Mac, Time Machine or startup disk as the source, then select the relevant backup.
- Review the transfer categories and select the information to bring over. Apple says the storage calculation can include apps, accounts, files, folders, and settings; depending on the category, you may also be able to choose specific items.
- Review any account-handling prompt before confirming. If an account with the same name already exists on the receiving Mac, Apple explains that it may be replaced or renamed during migration.
- Let the transfer finish. A large transfer can take hours, so keep both the source disk and receiving Mac available and connected as required by the on-screen instructions.
Take time with the category and item choices rather than clicking through automatically. Migration Assistant is useful when you want to transfer selected user information and settings, but what appears in the selection interface is the basis for what you choose to move. Check that the categories relevant to your work are selected, and use specific-item choices where they are offered. The storage estimate is also useful context for the size of the transfer, since Apple says it can include apps, accounts, files, folders, and settings.
Pay particular attention if the receiving Mac already has an account with the same name as an account in the backup. Apple notes that the existing account may be replaced or renamed during migration. Read the prompt and decide how to handle the conflict before confirming; do not assume the accounts will simply merge in a way that preserves both unchanged.
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Do not treat a category selection as proof that every automation dependency has been recreated. Migration Assistant’s documented categories are broad, but Apple’s cited instructions do not enumerate every Shortcuts trigger, privacy permission, login authorization, or third-party app configuration. Plan to validate the workflows that matter after the transfer rather than assuming an identical operating environment.
Import an individual shortcut or Automator workflow
Import a shortcut file
Apple says Shortcuts on Mac can import .shortcut files. To bring in one you have preserved, double-click the file or drag it into the Shortcuts app. The result is an imported shortcut you can inspect and run. If the shortcut depends on a particular file, app, or account, verify that dependency separately on the receiving Mac.
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Use this method when you have an individual shortcut file and want to add that shortcut to Shortcuts rather than transfer broader Mac information. After importing, find the shortcut in the app and open it to review what it does. Then check its referenced files and apps before running it on important material. The file import is the documented step; the additional inspection is a sensible way to confirm that the shortcut is ready to use on this Mac.
Import an Automator workflow
To import a .workflow file, open it through Shortcuts or drag it into the app. Shortcuts converts the Automator workflow into a shortcut. Apple’s “Import shortcuts and Automator workflows on Mac” says almost any existing Automator workflow can be migrated, but this is not a promise that all workflows or actions will work. If an action is unsupported, an alert identifies it; inspect the converted shortcut and decide whether the action can be replaced or the workflow needs another approach.
Apple’s “Use Automator workflows with the Shortcuts app on Mac” guide applies to macOS 15.0. An imported workflow appears as a shortcut. Conversion changes the artifact’s form, so open the result instead of assuming the original workflow has been reproduced unchanged.
The import route is therefore slightly different for the two file types: a .shortcut is an individual shortcut imported into Shortcuts, while a .workflow is an Automator workflow that Shortcuts converts. In the second case, an alert about an unsupported action is a signal to review the converted steps, not to assume that the entire workflow failed or that every action was carried over. Check the resulting shortcut and test the parts it is meant to perform.
Validate automations after the move
A backup or import is only useful if the automation still does the job you need. Test important workflows individually, including the conditions under which you normally start them. Apple’s general backup and migration pages do not establish that every automation trigger, privacy permission, login authorization, or third-party configuration will transfer unchanged.
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- Confirm the item is present. Find the imported shortcut or converted workflow in Shortcuts, and confirm the files or folders it uses are present in their expected locations.
- Check referenced apps and services. Open the apps the automation calls and confirm that any relevant account or service is available on the new Mac.
- Run a controlled test. Use a safe example where possible, then verify the expected output rather than relying only on a successful start.
- Check the trigger separately. If the automation normally runs in response to a trigger or as part of a login routine, confirm that the trigger or authorization is available and enabled on the receiving Mac. The cited Apple instructions do not guarantee that these details are restored identically.
- Review conversion alerts. For a workflow imported from Automator, read any unsupported-action alert and inspect the converted shortcut for steps that may need replacement.
Test the shortcuts you depend on most before assuming the migration is complete. A useful order is to confirm the automation exists, confirm its inputs and referenced apps are available, run it with a low-risk example, and inspect the result. If it relies on a trigger or login routine, check that separately rather than treating a successful manual run as proof that automatic запуск behavior works.
If a run fails, narrow down the dependency before rebuilding the whole automation: check that its input file exists, the called app is installed and opens, and the receiving Mac allows the relevant access. If the automation was converted, investigate any unsupported action identified by Shortcuts. These checks help locate the failure; they do not imply that a particular permission or third-party setting is always transferred by Migration Assistant.
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Keep a short list of the workflows tested and any changes you made. That helps distinguish an automation that imported correctly from one that still needs attention, especially when several shortcuts use different files or apps. Re-run a corrected shortcut under its normal conditions after making changes; a test of one shortcut does not establish that other shortcuts or triggers are also working.
Which route should you use?
Use Time Machine when you need a continuing backup
Choose Time Machine when your priority is a broad Mac backup that can support later file restoration. It depends on a configured destination disk and is most useful when the latest backup has completed before the original Mac is changed or retired.
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Use Migration Assistant when you are moving Mac information
Choose Migration Assistant when you want to transfer selected user information and settings from a Time Machine backup or another supported source to a Mac. Its category and item selection offers more control than importing one automation file, but you should review account prompts and test the important workflows afterward.
Import files when you need a particular automation
Choose file import when you have an individual .shortcut or .workflow to restore or move. A shortcut file imports directly; a workflow is converted, and an unsupported action can trigger an alert. This targeted method does not replace a Mac-wide backup.
For many people, the strongest plan combines these routes instead of choosing only one: keep a current Time Machine backup, use Migration Assistant for a broad move, and retain individual automation files for targeted recovery where available. The backup provides a wider safety net, while the saved files offer a direct way to import specific artifacts. Neither route means you can skip checking the workflows after a migration.
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The procedures and qualifications above follow Apple Support’s “Back up your Mac with Time Machine,” “Restore your Mac from a backup” (published November 13, 2025), “Import shortcuts and Automator workflows on Mac,” and “Use Automator workflows with the Shortcuts app on Mac” (macOS 15.0 guide). Apple also publishes “How to back up your Mac.” The specific Time Machine path cited here is for macOS Ventura 13 or later, while the Automator conversion guide cited here is for macOS 15.0; interface details can vary by release.
The documented steps explain how to set up the backup destination, transfer selected information, and import the two automation file types. They do not amount to a guarantee that every automation setting, trigger, permission, or third-party app configuration will be restored exactly as it was. Treat the final check as part of the move: confirm the files and apps each automation needs, then test the result.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does Time Machine back up Mac shortcuts and Automator workflows?
Time Machine backs up Mac files, including apps, documents, photos, music, and email. Apple’s cited instructions do not promise a separate export archive of every Shortcuts setting or automation dependency. Keep important standalone .shortcut or .workflow files somewhere included in the backup or preserve them separately.
How much storage should a Time Machine backup drive have?
Apple recommends a Time Machine disk with at least twice the storage capacity of the Mac. This is capacity guidance, not a guarantee of compatibility or a fixed backup-history length. When a disk fills, Time Machine deletes the oldest backups.
Can I restore one shortcut without migrating the whole Mac?
Yes. Shortcuts on Mac can import an individual .shortcut file by double-clicking it or dragging it into Shortcuts. Check that the apps, files, and access the shortcut relies on are available on the receiving Mac.
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Yes. Import the .workflow file through Shortcuts; the app converts it into a shortcut. Apple says almost any existing Automator workflow can be migrated, but unsupported actions may produce an alert and require review.
Will Migration Assistant restore all automation triggers and permissions?
Apple’s general Migration Assistant instructions do not guarantee that every Shortcuts trigger, privacy permission, login authorization, or third-party configuration will transfer unchanged. Open and test the workflows you rely on, including their triggers and expected outputs.
What happens if a Migration Assistant account has the same name as one on the new Mac?
Apple says an existing account with the same name may be replaced or renamed during migration. Read the account-handling prompt carefully before confirming the transfer.
The Bottom Line
Make a current Time Machine backup, use Migration Assistant for a broad transfer, and import saved .shortcut or .workflow files when you need an individual automation. Afterward, check the files, apps, permissions, and triggers each workflow depends on, then run a controlled test.
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