New SSD, Clean Install, Time Machine Restore

[Spellbinder]

Hi, all.

I have a late 2012 Mac Mini. Specs in signature. I'll be getting an SSD in the coming weeks. I already have Catalina 15.2 downloaded and made a bootable USB. Once the SSD is installed and I get Catalina on the new drive, will my time machine backup restore "everything"? Meaning installed apps and files and configs?

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[MBAmtloin]

you seem like you have everything under control.
maybe improve the bluetooth since you are under the hood.
that Mac mini did wonders for me and has more features that it's successors.

 

[RavingMac]

My normal preference is to Clone my HD to the new drive before installing. After I test it I swap out the drives and the old one goes to storage as a backup

 

[MacInWin]

In addition to what RavingMac said, once you have cloned to the new SSD externally, try booting from it just to make sure the clone works for that, then do the hardware swap. It's a PITA to do a drive swap and THEN find it won't boot for some reason.

 

[Spellbinder]

Thanks, Guys.

As for "improve the bluetooth while I'm under the hood", not sure what that means. I assume you mean upgrade the AirPort/Bluetooth Board with something better? I've not experienced any bluetooth issues.

As for cloning, I did an upgrade from High Sierra to Catalina 15.2 on the 500GB HD. So I prefer to do a complete clean install of Catalina on the SSD so as not to have residual upgrade bits from High Sierra left behind. And restore apps and files from Time Machine, assuming Time Machine keeps apps I've installed for migration to the new SSD.