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macOS Monterey 12 can copy APFS volume group
macOS has a function of backup named "Time Machine", but macOS Big Sur 11 or above can backup only the data such as data volume because it strengthens its encrypted protection for the system content including system volume.
This is why macOS Big Sur 11 cannot boot from its Time Machine backup, and also it cannot copy APFS volume group as backup by Disk Utility or Terminal.
However, macOS Monterey 12 or above can copy APFS volume group and APFS volume by Disk Utility.
The points of copying APFS volume group
In order to copy APFS volume group, at first, you have to boot on macOS Monterey 12 or above from either macOS Recovery or a bootable installer for macOS which you create beforehand.
Next, continue with the processes mentioned below by Disk Utility.
- Select the target of APFS volume group, and then delete it
[note] Visible APFS volumes of the APFS volume group will be all deleted - Unmount both the source and the target of APFS volume groups
[note] Disk Utility will crash on copying without unmounting both of them - Select the target of the APFS volume group, and then click "Restore" button on the tool bar
- Select the source system volume of the APFS volume group, and then start restoring
[note] Temporary files such as APFS snapshots aren't be copied.
Disk Utility sometimes fails to copy the APFS volume group due to its functional instability, but it often succeeds in copying after being relaunched
You can also copy APFS volume group or APFS volume whose version is macOS Big Sur 11 or below by booting a bootable installer for macOS Monterey 12 or above.
However, you cannot copy APFS volume group or APFS volume which are formatted by "APFS (Encrypted)", "APFS (Case-sensitive)" or "APFS (Case-sensitive, Encrypted)".
You cannot copy APFS volume group or APFS volume as disk image whatever format they are.
[Reference]
When the target has many APFS volume groups in the APFS container, all of them has to be umounted before copying, as is the case with the source.
APFS volume group and APFS volume in the partition unrelated to the target or the source don't have to be unmounted.
macOS Monterey 12 can copy APFS volume group
macOS has a function of backup named "Time Machine", but macOS Big Sur 11 or above can backup only the data such as data volume because it strengthens its encrypted protection for the system content including system volume.
This is why macOS Big Sur 11 cannot boot from its Time Machine backup, and also it cannot copy APFS volume group as backup by Disk Utility or Terminal.
However, macOS Monterey 12 or above can copy APFS volume group and APFS volume by Disk Utility.
The points of copying APFS volume group
In order to copy APFS volume group, at first, you have to boot on macOS Monterey 12 or above from either macOS Recovery or a bootable installer for macOS which you create beforehand.
Next, continue with the processes mentioned below by Disk Utility.
- Select the target of APFS volume group, and then delete it
[note] Visible APFS volumes of the APFS volume group will be all deleted - Unmount both the source and the target of APFS volume groups
[note] Disk Utility will crash on copying without unmounting both of them - Select the target of the APFS volume group, and then click "Restore" button on the tool bar
- Select the source system volume of the APFS volume group, and then start restoring
[note] Temporary files such as APFS snapshots aren't be copied.
Disk Utility sometimes fails to copy the APFS volume group due to its functional instability, but it often succeeds in copying after being relaunched
You can also copy APFS volume group or APFS volume whose version is macOS Big Sur 11 or below by booting a bootable installer for macOS Monterey 12 or above.
However, you cannot copy APFS volume group or APFS volume which are formatted by "APFS (Encrypted)", "APFS (Case-sensitive)" or "APFS (Case-sensitive, Encrypted)".
You cannot copy APFS volume group or APFS volume as disk image whatever format they are.
[Reference]
When the target has many APFS volume groups in the APFS container, all of them has to be umounted before copying, as is the case with the source.
APFS volume group and APFS volume in the partition unrelated to the target or the source don't have to be unmounted.
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