If you use a time machine to travel back or forward in time, can you ever really go back to the present?

[self edit. not helpful.]

You could never return to the exact time though, you would need a couple miliseconds of difference so there wouldn’t be a chance of the past/present/future versions of you or the machine touching causing a paradox.

Technically wouldn’t any time you are currently residing in that is the future actually the present?

According to Time Master Rufus in the Bill and Ted movie, time moves with you.
It would simply be a matter of proper planning prevents tardy tardis.

If you went into the future, you could return to your “present” a millisecond after you first left. If you travelled to the past and someone saw you, or you performed some sort of action, your “present” would change and the original “present” would be irrecoverable.

Sure. Just make sure to land at a different location.
Remember, everything you do during your time travel was already part of your history before your travel.
You can not change events, only play your role to fulfill what is already history.

@ragingloli

The current theory is that, if you go back in time and alter something, you create an entirely new universe branching off from the one you were in.

yeah just imagine wearing a parchute as you run faster the parchute is gone pull you back
consider the parchute wind resistence, all the haters you can think of, negative energy, set backs. as you run forward the those little crazy energy try to pull you back as you try to go faster the speed of light when you go faster than the speed of light there is no time you enter realm of pure spirit my friend so be water to fully enjoy the present moment.