How to Use the macOS Migration Assistant to Transfer Data Safely

The Purpose of Migration Assistant

Purchasing a new Mac is an exciting experience, but the prospect of transferring years of applications, complex system settings, keychain passwords, and gigabytes of files from an old machine can be daunting. While you could manually copy files using an external hard drive, this method fails to transfer your user profile and application licenses.

Apple’s built-in Migration Assistant is designed to clone your entire digital life from an old Mac (or even a Windows PC) to a new Mac securely, ensuring that when you boot up the new machine, it looks and behaves exactly like your old one.

Step 1: Preparation and Prerequisites

Before launching Migration Assistant, you must ensure both computers are properly prepared to prevent data corruption or connection drops mid-transfer.

1. Update macOS: Ensure both the old Mac and the new Mac are running the latest available version of macOS. Attempting to migrate from a very old operating system to a brand-new one can occasionally cause permission errors.
2. Connect to Power: Plug both computers into a reliable power source. A migration can take several hours, and a dead battery will corrupt the transfer.
3. Connect the Computers: For the fastest and most reliable transfer, connect the two Macs directly using a Thunderbolt or USB-C cable. If you do not have a cable, ensure both Macs are connected to the exact same Wi-Fi network (preferably the 5GHz band).

Step 2: Initiate the Transfer on the New Mac

If you have just unboxed the new Mac, Migration Assistant will launch automatically during the initial setup process. If you have already set up the new Mac and created a temporary user account, you can launch it manually.

1. On the New Mac, open Finder and navigate to Applications > Utilities > Migration Assistant.
2. Click Continue. The Mac will log you out of all active applications.
3. When asked how you want to transfer your information, select From a Mac, Time Machine backup, or startup disk.
4. Click Continue.

Step 3: Prepare the Old Mac

Now, you must instruct your old computer to act as the data source.

1. On the Old Mac, open Migration Assistant (Applications > Utilities).
2. Click Continue.
3. When asked how you want to transfer your information, select To another Mac.
4. Click Continue.

Step 4: Verify the Security Code and Select Data

Return to your New Mac. You should see a generic icon representing your old Mac appear on the screen. Click it, then click Continue.

A six-digit security code will appear on the new Mac. Verify that this exact same code is displaying on the old Mac, and click Continue on the old Mac to establish a secure handshake.

Finally, on the new Mac, you will be presented with a checklist of what you want to transfer:

• Applications: Transfers all your software.
• User Account: Transfers your home folder, documents, desktop, and downloads.
• Other Files & Folders: Transfers data located outside the main user directories.
• System & Network: Transfers your Wi-Fi passwords, custom DNS settings, and system preferences.

Check the boxes for the data you want to move and click Continue.

What Happens Next?

The migration process will begin. The screen will dim, and a progress bar will appear. Depending on whether you used a Thunderbolt cable or Wi-Fi, and the amount of data being transferred, this process can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 5 hours.

Once complete, the new Mac will restart. You can log in using your old Mac’s password, and you will find your apps, files, and settings exactly where you left them.