How to Migrate to a New Mac

Got a shiny new MacBook or iMac? Apple's Migration Assistant moves everything from your old Mac: files, apps, settings, accounts. Here's the full process.

Choose your method

Three ways to migrate:

• Cable (fastest): Thunderbolt 4 or USB-C cable between the two Macs. About 1-3 hours for 500 GB
• Wi-Fi: No cable needed, but can take all day for large transfers
• Time Machine: Restore from your backup drive. About the same speed as cable

Before you migrate

1. Update macOS on both Macs (Apple menu > System Settings > General > Software Update)
2. Plug both into power
3. If using Wi-Fi, make sure both Macs are on the same network
4. Make a Time Machine backup of the old Mac (highly recommended in case something goes wrong)
5. Sign out of iTunes/Apple Music on the old Mac if you have DRM content (rarely an issue now)
6. Sign out of any apps with hardware-tied licenses (Adobe, etc.)

Method 1: Migration during new Mac setup

Recommended. Easiest path.

1. Turn on the new Mac, follow setup until "Migration Assistant" screen
2. Choose From a Mac, Time Machine backup, or startup disk
3. On your old Mac, open Migration Assistant (in Applications > Utilities)
4. Choose To another Mac
5. Both Macs will look for each other. When they find each other, confirm the security code matches on both screens
6. Select what to transfer: Applications, Documents, Settings, Accounts. Usually you want all of it
7. Click Continue
8. Wait. Both Macs need to stay on, plugged in, and connected (cable or Wi-Fi)

Method 2: From a Time Machine backup

If you don't have the old Mac anymore, or it died.

1. Connect your Time Machine drive to the new Mac
2. During setup, choose Migration Assistant
3. Select From a Mac, Time Machine backup, or startup disk
4. Pick the Time Machine drive
5. Choose the backup snapshot you want (usually the latest)
6. Select what to transfer
7. Continue, wait

Method 3: After setup is done (still works)

If you already set up the new Mac and started using it, you can still migrate.

1. On the new Mac, open Migration Assistant (Applications > Utilities)
2. It will tell you the Mac needs to log out so it can transfer data. Click Continue
3. Follow the same prompts as Method 1

Note: migrating after setup creates a new user account or replaces existing data. Pay attention to the prompts.

Time estimates

• Wi-Fi, 100 GB: 3-6 hours
• Wi-Fi, 500 GB: all day
• Cable, 100 GB: 30-60 minutes
• Cable, 500 GB: 1-3 hours
• Time Machine on USB 3, 500 GB: 1-2 hours

After the migration

1. Log in to the migrated user account
2. Sign in to iCloud (if not done already)
3. Apps that need re-activation will prompt you (Adobe, Microsoft Office)
4. Re-enter passwords for some browsers (Chrome and Edge sometimes lose passwords)
5. Check Time Machine is set up on the new Mac to back up your new drive

What if migration fails?

• Stuck on "Looking for source...": turn off any VPN, make sure both Macs are on the same network, restart both
• Stuck on a specific file: let it sit for an hour. If still stuck, cancel and try again, deselecting that specific file/folder
• Wi-Fi too slow: use a cable instead
• Mac freezes during migration: hard restart, try again. Could be a flaky network if doing Wi-Fi

What to do with the old Mac

Once you've confirmed everything migrated:

1. Sign out of iCloud, Find My, iMessage, FaceTime
2. System Settings > General > Transfer or Reset
3. Erase All Content and Settings
4. Old Mac is now ready to sell, trade in, or recycle