Moving to a new MacBook with Migration Assistant

Bought a new MacBook? With Migration Assistant you move your files, apps, settings and user account in one go from your old Mac, from a Time Machine backup or even from a Windows PC. Your new MacBook then feels familiar straight away. This article explains how it works, what to arrange beforehand and what to do when it fails.

Blue Apple repairs MacBooks in Amsterdam. If your old MacBook no longer turns on, moving via Migration Assistant is not possible; more about that at the end.

Three ways to move

• Mac to Mac: wirelessly over Wi-Fi, or faster with a cable between the two Macs.
• From a Time Machine backup: connect the backup drive to the new Mac.
• From a Windows PC: with Migration Assistant for Windows, which you install on the PC.

Preparation

1. Update your old Mac to the newest macOS it supports.
2. Make a backup, to be safe. See backing up your MacBook.
3. Connect both Macs to their chargers.
4. Put them close together and on the same Wi-Fi network, or connect them with a cable.

Step by step

1. On the new MacBook: during the first setup choose the option to transfer information. If you do it later, open Migration Assistant in the Utilities folder.
2. On the old Mac: also open Migration Assistant and choose to transfer to another Mac.
3. Check that the same code appears on both screens.
4. On the new Mac choose what to transfer: applications, your user account, other files and settings.
5. Click Continue and wait. Depending on the amount of data it can take from half an hour to a few hours.

After transferring

• Log in with your user account and check that your files are there.
• Some apps ask again for your licence or to sign in.
• Apps that no longer work on the new macOS version must be updated or replaced.
• Remove your old Mac from your Apple Account and erase it before selling it. See resetting your MacBook to factory settings.

Prefer a clean start?

Some people deliberately do not transfer everything, to start clean on the new MacBook. Then you reinstall your apps and move only your documents, photos and music, via iCloud or an external drive. That takes a bit more time, but you do not bring old clutter along.

It does not work

• The Macs do not see each other: turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, make sure they are on the same network, or use a cable.
• It is very slow: use a cable instead of Wi-Fi.
• It hangs: restart both Macs and try again. Possibly transfer less first, for example only your user account.

Your old MacBook no longer turns on

Then you cannot transfer directly. If you have a Time Machine backup, use that. Without a backup it is often still possible to get the data off the old MacBook, certainly with a screen, battery or power problem. Read data recovery from a dead MacBook.

What we do at Blue Apple in Amsterdam

If your old MacBook no longer starts, we check whether we can get it running again so you can transfer, or we try to secure your data directly. More on our pages about MacBook data recovery and MacBook repair in Amsterdam.

Frequently asked questions

Can I move from an Intel Mac to a Mac with an Apple chip?

Yes, that works fine. Most apps run on the new Mac, possibly through a translation layer.

Do I have to transfer everything?

No, you can choose. If you want a clean start, transfer only your files.

Are my passwords transferred too?

The keychain comes along with your user account, and passwords in iCloud are on your new Mac anyway.