How to Manually Transfer Files from an Old Mac to a New Mac

Learn how to manually move your files, documents, and data from an old Mac to a new one using external storage and Finder. No migration assistant required.

1. Format your external drive for compatibility. Connect your external drive to the old Mac and open Disk Utility via Spotlight. Select your drive, click Erase, and choose APFS or Mac OS Extended (Journaled) as the format to ensure full file permission support during the transfer.
2. Identify your user data folders. Open Finder on the old Mac and navigate to your Home folder by selecting Go > Home in the menu bar. Locate the folders containing your primary data: Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Movies, Music, and Pictures.
3. Transfer files to the external drive. Select all desired folders and drag them onto the icon for your external drive in the Finder sidebar. Allow the progress bar to complete fully before proceeding to ensure no data corruption occurs during the file copy process.
4. Safely disconnect the external storage. Right-click the external drive icon on the desktop or in the Finder sidebar and select Eject. Wait for the icon to disappear before physically unplugging the cable from the old Mac.
5. Copy files to the new Mac. Connect the drive to your new Mac and open the drive in Finder. Highlight the folders, then drag them into the corresponding directories within your new Home folder. macOS will prompt you to merge folders if they already exist; select Merge to combine contents.