How to Transfer Data to a New Mac with Migration Assistant

Transfer your files, settings, and apps to your new Mac using Migration Assistant. Follow our step-by-step guide for a seamless setup process.

1. Update your source computer. Ensure your old Mac is running the latest available version of macOS. For Windows PCs, ensure you have the latest version of the Migration Assistant utility downloaded from the official Apple support site.
2. Establish a network connection. Connect both computers to the same local Wi-Fi network. For faster speeds, connect both machines directly to each other using a Thunderbolt cable or a USB-C Ethernet adapter.
3. Open Migration Assistant. On the new Mac, launch Migration Assistant from the Utilities folder within Applications. On the source Mac, perform the same action to initialize the handshake protocol.
4. Select the transfer method. Select 'From a Mac, Time Machine backup, or Startup disk' on your new Mac. Click Continue and select the source computer when it appears in the device list.
5. Choose information to transfer. Review the categories displayed on the new Mac, including Applications, User folders, and System settings. Select the checkboxes for the data you wish to migrate and click Continue.
6. Run the migration. Initiate the transfer and keep both computers plugged into power. Do not put either machine to sleep or interrupt the network connection while the progress bar is active.