Buying a new Mac is exciting, but the first question most people ask is simple: how do I get everything from my old Mac onto the new one? Your documents, photos, apps, settings, and passwords have built up over years, and nobody wants to move them one folder at a time.
Migration Assistant is Apple’s built-in answer to that problem. It copies your data from an old Mac, a Time Machine backup, or even a Windows PC, and places it on your new Mac in the right locations. When it works well, your new Mac feels familiar within an hour or two, with your desktop, apps, and preferences just as you left them.
This guide explains the ways you can connect the two machines, the exact steps for a Mac-to-Mac transfer, and how to fix the problems that sometimes slow people down.
Quick Answer
To transfer files to a new Mac, open Migration Assistant on both Macs, connect them to the same Wi-Fi network or with a cable, and on the new Mac choose From a Mac, Time Machine backup or Startup disk. Select your old Mac, confirm the security code matches on both screens, choose the accounts, apps, and files you want, and click Continue. Leave both Macs plugged in and undisturbed until the transfer finishes.
What Migration Assistant Can Move
Migration Assistant moves far more than documents. Understanding what it copies helps you decide what to select during the transfer.
- User accounts, including each person’s home folder, desktop, and downloads.
- Documents, photos, music, videos, and other personal files.
- Most applications, so you do not need to download everything again.
- System and network settings, such as Wi-Fi networks and preferences.
- Mail accounts and messages, browser data, and other app data in your library folders.
Ways to Connect the Two Macs
You have three main options. The best choice depends on the cables you own and how much data you are moving.
Wi-Fi on the same network
This is the easiest method because it needs no cables. Both Macs join the same Wi-Fi network and find each other automatically. It is fine for small and medium transfers, but a large photo library can take many hours over a slow or busy network.
A Thunderbolt or USB-C cable
A direct cable is the fastest and most reliable option. Connect a Thunderbolt cable between the two Macs and the data moves far quicker than over Wi-Fi. If your old Mac has different ports, you may need an adapter. For anyone moving hundreds of gigabytes, a cable is worth it.
Before You Start the Transfer
A little preparation prevents most failures. Work through this short list before opening Migration Assistant.
- Update both Macs to the latest version of macOS they support, if possible. Matching or newer software avoids compatibility warnings.
- Plug both Macs into power. A transfer should never depend on battery life.
- Make a fresh backup of the old Mac. Our step-by-step guide to backing up your Mac with Time Machine shows how, and that backup becomes a second migration source if anything goes wrong.
- Turn off antivirus, firewall, and VPN software on both Macs during the transfer, as these tools can block the connection.
- Keep the Macs close together if you are using Wi-Fi, ideally in the same room as each other and near the router.
- Give your old Mac a simple name in Sharing settings if the new Mac has trouble finding it.
How to Transfer Files with Migration Assistant, Step by Step
If your new Mac is still in its box, start the transfer during its first setup. macOS asks whether you want to transfer information, and you can choose your old Mac at that point. If you already finished setup, you can still migrate later by opening the app manually, as described below.
- On the new Mac, open Finder, go to Applications, then Utilities, and open Migration Assistant.
- Click Continue. Enter your administrator password if asked, and note that other apps will close.
- Choose From a Mac, Time Machine backup or Startup disk, then click Continue.
- On the old Mac, open Migration Assistant in the same Utilities folder.
- On the old Mac, choose To another Mac, then click Continue.
- On the new Mac, select your old Mac when it appears in the list and click Continue.
- Check the security code. The same code should appear on both screens. Confirm it on the old Mac if asked.
- Wait while the new Mac scans the old one and calculates the size of each category.
- Select what to transfer: user accounts, applications, documents and data, and computer and network settings.
- Click Continue to begin. A progress bar and time estimate appear.
- Leave both Macs alone until the new Mac says the transfer is complete.
- Click Done, then log in to your moved account on the new Mac and check your files.
Transfer time varies a lot. A light account might move in twenty minutes over a cable, while a large library over Wi-Fi can take overnight. The estimate often starts high and improves, so do not panic at the first number you see.
After the Transfer Finishes
When the new Mac restarts or returns to the login screen, sign in with the same password you used on the old Mac. Then check the important things in a sensible order:
- Open Photos, Music, and your documents folder and confirm your files look complete.
- Launch your main apps and sign in where asked. Enter licence keys you saved earlier.
- Check Mail and your browser to confirm accounts and bookmarks arrived.
- Reconnect printers and other accessories, installing fresh drivers if needed.
- Turn your antivirus, firewall, or VPN software back on.
Keep your old Mac, or at least its backup, for a week or two before erasing or selling it. That safety period means a file you forgot to check is still within reach. Apple’s own official Migration Assistant guide for moving data to a new Mac is a useful reference for extra detail, and Apple’s advice on what to do before selling or giving away a Mac covers the final cleanup of the old machine.
Fixing Common Migration Problems
The new Mac cannot find the old Mac
Confirm both Macs are on the same Wi-Fi network, or reseat the cable at both ends. Restart both machines and open Migration Assistant again. Turning off VPN and firewall tools solves this more often than any other step.
The transfer seems stuck
Large folders, especially photo libraries, can sit at one point for a long time while sizes are checked. Give it at least an hour before deciding it has frozen. If the time estimate never changes and there is no progress for several hours, cancel, switch from Wi-Fi to a cable, and try again.
The transfer is very slow
Move the Macs closer to the router, ask others to pause heavy streaming, or use a cable. A wired connection can turn an overnight job into a lunch-time job, so it is the single best fix for slow transfers.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Skipping the backup. Migration problems are rare, but a backup means they are an inconvenience, not a disaster.
- Using both Macs during the transfer. Opening apps, sleeping the machine, or closing the lid can interrupt the process. Leave them alone.
- Running on battery. A Mac that sleeps or shuts down mid-transfer can force you to start again.
- Erasing the old Mac too soon. Wait until you have used the new Mac for a while and confirmed nothing is missing.
- Choosing replace without reading. The account conflict screen matters. A rushed click can overwrite an account you still need.
Conclusion
Migration Assistant is the simplest way to make a new Mac feel like your old one. Prepare with updates, power, and a backup, connect the Macs by cable if you can, and let the tool move your accounts, files, apps, and settings in one go. Check everything carefully afterwards, keep the old Mac for a short safety period, and you will be working on the new machine without the usual fresh-start frustration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my new Mac while the transfer is running?
No. Migration Assistant closes other apps and takes over the machine during the transfer. Plan to start it when you can leave both Macs unused, such as in the evening, especially for large transfers.
Can Migration Assistant move data from a Windows PC?
Yes. Apple provides a Windows version of Migration Assistant. Install it on the PC, open the Mac version on your new Mac, and follow similar steps to move documents, photos, and some account data across your network.
What if I already set up my new Mac without transferring?
You can still migrate later. Open Migration Assistant from the Utilities folder and follow the same steps. Be careful at the account stage, because you may need to replace, rename, or skip an account that already exists on the new Mac.
Does Migration Assistant copy my passwords?
Many passwords stored in your keychain and browser move with your account data, but some apps and services ask you to sign in again on the new machine for security. Keep your passwords available during the first day of use.
How long should a transfer take?
It depends on the amount of data and the connection. Small transfers over a cable may take under half an hour. Several hundred gigabytes over busy Wi-Fi can take many hours, which is why a cable is recommended for big libraries.
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