Got a new Mac and trying to figure out how to move your old contents to the new one? Find out how to use migration assistant from Mac in this new article!

Migration Assistant Mac

Contents: Part 1. Getting ReadyPart 2. How to Migrate Old Files from the Old Mac to the New Mac?Part 3. Use Time Machine in Migration.Part 4. Conclusion

People Also Read:How to speed up El Capitan?How to fix the issue of Chrome Running Slow On Mac?

Part 1. Getting Ready

Transferring your old files manually from the previous Mac is tiring. At this point, you might be wondering if a clean install is better than to migrate.

However, your favorite apps, documents, and other important files are still with the old Mac and you cannot just leave it there.

To meet halfway, you need to use Migration assistant to copy/transfer documents, apps, user accounts, and settings to a new Mac.

To get started, you need to read the following:

  1. Both Mac should have at least installed the latest app software updates available. Install updates for third-party software as well
  2. Your new Mac should have at least v10.6.8 or later
  3. Name the old Mac. Check if the old Mac has a computer name. You can also go to Apple menu> System Preferences, click Sharing and check the Computer Name field
  4. Connect both Macs to power sources to ensure that you don’t get any battery interruptions all throughout the migration process.
  5. Use direct connection. Directly connecting both devices is the fastest way to perform the migration. Use Thunderbolt, FireWire, or Ethernet cable for the transfer otherwise, you can also use the Wi-Fi is no cables are readily available.

Mac migration assistant lets you copy or transfer any important files from Mac to another Mac device and from a Mac to a Windows PC.

Connect Both Macs

  • If both Macs are running on the latest OS, place them near each other and turn on the Wi-Fi on both devices. If one of the Macs runs on El Capitan or earlier, make sure both are connected under the same network or use Ethernet cable
  • You can now start the old Mac in target disk mode or connect the new Mac to an available Time Machine backup from the old Mac.

Part 2. How to Migrate Old Files from the Old Mac to the New Mac?

Now that you are ready to begin the migration, the next step that you need to do is to perform a full backup of your old Mac as a precaution.

We don’t want you to lose important files in any case. Use Apple’s very own Time Machine for the backup or any other backup program of your choice.

You may also create a bootable clone of the startup disk so that if something goes wrong during the migration you can still migrate either from the Time Machine or from the clone you created.

Once you have done the backup, it is better to do a full cleanup of your old Mac. In this way, you can remove all the junk files and even outdated and corrupted programs. Use iMyMac PowerMyMac to move away from your Mac purgeable space for faster and efficient cleanup.

It will only take at least 2 minutes for the cleanup process, after that you can proceed with the migration right away.

Use Migration Assistant:

Follow these steps below on how to use migration assistant from Mac:

On your Old Mac:

  • Connect the Thunderbolt, FireWire, or Ethernet cable from the old Mac to the new one. If you are using Wi-Fi, make sure that both Macs are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

On the New Mac:

  • Open the Finder window
  • Click Applications from the sidebar
  • Double-click the utility folder
  • Double-click Migration Assistant
  • Click continue and enter the Administrator password and click OK
  • When asked how you want to transfer your information, click From a Mac
  • Click Continue

Go back to the Old Mac:

  • Launch Finder and click on Applications
  • Find and double-click the Utility folder to show the Migration assistant option. Double-click on it
  • Click continue and enter the Administrator password, click OK
  • When prompted for the transfer option, click To a New Mac
  • Click Continue

Again go back to the New Mac:

  • The Migration Assistant will be looking for the transfer source, select the Old Mac or if you are using Time Machine then click on the Time Machine hard drive. Click Continue
  • A security code will appear on the screen which you need to enter on the Old Mac.

Go to your Old Mac:

  • Confirm the security code from the Old Mac with the New Mac. Click Continue

On the New Mac:

  • Choose the files, settings, apps, and other information you plan to transfer from the old Mac to the new one
  • Click Continue
  • Wait until the migration is completed. This process will take some time that is why it is best to have plugged in and charged both devices.

After the migration is finished, you now have all the applications, files, documents, and other stuff you need on the new Mac.

Part 3. Use Time Machine in Migration.

If you have backed your contents with Time Machine you don’t have to endure the tricky migration process like we mentioned above. Although the process is similar, you can ignore all the steps that involve the old Mac.

When you are prompted for the migration source, click the Time Machine backup, and then choose the backup you want to migrate. That’s it! Pretty simple right?

Of course the tip here is that the fewer the files you want to copy or transfer, the faster the migration will be. This is why we strongly recommend you use iMyMac PowerMyMac for getting rid of unwanted files and junks. It automatically identifies the files such as system junk, unnecessary Photos files, large and old files. You can remove all these junks or you can selectively erase those unimportant ones.

Part 4. Conclusion

Today we have learned how to use the migration assistant from Mac as well as the complete step by step process on how to perform the transfer.

In case you are wondering how you can transfer a huge amount of contents from the old Mac, try using PowerMyMac first. This program will sort out the junks from not and lets you remove them safely. This is an efficient program which allows you to remove unnecessary programs, files and contents on the system plus it has free download version for you to try!

Get PowerMyMac Free TrialGet A Free Trial Now!