How to transfer data from your old Mac to a new Mac – all options

Data transfer Mac: The best options at a glance

Buying a new MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac Studio, Mac mini, or Mac Pro is always exciting—new technology, better performance, modern design. But before you can fully enjoy your new device, there’s one important task: transferring your data. Apple offers several convenient options for moving documents, apps, photos, settings, and more from your old Mac to your new one. In this article, we’ll show you the best ways and walk you through each step for transferring your data from your Mac.

1. Data transfer during initial setup

When you start your new Mac for the first time, the Setup Assistant will guide you through the initial setup. You can transfer data directly from another Mac, a Time Machine backup, or an external drive.

Here's how it works:

1. Turn on the new Mac and follow the on-screen instructions.

2. At the "Transfer Data" step, select "From a Mac, Time Machine backup, or startup disk."

3. Make sure the old Mac is powered on or the backup is available (both the old and new Mac need to be on the same Wi-Fi or network).

4. Follow the instructions to connect both devices or to restore the backup.

Benefits:

• All done in one step

• No further setup or manual transfer needed

2. Migration Assistant – transfer later

If you’ve already set up your Mac but want to transfer data from your old device, the Migration Assistant is your tool of choice.

Procedure:

1. Turn on both Macs and connect them to the same network.

2. On the new Mac, launch the Migration Assistant (Applications - Utilities - Migration Assistant).

3. Select “From a Mac, Time Machine backup, or startup disk.”

4. On the old Mac, also start Migration Assistant and select “To another Mac.”

5. Select which content you want to transfer.

Benefits:

• Flexible even after initial setup

• Full transfer of user accounts, apps, and data

3. Use Time Machine backup

If you regularly use Time Machine, you can easily restore your system on your new Mac.

Here’s how:

• Either directly during the initial setup (“From a Time Machine backup”)

• Or later via the Migration Assistant

Benefits:

• Especially helpful if your old Mac is broken

• Saves time during setup

4. Directly via iCloud

Apple automatically syncs a lot of content through iCloud when you sign in with the same Apple ID.

Data that will be transferred automatically:

• Photos, Contacts, Calendars, Notes

• Safari bookmarks, iCloud Drive documents

• App data from iCloud-compatible apps

Benefits:

• No physical contact or backup required

• Perfect for users with fast internet and large iCloud storage

5. Manual transfer via external hard drive

For anyone who only wants to transfer specific content, manual copying is an option.

Process:

1. Copy data from the old Mac to an external hard drive.

2. Connect the hard drive to the new Mac and transfer the files.

Benefits:

• Control over the process

• No additional tools required
  
  Note:

• Programs must be installed separately

• Settings are not applied

6. AirDrop – the quick solution for small files

AirDrop is ideal if you want to quickly send a file from your old Mac to your new one.

Application:

• Enable AirDrop on both devices

• Right-click the file > “Share” > “AirDrop” to send it to the new Mac

Benefits:

• Super fast and wireless

• Ideal for single files or photos