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

Mac data transfer: the best options at a glance

Buying a new MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac Studio, Mac mini or Mac Pro is always exciting – new tech, better performance, modern design. But before you can fully enjoy your new device, there’s an important task to take care of: transferring your data. Apple offers several convenient ways to move documents, apps, photos, settings and more from your old Mac to your new one. In this article, we’ll show you the best methods and explain step by step what to do when you want to transfer your data from a Mac.

1. Transferring data during initial setup

When you start your new Mac for the first time, the Setup Assistant will guide you through the initial configuration. There 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 Information” step, choose “From a Mac, Time Machine backup, or startup disk.”

3. Make sure the old Mac is turned on or the backup is available (the old and the new Mac must be on the same Wi‑Fi or network.

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

Benefits:

• Everything done in a single step

• No later setup or manual transfer required

2. Migration Assistant – transfer later

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

Procedure:

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

2. On the new Mac, start 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. Choose which content you want to transfer.

Benefits:

• Flexible even after initial setup

• Complete transfer of user accounts, applications, and data

3. Use a Time Machine backup

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

Here’s how:

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

• Or later via the Migration Assistant

Benefits:

• Especially helpful if the old Mac is defective

• Saves time when setting up a new device

4. Directly via iCloud

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

Data that is 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 plenty of iCloud storage

5. Manual transfer using an 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 drive to the new Mac and transfer the files.

Benefits:

• Control over the process

• No additional tools required
  
  Note:

• Applications must be installed separately

• Settings are not being applied

6. AirDrop – the quick solution for small files

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

Usage:

• Enable AirDrop on both devices

• Send the file to the new Mac via right-click > “Share” > “AirDrop”

Benefits:

• Super fast and wireless

• Ideal for individual files or photos