Transfer to a new Mac with Migration Assistant
Use Migration Assistant to copy all of your documents, apps, user accounts and settings to a new Mac from another computer.
Do you need these steps?
The steps in this article describe how to transfer content from one Mac to another Mac over Wi-Fi. It’s also possible to transfer content from a Time Machine backup, from a Windows PC or from an iPhone.
Before you begin
Update the software on both computers, if possible.
Make sure both computers have Wi-Fi turned on and are near each other. If either of them is using OS X El Capitan or earlier, they should also be on the same Wi-Fi network.
If you’ve installed antivirus software, firewall software or VPN software, turn that software off until you’ve finished.
Use Migration Assistant
You’re now ready to use Migration Assistant to transfer content from the old Mac to the new one. Migration Assistant copies but does not delete files from your old Mac.
On your new Mac
Open Migration Assistant on your new Mac. Then click Continue.
Migration Assistant is in the Utilities folder of your Applications folder. To open the Utilities folder directly, you can choose Go > Utilities from the menu bar in the Finder. Or use Spotlight to search for Migration Assistant.
If your Mac starts up to a setup assistant, which asks for details like your country and network, continue to the next step, because the setup assistant includes a migration assistant.
When Migration Assistant asks you for permission to make changes, enter your administrator password, then click OK.
When asked how you want to transfer your information, select the option to transfer from a Mac, Time Machine backup or startup disk. Then click Continue.
On your old Mac
Open Migration Assistant on your old Mac. Then click Continue.
When asked how you want to transfer your information, select the option to transfer to another Mac. Then click Continue.
On your new Mac
When asked to select a Mac, Time Machine backup or other startup disk, select the other Mac. Then click Continue.
On your old Mac
If you see a security code, make sure that it's the same code displayed on your new Mac. Then click Continue.
On your new Mac
Migration Assistant will now catalogue all of the content on your old Mac, and calculate how much storage space is being used by your apps, user accounts, files, folders and settings. This can take a few minutes. When ready, select the information to transfer.
Before clicking Continue, find out what it means to transfer a user account. In the example pictured here, Danny Rico is a user account on the old Mac. If an account on the new Mac has the same name, Migration Assistant will ask whether to rename or replace:
Rename: The account on your old Mac will appear as an additional user on your new Mac, with a separate login and home folder.
Replace: The account on your old Mac will replace the identically named account on your new Mac.
Large transfers may need hours to be completed, and may seem to pause occasionally. You may want to start in the evening and allow migration to be completed overnight. Click Continue to start the transfer.
After Migration Assistant has finished, close it on both computers, then log in to the migrated account on your new Mac to see its files.
Migration Assistant will transfer your email, but to access it you may first need to set up your email account again in your email app.
If you’re not keeping your old Mac, find out what to do before you sell, give away or trade in your old Mac.
