The fastest way to move everything is Migration Assistant, which transfers your files, apps, accounts, and settings in one process
Migration Assistant is built into every Mac and handles the heavy lifting for you. It copies your user account, applications, documents, photos, email, browser bookmarks, system settings, and preferences to the new machine. You don't pick and choose — it moves the whole account or lets you select specific items. The process takes anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours depending on how much data you have and whether you're transferring over a network or using a direct cable connection.
You'll need both Macs powered on and connected to the same Wi-Fi network, or you can use a Thunderbolt or USB-C cable for a faster wired transfer. Apple's setup process will prompt you to use Migration Assistant when you first turn on the new Mac, but you can also run it manually from the Utilities folder on either machine.
Key Takeaways
- Migration Assistant moves your entire account, apps, and settings automatically without requiring you to reinstall anything manually.
- A direct cable connection (Thunderbolt or USB-C) transfers data faster than Wi-Fi, especially for large libraries.
- You can migrate from an older Mac to a newer one, or restore from a Time Machine backup if your old Mac isn't available.
- After migration completes, check that your apps launch correctly and your email accounts are still connected before erasing the old Mac.
Using Migration Assistant over Wi-Fi or cable
Start Migration Assistant on your new Mac during the initial setup, or open it later from Applications > Utilities > Migration Assistant. The tool will ask whether you're migrating from another Mac, a Time Machine backup, or a startup disk. Select "From a Mac" if your old machine is still working.
On the old Mac, open Migration Assistant as well. Both machines will display a code — enter the code from the old Mac into the new one to establish a secure connection. Then select which user account to transfer. You can move one account or multiple accounts if several people use the old Mac. The new Mac will ask where you want to place the migrated account and whether to replace any existing account with the same name.
For a cable connection, plug a Thunderbolt or USB-C cable between the two Macs. The new Mac should recognize the old one automatically. The process is otherwise identical — Migration Assistant handles the connection without extra steps.
Restoring from a Time Machine backup
If your old Mac is no longer available or won't start up, you can restore from a Time Machine backup instead. During setup on the new Mac, choose "From a Time Machine backup" in Migration Assistant. You'll need the external drive that contains your backup, or you can restore from a network Time Machine backup if you have one stored on a compatible drive.
Migration Assistant will scan the backup and show you available snapshots. Select the most recent one (usually the best choice) or pick an earlier snapshot if you want to exclude recent files. The transfer proceeds the same way as a live migration — your account, apps, and settings move to the new Mac.
Transferring specific files without moving everything
If you don't want to move your entire account, you can copy individual folders or files using Finder or cloud storage. Connect the old Mac to the new one with a cable, or make sure both are on the same Wi-Fi network. In Finder on the new Mac, click "Network" in the sidebar to see the old Mac, then browse its files and drag folders to your new machine.
Alternatively, use iCloud Drive, Dropbox, Google Drive, or another cloud service to sync specific folders between machines. This approach takes longer than Migration Assistant but gives you control over what moves and what stays behind. It's useful if you're cleaning up old files or if the machines are far apart and can't connect directly.
What to do after migration completes
Once Migration Assistant finishes, restart the new Mac and log in with your migrated account. Open a few applications to confirm they launch correctly — sometimes apps need to re-authenticate or rebuild their caches on the new machine. Check that your email accounts are still connected and that your browser bookmarks and passwords came through.
If you use iCloud, sign in to confirm your account is active. Some apps tied to your Apple ID (like Final Cut Pro or Logic Pro) may need you to authorize them on the new Mac. This usually happens automatically when you launch the app.
Once you're confident everything works, you can erase the old Mac if you're selling it or recycling it. Use Erase Mac in System Settings > General > Transfer or Reset, or restart in Recovery mode and use Disk Utility to erase the drive. Do not skip this step if the old Mac will leave your hands — erasing removes your personal data.
When Migration Assistant doesn't work or gets stuck
If the two Macs can't find each other over Wi-Fi, try a cable connection instead — it's more reliable and faster. Make sure both machines are running recent versions of macOS; very old Macs may not be compatible with very new ones, though Apple usually supports migration back several generations.
If Migration Assistant stalls or stops responding, force-quit it (Command-Q or Command-Option-Escape) and restart both Macs. Then try again. If the old Mac is extremely full or has a failing drive, the transfer may be slow or fail partway through. In that case, back up the old Mac to an external drive first, then migrate from that backup instead.
For persistent problems, restart both Macs in Safe Mode (hold Shift while starting up) and try Migration Assistant again. Safe Mode disables third-party software that might interfere with the transfer.
Moving data to a Mac from a Windows PC
Migration Assistant only works between Macs. If you're switching from Windows, you'll need to transfer files manually. Connect an external drive to the Windows PC and copy your Documents, Pictures, Desktop, and Downloads folders to it. Then plug the drive into the Mac and drag the folders to the appropriate locations in Finder.
For email, export your messages from Outlook or Windows Mail to a file format the Mac can read (usually .pst or .eml), then import them into Apple Mail or another Mac email client. Browser bookmarks can usually be exported from Chrome, Firefox, or Edge and imported into Safari or another Mac browser. Photos and videos transfer as regular files — just copy them to the Mac's Pictures folder.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Migration Assistant take?
Transfer time depends on how much data you're moving and your connection speed. Over Wi-Fi, expect 30 minutes to several hours for a typical user account. A direct cable connection is usually 2 to 3 times faster. Very large libraries (500 GB or more) can take 4 to 8 hours even on a cable.
Can I use my old Mac while Migration Assistant is running?
You can, but it will slow down the transfer. Migration Assistant reads from the old Mac's drive while the new one writes, so heavy use on either machine will make the process take longer. It's best to leave both machines alone until the transfer finishes.
Do I need to reinstall my applications after migration?
No. Migration Assistant copies your installed applications to the new Mac. They should launch and work immediately. Some apps may need you to sign in again or re-authorize, but you won't need to download or install them from scratch.
What if I want to keep some files off the new Mac?
During migration, you can click "Options" to deselect specific folders or applications before the transfer starts. This lets you move your account and most files while leaving behind large folders you don't need on the new machine.
Can I migrate to a Mac with a different processor (Intel to Apple Silicon)?
Yes. Migration Assistant works between Intel Macs and Apple Silicon Macs. Some older applications built only for Intel may not run on Apple Silicon, but Migration Assistant will transfer them anyway — you'll find out after migration whether they work. Universal applications and newer software run on both.