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TorontoSS

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Nov 9, 2009
1,089
396
Hello,

I plan to use migration assistant to transfer about 100GB of data from my old mac to new. If I use this method, I understand you can use thunderbolt to transfer. I was going to buy a thunderbolt 3 wire but noted that actually my old mac, a late 2013 MBP has thunderbolt 2.

Can I still use this method? Wold such a product work for this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product...&pf_rd_p=e632fea2-678f-4848-9a97-bcecda59cb4e

or do i have to buy the Apple adapter? I find that at 50£ i‘d rather just have a slower transfer using WiFi.

Are there other faster ways I can use to migrate?

Thanks!
 
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What Macs are you coming from and going to?

I think the only wired solutions would need the Apple Adapter, with the exception of Ethernet over a network.

Depending on your old Mac, you could take the drive out of it and connect the drive to your new Mac using USB.

If removing the drive from your old Mac isn't possible, you can migrate or clone your old Mac to an external drive and then connect that drive to the new Mac to migrate the data. This could still be done cheaper than the Apple Cable.

You have options besides Wifi.

I think your link is broken.
 
Thanks for your response. that’s helpful. I would rather uncomplicated things, I don’t want to mess anything up. Would it be possible to use a thunderbolt 3 / Ethernet adapter?

Would one then connect the thunderbolt 3 to the new mac and ethernet cable to the old mac?

I am coming from a late 2013 MBP 13 inch and going to a 2020 MBA.

edit: never mind! The old mac doesn’t have an ethernet connection.

Odd the link didn’t work. Here’s a similar one: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Thunderbol...rds=Thunderbolt+2+to+3&qid=1588767060&sr=8-10
 
Last edited:
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Would it be possible to use a thunderbolt 3 / Ethernet adapter?
I don't see why not.

Would one then connect the thunderbolt 3 to the new mac and ethernet cable to the old mac?

I have never used the Migration Assistant using Ethernet directly from one Mac to another. I am guessing it could be done, but never have done it. Just give it a try and find out.

If you have a router to use as a network, this definitely works.
 
Thanks for your response. that’s helpful. I would rather uncomplicated things, I don’t want to mess anything up. Would it be possible to use a thunderbolt 3 / Ethernet adapter?

Would one then connect the thunderbolt 3 to the new mac and ethernet cable to the old mac?

I am coming from a late 2013 MBP 13 inch and going to a 2020 MBA.

edit: never mind! The old mac doesn’t have an ethernet connection.

Odd the link didn’t work. Here’s a similar one: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Thunderbol...rds=Thunderbolt+2+to+3&qid=1588767060&sr=8-10
These are not Thunderbolt cables and will not work for data transfer. If you wanted to use Thunderbolt you need a Thunderbolt 2 to 3 adapter, like Apple's, and also a Thunderbolt (1 or 2) cable.
You could also use ethernet if you get a USB-C to Ethernet adapter, but wifi will also work and won't require you to have any other equipment.
 
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OP:

Brian Baughn has it right in the post above this one.
Do you keep an EXTERNAL backup drive?

If you do, THAT'S what you should use as your "migration vehicle".

The best way to do it is to do a backup on the old Mac JUST BEFORE you boot the new Mac for the very first time.
Then, connect the backup to the new Mac, so as you go through the initial setup, setup assistant can "find" the old drive, and then migrate your apps and data over as a part of the setup procedure.
 
OP:

Brian Baughn has it right in the post above this one.
Do you keep an EXTERNAL backup drive?

If you do, THAT'S what you should use as your "migration vehicle".

The best way to do it is to do a backup on the old Mac JUST BEFORE you boot the new Mac for the very first time.
Then, connect the backup to the new Mac, so as you go through the initial setup, setup assistant can "find" the old drive, and then migrate your apps and data over as a part of the setup procedure.

I "backup" to iCloud and to an external hard drive via Time Machine. Do these forms of backing up in fact get everything? All my files and data, apps I've downloaded, everything?
 
OP:

Brian Baughn has it right in the post above this one.
Do you keep an EXTERNAL backup drive?

If you do, THAT'S what you should use as your "migration vehicle".

The best way to do it is to do a backup on the old Mac JUST BEFORE you boot the new Mac for the very first time.
Then, connect the backup to the new Mac, so as you go through the initial setup, setup assistant can "find" the old drive, and then migrate your apps and data over as a part of the setup procedure.

I do have an external backup drive. I have used Time Machine and I have back ups on it.

I am concerned about the bloat on my computer and I really only want to migrate the music and photos and documents. Nothing else at all. Given that, is my best bet still migration assistant?
 
I do have an external backup drive. I have used Time Machine and I have back ups on it.

I am concerned about the bloat on my computer and I really only want to migrate the music and photos and documents. Nothing else at all. Given that, is my best bet still migration assistant?

I say just your essential files like photos, music/video and lastly saved email (if you have saved email boxes! Please don’t transfer network setting because Apple likes to move this around in the past!
 
I say just your essential files like photos, music/video and lastly saved email (if you have saved email boxes! Please don’t transfer network setting because Apple likes to move this around in the past!

thanks. I decided I’m just going to use iCloud. My photos are on the cloud and so are my songs so this may work and I’ll save copies of photos and music folders on the external drive in case!
 
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