How Long Does It Take To Transfe Files From One Mac To Another Using Migration Assistant?

[beeinformed]

Hi.

I started transfering flies via wifi using migration assistant (at about 8 PM last night) from my MacBook Air to my new MacBook Pro and it is not completed (on the MacBook Air it saids "Transferring Applcations & Documents").

I would appreciate any feedback about approximately how long it takes to transfer files from Mac to another using migration assistant via wifi? Thanks!

 

[Bo15]

It can take overnight mac to mac over wifi per Apple's support doc on migration Asst. I tried doing this with my 09 MBP to my new TB MBP but couldn't get them to connect following the step by step instructions. Instead I migrated from my time capsule and it went pretty fast. About 3.5 hrs for about 240GB transfer. It showed transfer speed of about 18-20 MB/sec on my wifi.

 

[Howard2k]

If it's only a small amount of data it'll be really quick over 802.11ac. If it's a monstrous amount of data it'll be really slow, especially over 802.11b.

It's actually going to depend on the characteristics of your wireless network, how much data you're transferring, and what size files you're sending. Large files typically transfer faster than small files, for example. But since you don't have any information about any of that it's a "how long is a piece of string" question.

 

[therealseebs]

It really depends. Is it not showing an approximate transfer rate? I was getting 30-60MB/sec with thunderbolt. I wouldn't want to use wireless usually, because I have never seen wireless performance be very good in the real world.

 

[beeinformed]

Thanks everyone for your replies! It seemed that using the data transfer (for 40GB) via wifi network was not working out probably (as it still did not transfer the data after waiting a few days) so I recently spoke to a Apple senior adviser who recommended using a thunderbolt cable & adapter.

I received it today and I am waiting for a callback from the same senior advisor (who recommended the cable & adapter) to help me with this issue. Is this a good method to use to transfer the data (It's about 50 GB)?

 

[MacPioneer]

Transferring the Time Machine backup of my almost-full older 1 TB rMBP over hard wired gigabit Ethernet took a bit over 30 hours.

 

[Orca48]

It really depends. Is it not showing an approximate transfer rate? I was getting 30-60MB/sec with thunderbolt. I wouldn't want to use wireless usually, because I have never seen wireless performance be very good in the real world.

I must have had a lot of files so far 24 hours and it says 95 hours and 43 minutes remaining. I hope it works? If not, I am going the Thunder Bolt 3 way.

 

[Orca48]

Transferring the Time Machine backup of my almost-full older 1 TB rMBP over hard wired gigabit Ethernet took a bit over 30 hours.

Sounds like I have the same problem. If this Wifi doesn't work. I going to try Thunder Blot 3

 

[FreakinEurekan]

Thanks everyone for your replies! It seemed that using the data transfer (for 40GB) via wifi network was not working out probably (as it still did not transfer the data after waiting a few days) so I recently spoke to a Apple senior adviser who recommended using a thunderbolt cable & adapter.

I received it today and I am waiting for a callback from the same senior advisor (who recommended the cable & adapter) to help me with this issue. Is this a good method to use to transfer the data (It's about 50 GB)?

Frankly, no, it's not a good method considering the cost. OP is long gone of course but @Orca48 this is better for you:

For the cost of a Thunderbolt cable and adapter, you could buy an external hard drive - use it to make a Time Machine backup of the old Mac - migrate from the backup - and then CONTINUE using the drive for Time Machine on the new computer.

But instead you have a Thunderbolt cable and adapter that you'll have zero use for going forward.

 

[Fishrrman]

This thread is 9 years old, but I'll comment anyway:
The fastest way to use migration assistant to move from and old Mac to new is to:
- create a CLONED backup of the old Mac using either CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper (on an external drive)
And then...
- connect that to the NEW Mac, and migrate from that.

 

[MacBH928]

This thread is 9 years old, but I'll comment anyway:
The fastest way to use migration assistant to move from and old Mac to new is to:
- create a CLONED backup of the old Mac using either CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper (on an external drive)
And then...
- connect that to the NEW Mac, and migrate from that.

does migration assistant work with that? Or you have to manually copy files over?

 

[ignatius345]

This thread is 9 years old, but I'll comment anyway:
The fastest way to use migration assistant to move from and old Mac to new is to:
- create a CLONED backup of the old Mac using either CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper (on an external drive)
And then...
- connect that to the NEW Mac, and migrate from that.

Strongly disagree. You're doing two copies, one to the external drive and then again onto the new Mac.

The fastest way is by connecting them directly. That's how I migrated from my M1 iMac to M4 iMac, via a Thunderbolt cable.

Not saying the above method is bad at all (and it does yield you an extra copy of the data) but I don't think it's the purely fastest way to go. Nor is it the easiest.

Going over wifi is the slowest option, and IMO it's worth doing whatever you can to avoid it.

 

[chabig]

The fastest way is by connecting them directly. That's how I migrated from my M1 iMac to M4 iMac, via a Thunderbolt cable.

There is no faster way than this.

 

[TallManNY]

Thanks everyone for your replies! It seemed that using the data transfer (for 40GB) via wifi network was not working out probably (as it still did not transfer the data after waiting a few days) so I recently spoke to a Apple senior adviser who recommended using a thunderbolt cable & adapter.

I received it today and I am waiting for a callback from the same senior advisor (who recommended the cable & adapter) to help me with this issue. Is this a good method to use to transfer the data (It's about 50 GB)?

I don't know what adapter you would need, but a simple USB-C cable connecting your two computers is all you need. It will get the transfer down to less than an hour for 50gb. You probably have such a cable already for charging a phone that uses UCB-C. If your MBA is so old that it only has USB-A ports, then you would need a $10 USB-A to USB-C adapter that can be bought easily online or at pretty much any store that sells tech.

Edit: Damn, didn't realize I was replying to a 9 year old thread. LOL.

 

[ignatius345]

I don't know what adapter you would need, but a simple USB-C cable connecting your two computers is all you need. It will get the transfer down to less than an hour for 50gb. You probably have such a cable already for charging a phone that uses UCB-C. If your MBA is so old that it only has USB-A ports, then you would need a $10 USB-A to USB-C adapter that can be bought easily online or at pretty much any store that sells tech.

Edit: Damn, didn't realize I was replying to a 9 year old thread. LOL.

Haha, same. I end up necroposting because stuff appears in the sidebar on the main page ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Anyway, just wanted to point out that a lot of USB-C cables are just for charging, and not all unfortunately will carry data, or will be stuck at USB 2.0 speeds. Found this cool app recently that will actually help analyze your cables:

‎USB Connection Information

‎¡Hola! Bonjour! Hallo! USB Connection Information is now more accessible than ever, with support for 16 languages, VoiceOver, and a new Increase Contrast Mode. Stop guessing, start knowing. USB Connection Information is the essential menu bar utility that instantly reveals the true...

apps.apple.com

 

[Fishrrman]

I stand by what I said earlier about setup assistant (with a new Mac) and a cloned backup.
Clean, and smooth.

 

[ignatius345]

I stand by what I said earlier about setup assistant (with a new Mac) and a cloned backup.
Clean, and smooth.

No question. And it also yields another in transit backup of the data, which is good to have. But when you say it's the "fastest" way, that is debatable

 

[TallManNY]

Haha, same. I end up necroposting because stuff appears in the sidebar on the main page ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Anyway, just wanted to point out that a lot of USB-C cables are just for charging, and not all unfortunately will carry data, or will be stuck at USB 2.0 speeds. Found this cool app recently that will actually help analyze your cables:

‎USB Connection Information

‎¡Hola! Bonjour! Hallo! USB Connection Information is now more accessible than ever, with support for 16 languages, VoiceOver, and a new Increase Contrast Mode. Stop guessing, start knowing. USB Connection Information is the essential menu bar utility that instantly reveals the true...

apps.apple.com

Thanks. I did not know that some USB-C wouldn't carry data. I think I'm okay because when I buy cables I tend to buy relatively good quality ones. But I'm sure I have some USB-C cables that came as charging cables for simple electronics. So will keep this in mind and make sure I don't grab one of those and instead grab like an Anker one or one that came with an Apple device.

 

[ignatius345]

Thanks. I did not know that some USB-C wouldn't carry data. I think I'm okay because when I buy cables I tend to buy relatively good quality ones. But I'm sure I have some USB-C cables that came as charging cables for simple electronics. So will keep this in mind and make sure I don't grab one of those and instead grab like an Anker one or one that came with an Apple device.

It's not about quality, it's about what type of cable. Even high-quality Apple ones may only be for charging, or may carry only USB 2.0 which will be slow.

 

[TallManNY]

It's not about quality, it's about what type of cable. Even high-quality Apple ones may only be for charging, or may carry only USB 2.0 which will be slow.

Ah, I get it, I think. I think my "high quality" Anker USB-C cables (which admittedly I use for charging) are probably only capable of transferring at USB 2.0 even though they call themselves capable of high speed data transfer. While thunderbolt cables that can do 40Gpbs are more like $25 a cable and that would be what I would want handy for data transfer (or for connecting a monitor).

 

[ignatius345]

Ah, I get it, I think. I think my "high quality" Anker USB-C cables (which admittedly I use for charging) are probably only capable of transferring at USB 2.0 even though they call themselves capable of high speed data transfer.

Possibly! Could be worth testing, though, using the free app I linked to earlier, to see if they're fast enough for your use.

While thunderbolt cables that can do 40Gpbs are more like $25 a cable and that would be what I would want handy for data transfer (or for connecting a monitor).

If you want the fastest, connection, yeah. I also found that the portable LG monitor I bought would only work with a very fast cable.

 

[MacBH928]

Ah, I get it, I think. I think my "high quality" Anker USB-C cables (which admittedly I use for charging) are probably only capable of transferring at USB 2.0 even though they call themselves capable of high speed data transfer. While thunderbolt cables that can do 40Gpbs are more like $25 a cable and that would be what I would want handy for data transfer (or for connecting a monitor).

linked to

while Thunderbolt is faster, usb-3 which is archaic technology (17 years) can transfer 1TB over in about 35min if your ssd writes in 500MB/s not slow at all.

 

[m1maverick]

Ah, I get it, I think. I think my "high quality" Anker USB-C cables (which admittedly I use for charging) are probably only capable of transferring at USB 2.0 even though they call themselves capable of high speed data transfer. While thunderbolt cables that can do 40Gpbs are more like $25 a cable and that would be what I would want handy for data transfer (or for connecting a monitor).

It doesn't help that the USB-IF has gone out of their way to make understanding USB-C as difficult as possible.

 

[TallManNY]

while Thunderbolt is faster, usb-3 which is archaic technology (17 years) can transfer 1TB over in about 35min if your ssd writes in 500MB/s not slow at all.

Good point. I really don't have any data transfer needs (outside of data to run a monitor display) that wouldn't be satisfied with USB-3 speed.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

No question. And it also yields another in transit backup of the data, which is good to have. But when you say it's the "fastest" way, that is debatable

It isn't just a matter of "What's fastest" but also "what's most cost effective AND "Fast Enough"

Paying $50 for a Thunderbolt cable to use once, is not cost effective.

Buying an external hard drive that you can then continue to use for backup or data, is cost effective.