how to transfer files from old macbook to new mac book?

[michael31986]

I'm looking to buy a new macbook pro, but i wanted to use a wire to transfer all my files. I'm not sure the wifi migration is reliable. Can't some files transfers get corrupted by transfer from Wifi?

What wire could i use to transfer all info from my old macbook pro to new one?

 

[Weaselboy]

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204350

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201462

Here are a couple Apple supports link that will help you.

Wifi works, but if you have a lot of data it can take a very long time to migrate.

I usually backup to an external USB drive and use that to migrate from.

 

[Howard2k]

I'm looking to buy a new macbook pro, but i wanted to use a wire to transfer all my files. I'm not sure the wifi migration is reliable. Can't some files transfers get corrupted by transfer from Wifi?

What wire could i use to transfer all info from my old macbook pro to new one?

Wifi is equally reliable, but will take longer for sure. Much longer.

As noted above, Migration Assistant is the key.

 

[michael31986]

Wifi is equally reliable, but will take longer for sure. Much longer.

As noted above, Migration Assistant is the key.

So in theory i can use Migration assistant and the
Belkin USB-A to USB-C Cable (USB 3.1)

and it will transfer faster than on wifi?

 

[Howard2k]

So in theory i can use Migration assistant and the
Belkin USB-A to USB-C Cable (USB 3.1)

and it will transfer faster than on wifi?

There is no USB target mode, but you can transfer using a HDD.

Buy a new HDD or re-use an old one, create a Time Machine backup, then on the new MBPRo plug that in and allow migration assistant to migrate off that. That will be faster than wifi.

A cheap spinning platter HDD will get you perhaps 70MB/s. Faster on larger files, slower on smaller files. 802.11ac Wifi will give you 1/2 of that at best, but very likely less.

 

[michael31986]

There is no USB target mode, but you can transfer using a HDD.

Buy a new HDD or re-use an old one, create a Time Machine backup, then on the new MBPRo plug that in and allow migration assistant to migrate off that. That will be faster than wifi.

A cheap spinning platter HDD will get you perhaps 70MB/s. Faster on larger files, slower on smaller files. 802.11ac Wifi will give you 1/2 of that at best, but very likely less.

What wire would i need for that then?

 

[Howard2k]

What wire would i need for that then?

I may be misunderstanding, you used to be able to plug the two devices together over firewire and transfer directly. You can't EASILY do that any longer using USB3. Not sure if that's what you were referring to. I believe technically it's still possible with the right cables though - see this link:

https://www.macworld.com/article/29...-the-right-cable-which-apple-doesnt-sell.html

Appears it's Target Disk Mode only, not Migration Assistant though.


So you can use external HDD. If you can borrow one, that's great. But your USB3 drive will plug into your old device natively, though to plug into the new MBPro it will need a USB-A to USB-C adaptor.

But if you're buying an external drive it might also be worth getting an external SSD, since that will be far faster. You're going to want a backup strategy of some kind (what do you do today?) so if you're starting fresh, maybe the extra money on an external SSD is a better option?

This is a USB-C SSD that comes with a USB-A plug.
https://www.amazon.com/LaCie-Rugged...1534447122&sr=8-4&keywords=external+ssd+usb-c

So longer term that's perhaps a better option. Or buy a USB3 drive and for future use just use an adaptor for USB-C. USB-C adaptors sometimes bring complications because USB3 leaks 2.4GHz frequency that can kill your wifi if your wifi is also 2.4GHz.

So assuming that you don't have a backup strategy, I'd get a USB-C SSD that is backwards compatible with USB3/USB-A, rather than a traditional spinning platter USB3 drive and fuss with an adaptor for future use.


If you're sorted for backups already then the cheapest option is a cable like mentioned in the first link and TDM. I don't have experience with that cable but I'm sure there are folks here that do. It sounds limiting though.

When I migrate, I use a USB drive, or use Wifi from my Time Machine backup on my NAS (slow!).

 

[michael31986]

I may be misunderstanding, you used to be able to plug the two devices together over firewire and transfer directly. You can't EASILY do that any longer using USB3. Not sure if that's what you were referring to. I believe technically it's still possible with the right cables though - see this link:

https://www.macworld.com/article/29...-the-right-cable-which-apple-doesnt-sell.html

Appears it's Target Disk Mode only, not Migration Assistant though.


So you can use external HDD. If you can borrow one, that's great. But your USB3 drive will plug into your old device natively, though to plug into the new MBPro it will need a USB-A to USB-C adaptor.

But if you're buying an external drive it might also be worth getting an external SSD, since that will be far faster. You're going to want a backup strategy of some kind (what do you do today?) so if you're starting fresh, maybe the extra money on an external SSD is a better option?

This is a USB-C SSD that comes with a USB-A plug.
https://www.amazon.com/LaCie-Rugged...1534447122&sr=8-4&keywords=external+ssd+usb-c

So longer term that's perhaps a better option. Or buy a USB3 drive and for future use just use an adaptor for USB-C. USB-C adaptors sometimes bring complications because USB3 leaks 2.4GHz frequency that can kill your wifi if your wifi is also 2.4GHz.

So assuming that you don't have a backup strategy, I'd get a USB-C SSD that is backwards compatible with USB3/USB-A, rather than a traditional spinning platter USB3 drive and fuss with an adaptor for future use.


If you're sorted for backups already then the cheapest option is a cable like mentioned in the first link and TDM. I don't have experience with that cable but I'm sure there are folks here that do. It sounds limiting though.

When I migrate, I use a USB drive, or use Wifi from my Time Machine backup on my NAS (slow!).

Thanks for the info. I don't have an external HDD. I don't mind waiting but is migration assistant rilable in sense that songs and photos wont transfered corrupt?

I hope it can transfer my iTunes playlists too

 

[Howard2k]

Thanks for the info. I don't have an external HDD. I don't mind waiting but is migration assistant rilable in sense that songs and photos wont transfered corrupt?

I hope it can transfer my iTunes playlists too

I’ve never had an issue with it. It’s been surprisingly slow, but I suppose it was only surprising the first time. I always have a backup (or several) too though, so if Migration Assistant screwed up iTunes then there are other ways for me to get they back. But it’s always worked well. Pretty sure the most cumbersome issue is going from a large drive to s small drive.

 

[michael31986]

I’ve never had an issue with it. It’s been surprisingly slow, but I suppose it was only surprising the first time. I always have a backup (or several) too though, so if Migration Assistant screwed up iTunes then there are other ways for me to get they back. But it’s always worked well. Pretty sure the most cumbersome issue is going from a large drive to s small drive.

Both computers have an SSD drive.

So can I choose what I want to migrate over on the assistant. I just want to move. Photos. Music. And documents.

 

[deeddawg]

I don't have an external HDD.

How do you backup your computer currently?

You do back it up regularly, yes?

If not, then it'd be wise to start doing so. External 2TB HDDs aren't real expensive.

 

[michael31986]

How do you backup your computer currently?

You do back it up regularly, yes?

If not, then it'd be wise to start doing so. External 2TB HDDs aren't real expensive.

I don't backup actually. I should through time machine. But back in day I had a mybook external HDD and Everytime I backed up after plugging it back in it would never back to right.

I have my main music saved on an old HDD that was in my MacBook 13inch.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP wrote:
"I have my main music saved on an old HDD that was in my MacBook 13inch."

Is that "saved music" ALSO on your internal drive?

If it is, you could use the external drive to serve as your "transfer mule".

This is remarkably easy to do -- child's play, really, IF you're willing to follow instructions.

 

[Painter2002]

Thanks for the info. I don't have an external HDD. I don't mind waiting but is migration assistant rilable in sense that songs and photos wont transfered corrupt?

I hope it can transfer my iTunes playlists too

I have never had any issues with Migration Assistant myself, and I've used it many times. My music and photos that were on the old machine (or Time Machine backup) transferred just fine.

 

[evandy]

I just ordered a new mbp to replace a broken 2012 model. Bought an external drive enclosure from Amazon for $20 and popped the old drive in it. Took about 3 minutes.

Last time to do that however... Darn integrated drives.

 

[michael31986]

Can I do migration assistant at any point of set up of my new laptop. I wanted to set up as new and then do it later

 

[Weaselboy]

Can I do migration assistant at any point of set up of my new laptop. I wanted to set up as new and then do it later

If you are going to use Migration Assistant, you should do it as part of the initial system setup. What you do not want to do is setup the new system with an account, then after that use Migration Assistant.

Doing that can cause all sorts of permissions issues in the imported account. You can read about it here.

http://oldtoad.net/pondini.org/OSX/MigrationProblems.html

 

[michael31986]

If you are going to use Migration Assistant, you should do it as part of the initial system setup. What you do not want to do is setup the new system with an account, then after that use Migration Assistant.

Doing that can cause all sorts of permissions issues in the imported account. You can read about it here.

http://oldtoad.net/pondini.org/OSX/MigrationProblems.html

I only wanted to transfer over iTunes and photos and documents. Not all my settings. Is there a way to toggle off what you don't want synced

 

[Weaselboy]

I only wanted to transfer over iTunes and photos and documents. Not all my settings. Is there a way to toggle off what you don't want synced

Once you start MA, you will get a screen similar to this where you have some control over what comes in. But still, what I said earlier about doing this at setup applies.

 

[michael31986]

Once you start MA, you will get a screen similar to this where you have some control over what comes in. But still, what I said earlier about doing this at setup applies.

View attachment 777458

Thanks! I'll do it at setup and just uncheck certain things. I hope it can move over my iTunes playlists

 

[michael31986]

If you are going to use Migration Assistant, you should do it as part of the initial system setup. What you do not want to do is setup the new system with an account, then after that use Migration Assistant.

Doing that can cause all sorts of permissions issues in the imported account. You can read about it here.

http://oldtoad.net/pondini.org/OSX/MigrationProblems.html

I read the link you sent. I'm a little confused on what permissions would be messed up with just moving photos and documents and music. Would permission be for certain applications? Cause I don't have any paid ones

 

[Weaselboy]

I read the link you sent. I'm a little confused on what permissions would be messed up with just moving photos and documents and music. Would permission be for certain applications? Cause I don't have any paid ones

All folders in any user account belong to that userID... 501 in this case. So if you use Migration Assistant to bring import 501 owned folders into a different account name that is already userID 501, it can cause issues related to ownership and access to those files.

It is explained better in the pink section (below) at that link.

When you don't transfer your stuff via Setup Assistant, but instead create a user account, it's assigned #501. If you then use Migration Assistant to transfer the 501 account from another Mac, it cannot keep the 501 on the new Mac, so it's assigned the next available number, usually 502. The user account name, password, data, etc., will all be identical to the old Mac, but the UID will be different. All the permissions on the files in that account are changed to correspond to the new UID.

That means that the transferred user account is treated as a different account when trying to access files in other places, such as backups: it's #502, but the files belong to #501, so you'll see the "no entry" icon and/or messages about not having permission to the files/folders.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP wrote:
"Can I do migration assistant at any point of set up of my new laptop. I wanted to set up as new and then do it later"

Weaselboy gives good advice above. When you first boot the new laptop is when you want to run setup assistant (not "migration" assistant). Get it all done right then and there.

The problem with setting up a laptop WITHOUT migrating is that when you first boot it you're going to create a "brand new" account (the "501" account).

If you try to "migrate" from your OLD account later on, migration assistant is going to create a SECOND account with a second account ID (probably "502"), which the Mac is going to think is TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE, with two different "ownerships" of files.

Thus, the "permissions problems" that can arise when you try to move files back and forth between accounts.

If you absolutely, positively must set up the new Mac with a new account, the best way to "bring stuff over" later on is by a MANUAL migration. It takes a little more work, but it can be done.

 

[michael31986]

OP wrote:
"Can I do migration assistant at any point of set up of my new laptop. I wanted to set up as new and then do it later"

Weaselboy gives good advice above. When you first boot the new laptop is when you want to run setup assistant (not "migration" assistant). Get it all done right then and there.

The problem with setting up a laptop WITHOUT migrating is that when you first boot it you're going to create a "brand new" account (the "501" account).

If you try to "migrate" from your OLD account later on, migration assistant is going to create a SECOND account with a second account ID (probably "502"), which the Mac is going to think is TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE, with two different "ownerships" of files.

Thus, the "permissions problems" that can arise when you try to move files back and forth between accounts.

If you absolutely, positively must set up the new Mac with a new account, the best way to "bring stuff over" later on is by a MANUAL migration. It takes a little more work, but it can be done.

I get the issues but not sure how photos and iTunes would be affected. I'm not moving applications.

Couldn't you just copy the photos or music into the right user once it's on the new Mac.

 

[Weaselboy]

I get the issues but not sure how photos and iTunes would be affected. I'm not moving applications.

Couldn't you just copy the photos or music into the right user once it's on the new Mac.

I think the part you are missing is that to use Migration Assistant to import that data, you have to check the box to import that account, so the permissions associated with that account userID come in also, and that is what can cause problems.

Sure, if you just make a new account during the original setup then attach the backup drive and only drag in say your Photos library, you will not have these permissions issues.