M4 Pro MacBook Pro data migration to M5 Pro MacBook Pro steps

[eva2000]

I currently have a 14" MacBook Pro M4 Pro I want to migrate its data to my new 16" MacBook Pro M5 Pro that arrived yesterday. Both laptops have 48 GB of memory with a 1 TB drive. I found the official Migration Assistant guide at https://support.apple.com/en-au/102613

However, the intention is to use both laptops concurrently, so I'm not getting rid of my M4 Pro laptop. Any tips or gotchas that I need to be aware of in the migration guide to be able to sync data between both laptops when I use them concurrently over time?

1. I use laptops for work and a lot of AI coding etc (Codex/Claude Code) so customized ~/.zshrc on M4 Pro and Homebrew, npm packages are installed. Will the Migration Assistant also migrate that data over to the M5 Pro.
2. Should my existing M5 Pro laptop use the same username as the old M4 Pro, or should I create a new username if I plan to use both laptops concurrently?
3. How are other folks syncing data and configuration files across different MacBooks that they use concurrently?
4. My MacBook M4 Pro is using MacOS 15.7.7, while the new MacBook M5 Pro, I assume, is using MacOS 26. Is that okay for Migration Assistant or should I upgrade my M4 Pro to MacOS 26 first? Official guide does say "Make sure macOS is up to date on each Mac. It’s not necessary for each Mac to be using the same version of macOS."

 

[DottySr]

My use is not mission critical, however, this is my experience.

I have a M4 Max Mac Studio, a Pro MacBook Pro, and a Mac M4 Mini, the Studio and the Mini source was a M1 Mac Mini. The Pro MacBook Pro source was an Intel Macbook Pro. I also have an iPad in my 'workflow.’ The workstation and laptop data has moved over just fine. I use iCloud services and Dropbox to handle shared information. This hasn’t been an issue.

One key aspect is that I close any active work on one before I move to another device, in case I choose to actively work on the same material.

Because I’ve had _experiences_ which I blame on specific apps, not iCloud or Dropbox, I take special care with a few of them.

An example is Scrivener, which is a writing tool. I don’t rely on its sync capability due to experiences over years I can no longer articulate. Basically, I don’t trust it in my use case. Instead, I have all instances of the app point to the same directory in which its auto-backup files are maintained. When moving to a different machine, I also manually backup to the same directory before closing the app. On the other machine, I copy over the latest backup zip file to a local file, open the zip and open the target file.

I do the same thing with my music score library (formerly ForScore, now MobileSheets.) This one is more ‘mission critical’ in that I rehearse and perform with a community orchestra. Same thing with these. I’m careful when I add or mark up a score on my iPad to make a back up when I’m done, then, on the Studio restore from that backup. Or vice versa.

All these apps — Scrivener, ForScore and MobileSheets have sync capabilities which, theoretically, should be easier than my backup/restore route. I could give it another try, in hopes that any teething issues are resolved, but the lack of trust lingers.

I do have to consider when to update on my Studio, as I have music devices whose drivers, historically, needed updates after some OS updates. So, it’s possible the Studio, the Mini, the laptop and iPad aren’t at the same versions of 26 (at the moment they are.)

 

[Fishrrman]

Do you currently maintain a backup drive?
It can be time machine, CarbonCopyCloner, SuperDuper.
The cloned backup apps are better, in my opinion.

My recomendations (if you follow them, your chances for success are 96% or better):

1. When the new Mac arrives, take it out of the box and put it on the table. DO NOT open the lid yet.

2. On the OLD Mac ... run "your final backup" to the external backup drive.

3. When done, take the backup and connect it to the NEW Mac.

4. NOW press the power on button or open the lid on the laptop.

5. It will boot to the setup assistant. Start clicking through.

6. At the appropriate moment, SA will ask if you wish to migrate from another Mac or drive. YES, you do, so "point the way" to the backup and give SA time to "digest" everything.

7. I suggest that you just accept the defaults and "migrate everything". Turn SA loose and let it go to work.

8. Depending on how much stuff is on the old Mac, the copying may take a little while, so be patient.

9. When done, you should see your old login screen. So... log in and "look around" ...

Good luck!