Migration assistant across different os versions & hardware architectures

[cool11]

I guess that this useful tool called 'migration assistant', do much more than simply copy settings from almost identical systems.
It's been so many years since my last mac hardware updates, so I am not really sure now, what is valid and what is not expected from this tool.

Specifically, what I will possibly face in the very near future, it will be something like this:
an attempt to copy mac os settings and personal customization, along with files and installed applications,
between
the existing 'intel mac with big sur' and the new 'apple silicon mac with monterey'.
Clarification: 'intel mac with big sur' is in the form of a total image backup in external hard disk, using the well known backup application 'superduper'.

What do I have to expect from such transition, about the effectiveness and the results that can give me the 'migration assistant'?
If I could save time and effort, migrating most of my whole setup from my older mac to the new one,
it would be very convenient for me, and I hope for the best.
I wait your answers, estimations, experiences.

 

[Fishrrman]

If you have a Mac running Big Sur right now, then setup assistant (which runs during the initial setup process) should have no problems "bringing things over" to a new M-series Mac running Monterey...

 

[cool11]

So, to avoid any misunderstanding, how you suggest this procedure should be done?

Or I can be safe, that when I will have a new apple silicon mac with monterey,
there will be no problem to retrieve almost everything,
from the total 'image' backup of big sur/intel mac in my external hard disk?

 

[cool11]

Any estimation of the behavior of migration assistant on the above case/scenario?

 

[Fishrrman]

You are WAY "overthinking" this.
Setup assistant will work the way it's always worked.

Here's my pre-written "guide" for moving from an older Mac to a newer one:
===============================================
Fishrrman's "you can do it!" routine for migrating to a new Mac:

If you follow my instructions below, I guarantee a success rate of 98%:
PRINT OUT these instructions and check them off as you go along.

1. BEFORE you do anything else, run a "final" backup on your old Mac. Use an external drive for this. It can be either TM or a cloned backup using CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper. I prefer CCC.
I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU DO NOT USE TM AS YOUR "MIGRATION EXTERNAL DRIVE". INSTEAD, USE EITHER CCC OR SD. Things will go better this way!
2. Shut down the old Mac and disconnect the external drive
3. Take the new Mac out of the box and set it up on the table. DO NOT PRESS THE POWER ON BUTTON until step 8 (read on). You don't want to begin setup until "the right moment".
4. If you're using an external display, connect the display using the usb-c/VGA adapter/cable that you have
5. Connect the keyboard and mouse if you use them. I STRONGLY SUGGEST that you connect them DIRECTLY to the Mac.
6. If you use a hub, leave it DISCONNECTED for now
7. Connect your backup drive -- use a usb-c adapter if needed.

OK, we're ready-to-go, so let's get goin':
8. Press the power on button for the first time.
9. The new Mac may ask for help "finding" the keyboard, just follow instructions.
10. Begin setup. At the appropriate moment, setup assistant will ask if you wish to migrate from another Mac or drive. YES, you want to do this.
11. "Aim" setup assistant at the external backup. Setup assistant will need a little time to "digest it all". BE PATIENT and give setup assistant the time it needs.
12. You will now see a list of things that can be migrated, such as applications, accounts, settings and data.
13. I suggest that you select ALL of them.
14. Let setup assistant "do its thing". It's going to TAKE A WHILE to move things over. Again, be patient. If you have a lot "of stuff", it will take a lot of time!
15. When done, you should see the login screen. Go ahead and login.
16. Once logged in, things should look pretty much as they looked on your old Mac.
17. You should check all your apps. Some may not run, and may require upgrading.
18. You can set aside the old backup, or ... "repurpose it" to become the backup for the new Mac. I'd keep the old one around for a week or so, at least.

 

[cool11]

Fishrrman thank you for this analytical guide.

I think there are a couple of points to be clarified.

- You suppose, that I should not power on the new mac, before I am ready to do the migration. I mean, you know, maybe I am not having time to do the migration immediately when I will get the new mac (as it will take a lot of hours), but it would be sensible to just see that the new mac it works/operates well, and then when I have time, to do the migration.
As far as I know, migration can run at any time, but the less hassle is to run it, simultaneously at the moment that I will press the power at the first time on the new mac? I guess this is the best way?

- You do not mention about the cpu and os version combinations.
You suppose, that migration assistant will do its job properly, regardless if it has to migrate from an image taken from 'intel mac with big sur' to an 'apple silicon mac with monterey'? Everything will be as smooth as possible?

 

[allan53]

If I move from an intel to a M1 max mbp and choose to move all, including applications, will this cause problems due to copying intel versions of the various apps or will the new M1 max know to run m1 versions. (I guees I am wondering if an app contains both inntel and 1 versions.)

 

[KeesMacPro]

If I move from an intel to a M1 max mbp and choose to move all, including applications, will this cause problems due to copying intel versions of the various apps or will the new M1 max know to run m1 versions. (I guees I am wondering if an app contains both inntel and 1 versions.)

IMHO copying all data is asking for trouble (and 99,9% sure will not work).
Intel and ARM dont share the same architecture , but even if they did , it's still recommended to import data, applications , preferences etc to another device by using Migration Assistant.
It's not even necessary to use a TM backup as the source (and I dont recommend using a TM as source), but simply connect the "old" drive to the "new" device and open Migration Assistant on the new device.
If connecting the drive is not practical/impossible, I'd make a clone from the "old" drive on an external drive with Carbon copy cloner and connect the clone to the new Mac.

 

[cool11]

Monterey is out,
more new mac with apple silicon are on the market too.

I made my order for a new mac.
My intentions are to use migration assistant, from a bootable image of os/system/whole environment, that I take regularly with superduper application.

Source: intel mac with big sur os
Target: apple silicon mac with monterey os

The migration assistant should run on the new mac,
pointing the external hard disk with the backup.

I still have some fears if it will go well.
I wish I had some feedback and experiences from others on this procedure.

 

[cool11]

The target mbp will have monterey os.
The source mbp has big sur os.

Using migration assistant,
will the new 'target' mbp maintain the monterey os?
I just want to migrate everything else, but not downgrade the os itself!

 

[CoastalOR]

The target mbp will have monterey os.
The source mbp has big sur os.

Using migration assistant,
will the new 'target' mbp maintain the monterey os?
I just want to migrate everything else, but not downgrade the os itself!

The new MBP will maintain the Monterey OS. Migration Assistant does change the OS.

Transfer to a new Mac with Migration Assistant - Apple Support

Use Migration Assistant to copy your files from another computer.

support.apple.com

 

[cool11]

I did it a few days ago.
Migration assistant, for one more time in my mac days, did a great job.
I had all my usual environment, in the new mbp, in just 2 hours!
A few new settings on the new mac, and everything was right there, ready to go!
Great job Apple!

I have another question.
Does migration assistant do its job,
when we want to take all our data,
from a newer mac os system, to an older one?
Like, lets say, from a mbp with a monterey, to a mbp with catalina?

 

[MacCheetah3]

I have another question.
Does migration assistant do its job,
when we want to take all our data,
from a newer mac os system, to an older one?
Like, lets say, from a mbp with a monterey, to a mbp with catalina?

Technically, it should — though I do not recall every trying. Similar to moving forward OS versions, moving back OS versions may have compatibility gaps. For example, macOS Catalina, Big Sur, and Monterey display/manage widgets differently. In Catalina, the feature is more like iOS 12/13 and Big Sur/Monterey is iOS 14/15-based. Therefore, you would probably need to reconfigure widgets, Today View, and Notifications settings.

 

[cool11]

Technically, it should — though I do not recall every trying. Similar to moving forward OS versions, moving back OS versions may have compatibility gaps. For example, macOS Catalina, Big Sur, and Monterey display/manage widgets differently. In Catalina, the feature is more like iOS 12/13 and Big Sur/Monterey is iOS 14/15-based. Therefore, you would probably need to reconfigure widgets, Today View, and Notifications settings.

My main concern is about the all the major things, apps, settings, working environment, that I have already setup.
I find it absolutely logical that some stuff may be not work or need some kind of reconfiguration.

 

[gilby101]

My main concern is about the all the major things, apps, settings, working environment, that I have already setup.

I suspect it will refuse to go backwards as old macOS can’t know about recent changes to settings and app storage. You should only attempt to restore your documents and files. And not files in libraries like the Photos library.

 

[Fishrrman]

I reckon that gilby is correct.
Migration assistant (or setup assistant) generally is a "one-way migration" from "older" to "newer".

If you choose carefully (perhaps migrating only "data", perhaps "applications", not sure about the others), migration assistant -might- move -some- stuff that is "newer" to the older OS install.

BE AWARE that even if migration assistant refuses to move some things, it still could be possible to "move them manually"...

 

[cool11]

On the other hand,
if 'migration assistant' is able to migrate files/data even from a pc/windows,
I think it is much safer to assume that migrating from mac os to mac os,
even from the non-usual procedure from a newer mac os system to an older one,
it should be rather ok.

Last time I used 'migration assistant' before the current time,
was back in 2014. I don't recall this 'migrate from pc' option.
Was it there, or it was added on the way, the most recent years?
(still I wonder what it is able to do, how much and how well)