Moving from 2018 Intel MacMini to M4 MacMini

[MickeyVee]

I just ordered a refurb M4 Mac mini 24GB/1TB.. (always had a great experience with refurb's)
I've had a few MM's over the years and when moving to a new one, always did a SuperDuper Backup and then built the new MM from the backup SSD. This has worked flawlessly every time.
My question is, can I use the same methodology going from an Intel Mac to an M4 Mac? Both machines have 1TB so no issues with space and the SuperDuper backup is on a 1TB SSD. Also have a TimeMachine Backup on a 1TB SSD.
Thanks, M

 

[FreakinEurekan]

Sure - either way, SD or TM you're going to use Migration Assistant from the backup. Theoretically it'll be the same result either way.

The biggest "issue" with Intel to AS is that you might encounter more applications that can't make the transfer than you would Intel to Intel. But probably not a ton... Rosetta 2 does a good job.

 

[chrfr]

You don't really even need to use a backup disk for this. Migration Assistant works great between 2 Macs.

 

[MickeyVee]

Sure - either way, SD or TM you're going to use Migration Assistant from the backup. Theoretically it'll be the same result either way.

The biggest "issue" with Intel to AS is that you might encounter more applications that can't make the transfer than you would Intel to Intel. But probably not a ton... Rosetta 2 does a good job.

Ya, that's part of the concern.. moving over Intel code where most, if not all of my apps have a AS code base. probably not a concern with Rosetta and when I update the apps, will get the AS code.

 

[MickeyVee]

You don't really even need to use a backup disk for this. Migration Assistant works great between 2 Macs.

yes, i know.. that's just my backup strategy and faster move over off a quick SSD.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

Ya, that's part of the concern.. moving over Intel code where most, if not all of my apps have a AS code base. probably not a concern with Rosetta and when I update the apps, will get the AS code.

Yep and the mechanism - TM, SD, direct from old Mac - won’t make a whit of difference on that end.

 

[Bigwaff]

Ya, that's part of the concern.. moving over Intel code where most, if not all of my apps have a AS code base. probably not a concern with Rosetta and when I update the apps, will get the AS code.

If the applications on your Intel Mac are versions released in the last 5 years, their probably Universal binaries, which include both Intel and Apple Silicon native code.

 

[MickeyVee]

If the applications on your Intel Mac are versions released in the last 5 years, their probably Universal binaries, which include both Intel and Apple Silicon native code.

Thanks.. that's what I was looking for 🙂

 

[bapegg]

I switched from a 2018 Mac mini to a M4 Mac mini last year. I didn't have any trouble transferring everything over using a TM backup. I only had a couple of older programs that had to use Rosetta to run correctly on the M4. But those have since been updated.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP:

There's something you may be able to do with a cloned backup that you CAN'T do with time machine.
That is:
You can "test run" old apps from the cloned backup before copying them to the new drive.

How to do this:
When the new Mini comes, get it set up on the table.
Connect the SD cloned backup.
Press the power on button, then begin setup.
When you're asked if you wish to migrate from another drive, YES, you do.
Point the way to the backup and give setup assistant some time to "digest" everything.

Next...
SA will present you with a list of stuff that can be migrated:
Apps
Accounts
Settings
Data

I recommend that you UNcheck the option for apps, but leave the others checked.
Now, let setup assistant do its job.

When done, you should log into your account on the new Mini (if you're not there already).
The SD backup should now appear on the desktop as "just a mounted drive".

I suggest that you open the Applications folder (on the SD backup) and try the apps you want to bring over, one by one.

They should launch and open with the settings you had on the old Mini -- remember, you DID migrate "settings" earlier (just not the apps themselves).

Do they run ok?
If so, try copying them from the backup into the applications folder on the new Mini.

NOTE:
If you start seeing permissions problems, come back here and we'll tell you how to fix that.

Good luck.