Old iMac to new iMac 24

[Alphagramma]

I have a late 2012 iMac running Catalina. i hope to upgrade to the new iMac 24 running Big Sur. this seems to be generating problems - should there be? What is the easiest to transfer all my data across. Help

 

[xraydoc]

I have a late 2012 iMac running Catalina. i hope to upgrade to the new iMac 24 running Big Sur. this seems to be generating problems - should there be? What is the easiest to transfer all my data across. Help

What problems? Make a Time Machine backup on an external drive, plug said drive into your new machine, boot new machine and allow it to do a migration.

 

[Alphagramma]

Sounds good but I have an external time machine running. However, other experts report that Big Sur won’t read external drives running Catalina. I need to be sure before investing.

 

[fivenotrump]

Sounds good but I have an external time machine running. However, other experts report that Big Sur won’t read external drives running Catalina. I need to be sure before investing.

these are not 'experts' then: external drives do not 'run Catalina'

 

[xraydoc]

Sounds good but I have an external time machine running. However, other experts report that Big Sur won’t read external drives running Catalina. I need to be sure before investing.

Absolutely it'll read external drives. The issue is booting from external drives on the M1, but this won't impact you.

 

[Alphagramma]

Thank you. Have a good day

 

[Fishrrman]

Easiest way to migrate is with an external backup drive.
Just use the TM backup you have.
It will work ok...

 

[Nguyen Duc Hieu]

I have a late 2012 iMac running Catalina. i hope to upgrade to the new iMac 24 running Big Sur. this seems to be generating problems - should there be? What is the easiest to transfer all my data across. Help

The easiest way:
Call a service man to do the job for you.