Settting up a new MBA

[flowrider]

I just updated my MBA (M2, 8GB) to a new MBA (M4, 16GB). This Mac is in addition to my Mac Pro (M2 Ultra). I have initialized many new Macs in the past and have never had any issues. Previously, I used WiFi, left the two Macs alone, and things ran smoothly. THIS TIME THEY DID NOT❗️

I set things up and went to bed, thinking everything would be done by morning. No, the new Mac was still showing the files from the old Mac and still calculating. I cleared everything and tried using a Thunderbolt cable - Same Result. Tried again - No Luck. So, I thought, what if I try with my Mac Pro - Same Result. I then cloned the SSD on my old MBA using CarbonCopyCloner. The cloned disk wouldn't start the new MBA. Then I made Time Machine BackUp and BINGO - That worked👍🏻

Has anybody else experienced these issues❓

 

[dizmonk]

I don't use any of those programs. I'm assuming you can do it with a M4 (since I did it with my M5) but why not when setting it up, select from Iphone? Saved me a ton of time.

 

[torana355]

I always setup my new machines from scratch, it avoids issues like you are having and ensures the machine runs perfectly. I just backup my files and manually copy over what I need.

 

[kitKAC]

2018 MBP to M5 MBP, migrated over Thunderbolt cable perfectly.

 

[ignatius345]

2018 MBP to M5 MBP, migrated over Thunderbolt cable perfectly.

Same. Last time I updated I connected my M1 iMac to my new M4 iMac via a Thunderbolt cable and it absolutely blasted through the transfer.

I’ve done it via Time Machine a number of times as well, also no issues.

What I have never done is try to do it over Wifi like the OP started doing, because it’s just atrociously slow even if it works correctly. And I would consider wifi too flaky and error-prone to transfer like 700 GB of data without glitching somehow.