Trading in Mac Mini for Macbook Pro - migration?

[fompsweeva]

Hi,

I am going to the Apple Store today to hopefully get a 14" Macbook Pro to upgrade from my M1 Mac Mini.

What's the current easiest way to back up the Mac Mini to later transfer on to my Macbook Pro?

I don't expect to have both computers in the same place at the same time. So I'd like to back up my Mac Mini, take it with me and come back with the new Macbook Pro, if possible.

In the past I have used carbon copy cloner. If I do this, will I be able to migrate from CCC to the MBP when I get home?

 

[Fishrrman]

Since you already have CCC and know how to use it, you're way ahead in the game.

My suggestion:
1. Get out your external backup drive, and do "one last CCC backup" JUST BEFORE you take the new MBP out of the box and open the lid for the first time.

2. With the CCC backup complete, open the box and put the MBP on the table. Connect the CCC backup.

3. NOW open the lid and it will power up. Begin clicking through setup.

4. At the appropriate moment, setup assistant will ask if you wish to migrate from another Mac or drive. YES this is what you want to do.

5. "Aim" setup assistant at the backup drive, and give it time to "digest" everything. You need to be patient here, it can take a little while for the beachballs to stop spinning.

6. Setup assistant will present you with a list of stuff it can migrate (apps, accounts, settings, data).
IT'S UP TO YOU to choose what to bring over -- some or all of it.
I'd just accept all the defaults and "let her go".

7. Give the migration time to complete.

8. When done, you should see your login screen displayed as you did on the Mini.

Best of luck !
Please let us know how it goes, and how the MPB is -- thinking of getting one myself.