Hello I have a MacBook Pro (Retina, Mid 2012) and I'm planning on buy a new MacBook Air or Pro soon. How do I transfer all my pics, video, website bookmarks and such over?
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upgrading to new MacBook
- Thread starter marcusira
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Transfer to a new Mac with Migration Assistant - Apple Support
Use Migration Assistant to copy your files from another computer.
thank youTransfer to a new Mac with Migration Assistant - Apple Support
Use Migration Assistant to copy your files from another computer.support.apple.com
When I bought mine it was super easy, I just placed them close together and connected to same network using migration assistant. I had a mid-2012 15" retina MBP, I went wth the 16" M1 Max MBP as they weigh almost same, and same dimensions. (W/L/D). The 14" screen is not quite 2 pages, hence the 16" choice. The base 16" M1 Pro MBP would do you plenty.
I’d use migration assistant from a Time Machine backup, but install apps from scratch to be sure you get the Apple silicon optimized versions.
You shouldn't have to do that initially. Rosetta2 will run 64 bit Intel applications just fine. Things that are incompatible will be placed in a folder by Migration Assistant and won't be installed. You can then check for more recent versions that are MacOS (Intel) versus MacOS (Apple silicon). This is going to be a gradual process by developers to get everything native ARM or universal from intel. But most of the mainstream software out there is already Universal after 2 years.
To see what is intel versus universal, go to Ventura system settings -> general -> about -> system report (at bottom)-> Software -> Applications. (expand the visible information downward to see more of the listing)
Look at "Kind" column, should say "Universal" or "Intel", for a few things it will say "other".
I'm looking to buy an external hard drive to back everything up before doing anything
OP wrote:
"I'm looking to buy an external hard drive to back everything up before doing anything"
I suggest either CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper to create the backup.
BOTH are free to use for 30 days -- doing it this way costs you nothing.
If you've never used either before, I'd suggest SD, because it's easier for a first-time user.
Do it this way:
Create your cloned backup BEFORE you even open the new MB for the first time.
Once done, take the new MB out of the box, BUT DON'T OPEN THE LID YET.
Connect your backup -- NOW open the lid (it will boot automatically).
Begin setup. At the appropriate moment, setup assistant will ask if you wish to migrate from another drive. YES, you do.
"Point the way" for SA to find the attached backup, and give it time to "digest everything" (be patient).
SA will present you with a list of stuff to migrate.
There are a couple of ways to go here.
1st way:
Just migrate everything.
(but be aware that some apps may not run, or may require updating)
2nd way:
Migrate everything EXCEPT apps.
Then, move 3rd-party apps over "one at a time", to check and see if they work first.
You can try launching apps from the cloned backup after setup assistant has migrated everything else. Chances are that if they won't run "from the backup", they won't run from the internal drive either, so... "leave them behind".
Your choice.
SA will take a little while to transfer everything, so again be patient.
When done, you should see your original login screen.
The backup drive can now become "an archive" of the old drive.
Or... use it as your new backup for the new MB.
Good luck.
"I'm looking to buy an external hard drive to back everything up before doing anything"
I suggest either CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper to create the backup.
BOTH are free to use for 30 days -- doing it this way costs you nothing.
If you've never used either before, I'd suggest SD, because it's easier for a first-time user.
Do it this way:
Create your cloned backup BEFORE you even open the new MB for the first time.
Once done, take the new MB out of the box, BUT DON'T OPEN THE LID YET.
Connect your backup -- NOW open the lid (it will boot automatically).
Begin setup. At the appropriate moment, setup assistant will ask if you wish to migrate from another drive. YES, you do.
"Point the way" for SA to find the attached backup, and give it time to "digest everything" (be patient).
SA will present you with a list of stuff to migrate.
There are a couple of ways to go here.
1st way:
Just migrate everything.
(but be aware that some apps may not run, or may require updating)
2nd way:
Migrate everything EXCEPT apps.
Then, move 3rd-party apps over "one at a time", to check and see if they work first.
You can try launching apps from the cloned backup after setup assistant has migrated everything else. Chances are that if they won't run "from the backup", they won't run from the internal drive either, so... "leave them behind".
Your choice.
SA will take a little while to transfer everything, so again be patient.
When done, you should see your original login screen.
The backup drive can now become "an archive" of the old drive.
Or... use it as your new backup for the new MB.
Good luck.