Migration Assistant in macOS has matured to an effective and rapid way to transpose the brain of one Mac to another . I lately migrated from an M1 Mac miniskirt to a Mac Studio using a Thunderbolt 4 cablegram , and nearly a tebibyte of datum transplant in about 90 minutes . I barely remember I ’m using a new Mac except for more ports and higher carrying out .
However , not everybody experience this ease . One reader with a 2015 - era MacBook Pro tried to employ Migration Assistant to move to a Modern Mac and did n’t see the option “ to another Mac ” after launching the app on the quondam Mac . There could be several causes .
Migration Assistant should show and permit you select an alternative to transfer from your Mac .
Migration Assistant should show and let you select an option to transfer from your Mac.
Foundry
The honest-to-god Mac is n’t running an operating organisation raw enough : Apple does n’t provide enough detail , but masses have deduce through testing that at least Mac OS ecstasy Snow Leopard 10.6.8 is postulate ; that late waiver of Snow Leopard is the minimum for interoperable livelihood of many late versions . I ’d go one step further : upgrade your honest-to-god Mac to the most recent version it earmark .
Launch Migration Assistant on both devices : It should n’t count , but some report indicate it might . On the other Mac , pick out “ From a Mac , Time Machine backup or Startup disk . ”
Migration Assistant should show and let you select an option to transfer from your Mac.
Both Macs are n’t using Wi - Fi : It ’s not a strict prerequisite , but it seems from assembly Emily Post that some people do n’t see a transfer option unless both machine have Wi - Fi enabled . If one Mac is using Mac OS X 10.11 El Capitan or earlier , both Macs need to be connect to the same Wi - Fi connection ; if both are using later on operating scheme , they demand to have Wi - Fi wrench on and be in near proximity .
If Wi - Fi does n’t work , try out a cable : tie the two Macs with a USB , USB - C , or Thunderbolt cable . If either Mac has macOS 11 bounteous Sur or later installed , you must practice a Thunderbolt cable television ; if the older Mac only suffer Thunderbolt 2 , get a Thunderbolt 2 to Thunderbolt 2 cable andan Apple Thunderbolt 2 to Thunderbolt 3 arranger .
Plug both Macs into power : While you should be prompt with a word of advice , this may be a reason not to see the transfer option .
If none of the above helps , you may use an alternative method acting for migrating .
Use Target Disk Mode or Share Disk
boot into Target Disk Mode or Share Disk on your old Mac lets it appear as a effort on the unexampled one .
With an Intel Mac :
Alternatively , go to > System Preferences > Startup Disk , take the inauguration intensity , clickTarget Disk Mode , and stick with the prompts .
With an M - series Mac :
Now link up the two Macs with a USB , USB - degree Celsius , or Thunderbolt cable ( see above for details on macOS 11 or after ’s Thunderbolt requirement ) .
On the newer Mac , chooseGo > Networkin the Finder , doubled - snap the icon for the other figurer , clickConnect As , and then participate an executive account name and countersign for that Mac .
The Mac is now mount in the Finder and can be selected with Migration Assistant .
Use a Time Machine backup
If Target Disk Mode or Share Disk does n’t knead with your setup or you do n’t have the veracious cable , you could create a new Time Machine backing or update an existing one for your old Mac . After creating or update the backup , attach the Time Machine bulk to your Modern Mac . In Migration Assistant , pick out “ From a Mac , Time Machine support or Startup disk ” and select the appropriate Time Machine item when actuate .
This is sometimes the fastest method because the speed of backing up to a driving force and then migrating from one works at disk speed instead of internet or line speeds , which are often slower .
This Mac 911 article is in response to a question put in by Macworld reader Brenda .
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