Using Migration Assistant in macOS

Owned by June Miller (Deactivated)
Last updated: Oct 23, 2024 by Ashley Mattingly
1 min read

Migration Assistant is a Mac application that allows users to transfer all of their documents, apps, user accounts, settings, etc. from one Mac to another.

UConn-owned Macs should not use Migration Assistant to transfer data. Employee data should be retained in OneDrive.

Connecting the Mac Computers to One Another

  • If both computers are using macOS Sierra or later, ensure that they are near each other and have Wi-Fi turned on.

  • If either is using OS X El Capitan or earlier, connect them both to the same network via Wi-Fi or Ethernet.

  • Other: 

    • Connect the new Mac to a Time Machine backup of the old Mac.

    • Connect them using Target Disk Mode and the appropriate cable or adapter. Then, start up the old computer in target disk mode.

If you have a lot of content, the transfer may take several hours to finish.

Using Migration Assistant in macOS

On the new Mac

  1. Open Migration Assistant located in the Utilities folder of the Applications folder. 

  2. Click Continue. 

  3. When prompted, select the Transfer from a Mac, Time Machine, or Startup Disk option.

  4. Click Continue. 

  5. You should see a list of backups by date and time. Choose the backup that you want to use.

  6. Click Continue. 

  7. Select the information to transfer.

  8. Click Continue to start the transfer.

On the old Mac

  1. Open Migration Assistant. 

  2. Click Continue. 

  3. When prompted, select the Transfer to Another Mac option.

  4. Click Continue. 

After Migration Assistant is done, log in to the migrated account on the new Mac to see the files.

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