migrating to a new mac

The easiest method to migrate is to use the Time Machine backup from the old Mac. When the new Mac arrives, prior to turning it on connect the Time Machine EHD to your new Mac via a USB cable. When you turn on the new computer for the first time it will launch Setup Assistant. SA will eventually get to a point where it asks if you are migrating from another Mac, select YES and then follow the on-screen prompts.

So the first question is, do you have a Time Machine backup or a bootable clone backup? If the answer is yes to either then you are ready to go.

If the answer is no, then backup the old computer using Time Machine. If you have never done this, please click https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201250

Your Time Machine backup is the easiest and fastest way to migrate.

I agree with the others! Beside the easiest and fastest, Time Machine is also the most reliable and fool proof way to migrate.

I got a new I-Mac a few months ago and did exactly as rkaufmann87 suggests. It worked flawlessly.

The ONLY reason a Time Machine restore would not work is if the user's had a bad External Hard Disk that was damaged and they were did not check it periodically. All mechanical HD's fail, when is the question, when users buy cheap EHDs such a WD & Seagate enclosures and do not check them periodically they can get rude awakenings. Anything that has moving parts should be checked from time to time, if you own a car don't you have the wheels, engine and other moving parts checked from time to time??