Migration assistant error - can't transfer files from a newer macbook to an older iMac.

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Migration assistant error - can't transfer files from a newer macbook to an older iMac.

I can't use Migration Assistant to move settings and documents from an newer MacBook to an older iMac. The iMac has an older version of MacOS, and cannot be further updated to a newer OS version. Because the OS on the target iMac is older, Migration Assistant will not transfer files from the newer MacBook.

I've also tried restoring a Time Machine backup from the MacBook to the iMac, but again, since the OS on the iMac is older than the OS on the (dying) MacBook, I can't restore the backup to the iMac.

Has anyone discovered a solution to this problem?

MacBook

Posted on Aug 26, 2019 7:36 AM

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Answer 1

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macjack

Level 10

111,180 points

Aug 26, 2019 10:35 AM in response to Masalajam

Yes, I understand that, but there may be files created by the newer OS that the old OS can't use or that have been moved.

As far as Safari bookmarks you can try this:

From your Finder "Go" menu > "Go to folder" then copy & paste this file path:

~/Library/Safari/Bookmarks.plist

Click Go.

Copy them to the same location on the other Mac.

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Answer 2

macjack

Level 10

111,180 points

Aug 26, 2019 9:30 AM in response to Masalajam

Well, since no Mac can run an OS that pre-dates the one it shipped with Migration Assistant isn't backward compatible. I'm not sure how they could accomplish that, but you can leave feedback for Apple here:

Product Feedback - Apple

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Answer 3

macjack

Level 10

111,180 points

Aug 26, 2019 7:45 AM in response to Masalajam

Just use any external hard drive to copy the data from your Documents folder and then to your older Mac. You should be able to open most documents unless they were created with newer versions of some software. You may have to reset the settings if they were changed.

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Answer 4

Masalajam Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 26, 2019 8:29 AM in response to macjack

Thanks. Still can’t automatically move the setting for browsers, which retain things like passwords however. I guess I can export those and all other application setting manually.

Does not not look like apple thought about this problem, and assumed people would always move to a newer OS.

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Answer 5

Masalajam Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 26, 2019 9:53 AM in response to macjack

Thanks, I will leave them feedback.

In my case, I don't want to get the old iMac to run the newer OS which it is incapable of running. However, I would like it to minimally import the all the files and settings from the newer computer to the older computer, except for the operating system.

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Answer 6

rkaufmann87

Level 10

141,198 points

Aug 26, 2019 8:23 AM in response to Masalajam

Your best method for a "backwards" migration is to use Target Disk Mode and connect the two computer together and then copy the documents you want to the older device.

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Migration assistant error - can't transfer files from a newer macbook to an older iMac.

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