Steps to move home user folder from one external drive to another external drive?

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Steps to move home user folder from one external drive to another external drive?

What are the steps to move home user folder from one external drive to another external drive?

Current setup is late 2015 iMac running macOS Catalina with home folder on an external drive. Bought a new external drive and want to transfer home user folder from old external drive to new external drive.

Suggestions to make exact copy of old drive on new drive.
How to make sure iMac uses only new external drive where home user folder is now located.

Thanks for your input.

Posted on Oct 27, 2019 10:43 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Old Toad

Level 10

215,268 points

Oct 27, 2019 11:21 AM in response to Technology Strategist

Try cloning your current EHD with your user folder to the new one with SuperDuper or Carbon Copy Cloner. Then shut down, disconnect the old EHD leaving the new EHD connected and reboot. Make sure the name of the new EHD is the same as the old one.

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Answer 2

Old Toad

Level 10

215,268 points

Oct 29, 2019 9:50 AM in response to Technology Strategist

When Carbon Copy Cloner finishes, will it rename the new drive or will I need to change it manually?

You'll have to rename it manually.

do I need to go into System Preferences and change the location for the home user folder to the new drive?

I don't know. Never tired to move the home folder.

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Answer 3

Oct 28, 2019 4:53 PM in response to Old Toad

Thanks for the information. I do have a couple of follow up questions. When Carbon Copy Cloner finishes, will it rename the new drive or will I need to change it manually? And, do I need to go into System Preferences and change the location for the home user folder to the new drive? And is this all done before the shutdown and right after CCC ends? Thanks again.

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Answer 4

den.thed

Level 10

90,874 points

Oct 29, 2019 10:02 AM in response to Technology Strategist

Not sure exactly what you are trying to accomplish? But if you are trying to save space on your startup disk, then it would be easier and better to leave your Home Folder on the startup drive and to move your Photos and/or Music libraries to an external drive.

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Answer 5

rkaufmann87

Level 10

148,452 points

Oct 29, 2019 10:10 AM in response to Technology Strategist

I completely agree with Den.Thed! Please describe what you are attempting to accomplish or what problem you may be having otherwise you may be creating more problems for yourself.

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Steps to move home user folder from one external drive to another external drive?

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