How do I know if migration assistant is stuck?

Question

Level 1

6 points

How do I know if migration assistant is stuck?

I am migrating data from a MacBook Pro 15” to a new MacBook Pro 16”. I chose to migrate the data and settings but not applications. The time remaining has not changed since the start of this process, it reported 4 hours 37 minutes when I started it reports 4:37 mins now. It’s been about 1 hour since I started, the transfer rate has slowly crept up from 30MB/s to 40MB/s since the start but appears to have topped out at 40MB/s. Is it even working? Is possible to somehow determine if it’s working?

MacBook Pro Retina

Posted on Jan 12, 2020 2:50 PM

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Answer 1

macjack

Level 10

111,242 points

Jan 12, 2020 3:41 PM in response to djbrown

I'd just let the Wi-Fi transfer go and keep your fingers crossed. If that doesn't work make a Time Machine backup and connect it directly to your Mac. If there is a partial transfer the next time you run Migration it will not duplicate any files that have already been copied.

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Answer 2

macjack

Level 10

111,242 points

Jan 12, 2020 3:29 PM in response to djbrown

Turn off the Wi-Fi and it won't be able to choose it. Time remaining and those loading bars aren't accurate.

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Answer 3

djbrown Author

Level 1

6 points

Jan 12, 2020 2:54 PM in response to djbrown

Update - just after I posted the rate changed to 41 MB/s. But still 4 hours and 37 mins. Seems odd that the rate of transfer could change by more than 33% and the time remaining would stay the same.

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Answer 4

macjack

Level 10

111,242 points

Jan 12, 2020 2:57 PM in response to djbrown

It all depends on how much data you're transferring and the transfer speed. Wi-Fi transfer is the slowest and often will not even complete. From your Time Machine disk connected directly to your new Mac is fastest and most reliable and Ethernet is the next best alternative.

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Answer 5

djbrown Author

Level 1

6 points

Jan 12, 2020 3:34 PM in response to djbrown

Macjack, in the last 10 mins or so the time remaining updated to 1 hour 46 mins at 42 MB/s. So it appears to be progressing but not updating time remaining very often. I agree it appears to be using WiFi, but I don’t understand why it would use WiFi if the computers are connected with the Thunderbolt-3 cable. I think that maybe any Mac-to-Mac migration is WiFi only, and external HD-to-Mac or PC-to-Mac migrations are done via Thunderbolt-3 or Ethernet. Must have been too difficult to allow the Mac-to-Mac migrations to use the Thunderbolt ports.

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Answer 6

djbrown Author

Level 1

6 points

Jan 12, 2020 3:19 PM in response to macjack

thanks Mac jack,

It is quite a bit of data but I have the computers connected with a thunderbolt3 cable, why would it choose to do over WiFi and why would the time remaining never change?

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