2020 Transfer files without using Migration Assistant

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Level 1

66 points

This question hasn't been asked for several years...

How can I transfer documents, photos, videos and emails etc to my new Mac without using Migration Assistant?

The old Mac has a lot of rubbish on it. I want to start with a "clean slate" and don't want Migration Assistant to copy over all the crud.

There are a few problems:

I have an external backup disk, but it doesn't have a Thunderbolt 3 (USB‑C) cable, so I can't use this to move documents.
I don't have a cable with suitable endings to connect the two Macs.
There is about 200GB of content to copy over.

Any ideas?

If I somehow copy over my documents using WiFi will 200GB take forever, and run the risk of drops in WiFi / glitches / missed data?

Could I use AirDrop? Or isn't this suitable for 200GB?

Thank you so much

MacBook Air

Posted on Jun 8, 2020 12:14 PM

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Answer 1

Level 10

122,072 points

I'm pretty sure you can use an Ethernet cable, but you'd need a USB dongle for the Air.

You could also enable file sharing on the old Mac and connect to it from the new Mac.

In Sharing, create a sharing only user and give that user permission to read your all of the folders in your Home.

Or, use sneaker net with an external hard drive.

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Answer 2

Level 10

122,072 points

Boot up the old Mac in Target Disk Mode and connect the two with appropriate cables.

Copy the desired files from the old Mac to the new Mac.

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Answer 3

Level 1

66 points

Is there a way to do it without having to buy an expensive Thunderbolt 3 – Thunderbolt 2 cable or adaptor, for this one off thing?

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