Information migration from old Mac to new Mac

Suggestion - if keeping the Old Machine around and intent to use it for other purposes, keep the Old Time Machine backup drive dedicated to that machine.

Start with a New Drive for TM Backups for the New machine. TM Backup in Big Sur has changed and will what the entire drive It may possibly what to convert the drive to the newer APFS Format.

christinefromcastro valley wrote:

When migrating information from my old Mac which is from 2013, should I include system and net work when I move it to the new Mac which I just bought bought

I would transfer everything I could...

The most trouble free way to move to a new machine, is using the Setup Assistant on the initial boot of a brand new machine— you have one shot here. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205749

If the new Mac ships with a newer macOS it will not allow the old system...in the notes it makes a point:

You might need to upgrade the macOS version on your older computer before you can transfer the information on it—Migration Assistant requires macOS 10.7 or later, but it’s best to update your older computer to the latest version possible.

The second best way is use the Migration Assistant.

How to move your content to a new Mac https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204350

Migration Assistant will not transfer your old operating system. You will have the option to select which other things to transfer. You can transfer your settings and preferences, all files or no files and your apps. Some people prefer to reinstall their apps. In either case, some of them will need to be re-registered or verified. Enjoy your new Mac.

I have to disagree with leroydouglas on this one!

While migrating everything will not bring the old OS, it will bring any old system extensions and applications that you may have installed on the old mac - some, perhaps, many years ago, like in El Capitan or something.

Probably a lot of that is stuff that you don't use or even know it's there.

This can cause all sorts of trouble on a new system.

When setting up a new mac, it is a great opportunity to get all your content but leave all that cruft behind.

I recommend that you migrate ONLY the user accounts.

Installing applications from the App Store or the developer websites is not so much of a chore as it was in years past, where you had to fetch the DVD and find the serial numbers on the back covers (or... use floppies! yes, I am that old).

Tend to agree on Only Migrating the User Account and leave the balance off.

Doing other wise will bring pre-existing Unresolved Software Issues that existed on the Old Computer over to the New Big Sur and probably M1 CPU.

Applications , extensions and the like, from Old to New & factor in the M1 CPU aspect - could be an invitation for a big disappointment and additional work to clean up an otherwise pristine Big Sur.

All above is IMHO.

Welcome and thank you too

you can go to migration assistant app