Can I use just my iCloud files to set up new imac

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Can I use just my iCloud files to set up new imac

I've got a 2010 iMac and am going to buy a new 24" iMac. Rather than pulling across all kinds of obsolete and possibly corrupt stuff from my Time Machine backup, I'm thinking of just setting it up fresh with just the Apple apps that come with the machine. Then I thought I'd sign into iCloud where I have all my stuff (Photos, Messages, Mail, Contacts,Numbers,Pages,etc) and just let it populate from there. Can I do it that way? I can redownload apps like Evernote, Day One or other apps (Gmail) which are all cloud based.

Thoughts?

Thanks!

Mark

iMac Line (2012 and Later)

Posted on Oct 25, 2021 1:45 PM

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Answer 1

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FoxFifth

Level 10

475,461 points

Oct 25, 2021 2:11 PM in response to ATHiker95

I did that with my current MacBook Pro when I set it up a year ago.

For it to work, be sure that you understand what you have synced from your current Mac to iCloud. One thing to do is to use an internet browser and log into iCloud.com and view and confirm what is there. If there is some data that you want that can't be synced with iCloud, copy it to a folder on your backup drive or other location and then when ready, copy it to the new Mac.

Don't dispose of your old Mac (or its backup) until you're finished and don't manually delete things from the old Mac after setting up the new one or the deletions will sync with the new one. Use the following procedure when ready: What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your Mac - Apple Support

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Answer 2

ATHiker95 Author

Level 1

93 points

Oct 25, 2021 3:04 PM in response to FoxFifth

Thanks! Exactly what I wanted to know. Good to hear from someone who has actually done it.

Thanks!

Mark

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Can I use just my iCloud files to set up new imac

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