If using thunderbolt cable instead of wifi to transfer all data from a Macbook Pro 13" to the Macbook Pro 16" 2021, are the directions EXACTLY the same? At what point do I connect the 2 computers with the thunderbolt cable and adapter?
MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.15
Welcome to the Apple Support Communities.
Please see: Transfer your information to Mac from another computer or device - Apple Support.
Jack
connect them whenever you like.
You may wish to test the connection AFTER enabling File Sharing by using Finder to navigate to the source computer.
open a new Finder Window.
hold command and click-and-hold on the title of the window, and navigate to the highest level available, typically your computer-name.
Open the Network folder.
open the folder for the source computer.
at this point, the source computer will demand login credentials. Provide an admin name valid for the source computer.
look at what files are present.
¿Is this the right stuff? -if yes, your connection is working great.
The article says this:
Before you begin, upgrade to the latest version of macOS on both Mac computers.
This means upgrade to the latest version of macOS that each Mac computer supports.
Jack
No, they don't. They say you should upgrade each computer to the latest version you can.
MacOS Networking is widely compatible, but not universally compatible.
The idea is to use the latest MacOS possible on the new Mac, to reduce seeing problems that have already been seen and solved, and also to minimize the distance in years between the two.
I am not an Apple employee, so I can blurt out the more practical advice:
if you can get the old one to work the way it is, without upgrading, then it is far easier than investing a lot of time upgrading the old Mac you are (likely) leaving behind. If you get stuck, then you can try more upgrades.
The instructions say that both Macs should be running the same version of MacOS. However, the dinosaur MacPro that now holds the data to be transferred will only accommodate Catalina 10.15.7. Obviously the MacbookPro2021 is higher than that. Will this cause a problem?
Transferring all data using thunderbolt cable instead of wifi
