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users and data from two macs combined to one mac

we want to use one computer for two people and keep their data separate. both people had older macs and their on data, email etc.


we had two separate older macs. one was migrated to a new MacBook air. if a new user is created on the MacBook air can the other old mac also be migrated to the MacBook air? would migrating the second old mac cause any problems the data from the first old mac?


Can it be done? How?


Thanks

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 12.5

Posted on Sep 13, 2022 6:30 PM

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Posted on Sep 14, 2022 4:34 AM

You described everything correctly.


It is not directly related to your question, but it just goes without saying that you should maintain backups, because any device can fail at any time. To learn how to use Time Machine please read Back up your files with Time Machine on Mac - Apple Support.


At your option, you could use a Time Machine backup of that older Mac in lieu of the Mac itself as the source of what you want to transfer to the new Mac — it would make no difference. That ability becomes important if that old Mac were to simply stop working one day.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 14, 2022 4:34 AM in response to hgs1969

You described everything correctly.


It is not directly related to your question, but it just goes without saying that you should maintain backups, because any device can fail at any time. To learn how to use Time Machine please read Back up your files with Time Machine on Mac - Apple Support.


At your option, you could use a Time Machine backup of that older Mac in lieu of the Mac itself as the source of what you want to transfer to the new Mac — it would make no difference. That ability becomes important if that old Mac were to simply stop working one day.

Sep 13, 2022 7:11 PM in response to hgs1969

if a new user is created on the MacBook air can the other old mac also be migrated to the MacBook air? would migrating the second old mac cause any problems the data from the first old mac?


Yes, and no, respectively. Keeping User Accounts separate is how macOS is designed to work.


Don't create a second User Account. Just run Migration Assistant. It will create that Account, and leave the first one untouched.


Read about it here: Move your content to a new Mac - Apple Support. Referring to the last screenshot, de-select the User Account that already exists on the new Mac — the one you wrote has already been migrated. Otherwise, it will create a redundant User Account which you don't want.


The result will be one Mac with two separate User Accounts.

Sep 14, 2022 4:11 AM in response to John Galt

Thank you, that is helpful.

Questions:

In the step " On your new Mac Select the information to transfer." Since the user name on the second old mac is not on the new mac, the app will use the user name on the old mac, create an account and move the data associated with the user on the old mac. Is that correct? And the User that was already on the new mac will not be effected? Is that correct?

When the new user logs into the new mac they will see their desktop/info just like on the old mac? Is that correct? The original user on the new mac will not see any changes with their data? Is that correct?

Thanks for your help. I just don't want to lost any date.

Thanks



users and data from two macs combined to one mac

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