What files are transferred with the migration assistant?

Kirk Carver wrote:

Phillips

Thank you for that insight — it’s part of what I’m concerned about. When you advise to only migrate the user account(s), do mean use the Migration Assistant, but deselect everything except the User folders? To your knowledge will this also transfer the User/Shared files and the “hidden” information for each user (such as the mail files in the ~Library directory)?

thanks

When Setup Assistant is run, it eventually offers to migrate accounts, files, applications, anything ... from the old computer or from a backup (e.g. Time Machine backup, or "clone" type backup). I have always instructed it to migrate over selected accounts and associated files/folders ONLY, unchecking every other option (unchecking applications, settings, "other," etc., [did not transfer those unchecked items]). I have done this for about a dozen new computers over the years for myself, my wife, daughter, others, work and personal computers. This does bring over Mail (all of it) for each user account being migrated over from the backup. It also brings over other "hidden" folders in the user Library folder, not just Mail, but also Application Support and Preferences, for instance all the browsers' favorites, bookmarks, preferences, etc. This requires reinstalling all third-party (non-Apple) software, but as P. Phillips indicates, it is the more reliable approach. When that third party software is installed, you can decide to first delete the "inherited" preferences and application support folders that were migrated, or leave them there to be used with the new software installs.

Some software, such as MS-Office and Adobe CC, may require re-entry of some passwords, codes, or re-configuration. I recall my daughter had to talk with Adobe Help on the phone to get all her profiles for Adobe Lightroom configured to work like they did on the old Mac.

1 - One the First Boot of the New Computer - use " Setup Assist " and move the Administrator Account Only from Old to New computer.

2 - Anything in the Admin Account " Home Folder " on the Old computer will be moved over to the new machine.

3 - If there are more than One Admin Account on the Old computer - suggest using the first account used when that computer was First Setup as New.

4 - Any Additional Accounts on the Old to be moved to New can be used with Migration Assist afterwards.

"Setup Assist" is the normal, initial setup of a Mac the first time it is turned on; same after doing a wipe & reinstall of macOS. There is no migration involved with it.

Migrating any user account from an old(er) Mac will carry over baggage from the old account(s) - there's just no way to know what that may be ahead of time. It could be harmless or there could be problematic stuff. And the older the Mac and the more times it has been updated/upgraded the more cruft could exist and be migrated.

Further, since you are moving from an old Intel Mac, even though it's running Catalina 10.15.17, to a new Apple silicon Mac, it would be wise to install everything from scratch, meaning not migrate anything from the old Mac. Why take chances?

You can always set up the same user accounts on the new machine (using the same usernames & passwords); and you can always copy data files over via network or sneakernet (external drive).

I BELIEVE that it SHARED folder is transferred when you use either Setup Assistant or Migration Assistant. I BELIEVE that those utilities will offer to bring over all users, and all files. But I don't have an example to look at to prove it.

As a "back up" strategy, you can manually copy the entire contents of SHARED and simply copy it manually over to the new computer if somehow it does not transfer as expected. I am expecting that when the Migration or Setup Assistant offers you to select which user accounts to transfer (which you select by checking boxes), it will offer to transfer the Shared folder, but have a "back up" plan to do it manually. In fact, you can manually copy any files that fail to migrate in the way expected. I have never had to do that but it is always an option.

If the new computer is going to be the Apple Silicon M1 / M2 Equipped Computer - would suggest Only Migrating the User Account and nothing more.

Some have had success and others have been left with a mess when Migrating everything.

1 - Apple Silicon with either Big Sur macOS 11 or Monterey macOS 12 Only Support everything 64 bit and there is no workaround.

2 - Issues that may exist on the older computer will be migrated to the New Computer. This would badly pollute the new Original and Pristine installation of the new OS.

3 -  Applications, extensions and Software Drivers may or may not even work on the new computer.

4 - IMHO - it would be best to only install new application etc Directly from the Developer or the Apple Apps Store.

5 - Due Diligence on New Applications and make sure they are Monterey / Big Sur compatible and factor in the ARMs CPU of the Apple Silicon Computer  

One the very First Boot of the new machine - Setup Assist is offered on a one time basis.

It is a bit like a first time boot of a new iPhone where one is offered to Setup from another iPhone or an iOS Backup.

Since you have Master Admin Account used for special purposes, would suggest to continue the same process as you have been doing.

That being, Setup the New Computer with that Special Admin Account ( Owner Account ) and proceed to using Migration Assist to move the Other Accounts from Old to New machine.

Personally, whenever I get a new machine, I always set it up without Setup Assist or thereafter not even Migration Assist.

Everything is installed from either the apple Apps Store or Directly from the Software Developers.

Personal Data files - use iCloud to bring down what is needed

As extra insurance - I perform a TIM Backup of Old machine and put it in a Safety Deposit Box at Bank and at the same time perform a Clone of same machine to separate Drive and that too to the Bank Box.

Keep on TM Backup of New Machine and two Clones each to separate Drives in house.

The files you want to transfer will be transferred. You can select all that in the migration assistant wizard