transferring photos from 2014 Mac book pro

How do I transfer my photos from the old apple photo program on my 2014 Mac book pro to my new Mac book air 2023?

Posted on Aug 5, 2023 8:54 PM

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Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Aug 5, 2023 9:11 PM

  1. Update Both Macs:
  2. Ensure that both your old MacBook Pro and new MacBook Air are updated to the latest versions of macOS.
  3. Sign in with Apple ID:
  4. Make sure you're signed in with the same Apple ID on both Macs. This will help synchronize your photos through iCloud, if you're using iCloud Photos.
  5. Use iCloud Photos (Recommended):
  6. If you've been using iCloud Photos on your old MacBook Pro, your photos might already be synced to the cloud. On your new MacBook Air, simply enable iCloud Photos (System Preferences > Apple ID > iCloud > Photos) and allow it to download your photos from iCloud.
  7. Use Migration Assistant:
  8. Apple's Migration Assistant can help you transfer files, including photos, from your old Mac to the new one. Follow these steps:
    • Connect the two Macs using a Thunderbolt or USB-C cable (depending on the available ports).
    • On your new MacBook Air, go to "Applications" > "Utilities" > "Migration Assistant."
    • Open Migration Assistant on your old MacBook Pro and select the option to transfer files to another Mac.
    • Follow the on-screen instructions to establish a connection between the two Macs and select the data you want to transfer, including your Photos library.
  1. Use an External Drive:
  2. If you're not using iCloud Photos and don't want to use Migration Assistant, you can manually transfer your Photos library using an external hard drive or USB flash drive:
    • On your old MacBook Pro, locate your Photos library. It's usually located in the "Pictures" folder. Copy the entire Photos library to an external drive.
    • Safely eject the external drive and connect it to your new MacBook Air.
    • Copy the Photos library from the external drive to your new MacBook Air's "Pictures" folder.
    • Open the Photos app on your new MacBook Air while holding down the "Option" key. This will prompt you to choose a library. Select the copied Photos library.
  1. Use AirDrop:
  2. You can use AirDrop to transfer a smaller number of photos directly between the two Macs. Simply select the photos you want to transfer on your old MacBook Pro, right-click, and choose "Share" > "AirDrop." Then select your new MacBook Air as the recipient.

Remember to keep backups of your photos before attempting any transfer method, just in case anything goes wrong during the process. Additionally, the exact steps may vary slightly depending on the versions of macOS you're using.

1 reply
Question marked as Best reply

Aug 5, 2023 9:11 PM in response to 1oldlaptop

  1. Update Both Macs:
  2. Ensure that both your old MacBook Pro and new MacBook Air are updated to the latest versions of macOS.
  3. Sign in with Apple ID:
  4. Make sure you're signed in with the same Apple ID on both Macs. This will help synchronize your photos through iCloud, if you're using iCloud Photos.
  5. Use iCloud Photos (Recommended):
  6. If you've been using iCloud Photos on your old MacBook Pro, your photos might already be synced to the cloud. On your new MacBook Air, simply enable iCloud Photos (System Preferences > Apple ID > iCloud > Photos) and allow it to download your photos from iCloud.
  7. Use Migration Assistant:
  8. Apple's Migration Assistant can help you transfer files, including photos, from your old Mac to the new one. Follow these steps:
    • Connect the two Macs using a Thunderbolt or USB-C cable (depending on the available ports).
    • On your new MacBook Air, go to "Applications" > "Utilities" > "Migration Assistant."
    • Open Migration Assistant on your old MacBook Pro and select the option to transfer files to another Mac.
    • Follow the on-screen instructions to establish a connection between the two Macs and select the data you want to transfer, including your Photos library.
  1. Use an External Drive:
  2. If you're not using iCloud Photos and don't want to use Migration Assistant, you can manually transfer your Photos library using an external hard drive or USB flash drive:
    • On your old MacBook Pro, locate your Photos library. It's usually located in the "Pictures" folder. Copy the entire Photos library to an external drive.
    • Safely eject the external drive and connect it to your new MacBook Air.
    • Copy the Photos library from the external drive to your new MacBook Air's "Pictures" folder.
    • Open the Photos app on your new MacBook Air while holding down the "Option" key. This will prompt you to choose a library. Select the copied Photos library.
  1. Use AirDrop:
  2. You can use AirDrop to transfer a smaller number of photos directly between the two Macs. Simply select the photos you want to transfer on your old MacBook Pro, right-click, and choose "Share" > "AirDrop." Then select your new MacBook Air as the recipient.

Remember to keep backups of your photos before attempting any transfer method, just in case anything goes wrong during the process. Additionally, the exact steps may vary slightly depending on the versions of macOS you're using.

transferring photos from 2014 Mac book pro

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