Advice re. how to transfer from an old iMac to a new iMac

When you buy a new Mac the easiest, quickest and most reliable method to migrate from the old Mac to the new Mac is to simply connect the old Mac's Time Machine External Hard Disk to the new Mac using a USB cable before you turn on the new Mac. You will likely need a USB A to USB C adapter, you can find them on Amazon for $10 or less. When you start the new Mac for the first time it will startup Setup Assistant (SA), SA will get to a point where it asks if you are migrating from another computer, select Yes  and follow the on-screen prompts and it's done! It is THAT simple.

If you have already done SA on the new computer then simply connect the Time Machine External Hard Disk using a USB cable and launch Migration Assistant (MA) which is located in Applications - Utilities - MA. Then follow the on-screen prompts. 

The ONLY difference between MA and SA is MA will create a new user account that you need to log into.

Both SA and MA migrate applications (not 32 bit apps), data files & settings. They do not migrate Mac OS itself. Some professional apps such as Adobe and Microsoft apps may require re-installing their apps as they will not allow them to be migrated. As long as you kept the security keys for installing their apps, it is not an issue. 

Finally, never EVER use Wi-Fi when doing Setup Assistant or Migration Assistant. Why, it simply fails in most cases. Please read and follow the directions in Setup Assistant and Migration Assistant. If you do not have a Time Machine backup of the older Mac then create one! If you are not aware of Time Machine, please read Back up your Mac with Time Machine and finally if you need an External Hard Disk to use as a Time Machine External Hard Disk then many experience users on these forums prefer the OWC Mercury Elite Pro due to it's reasonable price, high level of quality and ease of use. 

I have done these migrations with either Migration Assistant or Setup Assistant with over 20 Macs over the years (mine, family members, work computers, etc.).

To summarize (some of this is repeating what others posted above):

Setup Assistant runs on the VERY FIRST BOOT UP of a new Mac. This is preferable.

Migration Assistant can be run after a Mac is set up and running. Also works well, but Setup Assistant is best (when the Mac is turned on for the first time).

I have always used a backup drive instead of connecting the two Macs. I have used Time Machine backup drives as well as drives that have a "clone" backup. Your Carbon Copy Cloner makes "clone" type backups. When you are migrating from a backup drive, all you need is the right kind of connector to connect the backup drive to your new Mac. You can purchase those in an Apple Store, Best Buy type store, online, etc.

For the migration, I have migrated EVERYTHING (e.g. user accounts, files, applications, settings ...) when the old and new Mac are both running the same operating system version. But it is best to simply check the boxes when you are asked to specify migration on ONLY user accounts and associated files, nothing else (no applications, settings, misc. etc.). Then just reinstall your applications, taking care to download the latest installers so you have installed only the most recent versions of your software. You may also have to reenter some settings like WiFi connections and passwords, reinstall printer drivers, and the like.

When you are done, your new system will actually look quite similar to the old one, as all your files and desktop will be preserved. Your browser bookmarks and even history should all be there as those come over when you migrate.

When handled in this simple way, I have found migrating to a new Mac remarkably trouble free. More than 20 times. In the unlikely event that something does not work as expected, take your backup and new Mac to the Apple Store and ask them to set up your Mac as brand new and ask them to migrate user accounts and files only for you.

Suzy2014,

Do you have an external drive configured as a Time Machine backup for your old iMac? If so, it's probably using a USB-A connector. Your new iMac will not have USB-A connectors, and instead will have USB-C connectors, which are physically different. So you'll need an adaptor as rkaufmann87 has mentioned that will allow your external drive to connect to your new iMac. (Available both online or at the Apple Store, BTW).

Regarding your uncertainty of what will be asked of you during the setup, I can understand your hesitation. They are pretty simple, and include:

• What country are you in?
• Do you want to include any Accessibility options (hearing, visual, etc.) during the setup? (Most of us don't need them, but for those that do, it's nice Apple includes them in the setup).
• Are you transferring from an old Mac or Time Machine backup? As rkaufmann87 has stated, you'll answer YES to this question.
• What would you like to transfer? (Applications, Other Files & Folders, User Accounts, System & Network). For your purposes, I would deselect Applications since those would most likely need to be updated anyway, and leave the rest selected.

At some point (and I apologize, as I can't recall exactly when this pops up) you'll be asked to enter a password for your new iMac. Personally, I've always chosen to use the same password as my old Mac. But if you DO elect to enter a new password here, please write it down. (You'd be amazed glancing thru these support forums how many "forgot" the password they just set up).

At this point, you're pretty much done answering questions. You'll see the progress bar on your new iMac, and now all that's required is patience. Depending on the amount of data you're transferring, this can take anywhere from a few minutes to more than 2 hours. (And this is a big reason I'd be hesitant to have the Apple Store perform the transfer for you....they're not going to be paying any attention to your new iMac during this transfer, and most likely will simply transfer everything and use a different password for your new iMac).

It appears that the apps you're using, once they've been redownloaded, are all compatible with Apple Silicon Macs. So you shouldn't have any difficulties in that regard.

I agree with rkaufmann87 about not using WiFi to transfer anything...it's slow, and susceptible to signal dropouts that can result in corrupted data.

Hope this helps.

Suzy2014 wrote:

However, what I am still trying to find out is if when or after a transfer is done with MA to a new iMac, is the Spotlight DB rebuilt? I do hope that the Apple Mail DB is not rebuilt (to avoid deletion of emails on the computer).

You are transferring from a 2013 Mac to a 2024 Mac. So over 11 years, the Apple Mail data base has completely changed multiple times over. When the emails are transferred over, they will be automatically imported and converted to the newer data base. I am almost certain that the new Mac's Apple Mail contents will be re-indexed properly and your searches will work properly. It has to be re-indexed because the structure of the newer data base is quite different compared to 2013. This is actually good because this process ensures that your new emails will be displayed and searched properly.

Spotlight will also be rebuilt on the new Mac. Lots of things are changed in a 2024 Mac versus a 2013 Mac, so it has to be rebuilt. The old (2013) Spotlight index will not work on the new Mac and its new MacOS anyway.

rkaufmann87 has explained everything well. This Migration/Setup Assistant process is one of the smoothest I have seen. It works remarkably well. If by some very unlikely oddity, your emails on the new Mac don't work as expected, there are other options that can be pursued later to manually import them in a separate step -- you will still have them all on the backup drive and also on the old Mac, fully preserved just in case. I have never had to do this myself after more than 20 such migrations. One of my migrations was from a 2010 MacBook Air running High Sierra 10.13 to what was then a new MacBook Pro 2019 that is now on Sonoma 14, it was a seamless migration, emails, Spotlight searching, and all.

Suzy2014,

To be honest you are WAY WAY WAY over complicating a very simple process by trying to over analyzing it. Simply follow the directions I provided when your new iMac arrives and within 2 hours it will be done. Its really just hooking up the Time Machine drive from the old machine to the new Mac, turning on the new Mac for the first time and then answering some intuitive on-screen instructions and then going out for dinner for a couple of hours, when you come back the computer will be waiting for you fully migrated and looking and working just like the old machine.

I have used this process on many many Macs and it just works, it's not difficult or something to stress about.

Given that your current Mac is circa 2013, I'd probably not migrate applications over to the new Mac. Odds are that most of them would need to be reinstalled to newer versions that support Apple Silicon (your old Mac is an Intel model).

In Migration Assistant there is an option to deselect migrating applications. As rkaufmann87 has described, SA/MA is super simple to run from a Time Machine backup external drive...the only caveat being that if/when asked for a username/password, make certain you write it down (and it's case-sensitive, so keep that in mind). You can use the same password you used on your old Mac, BTW.

(I had zero issues migrating from my 2016 MBP to my 2023 MBA last year).

Suzy2014,

I can offer the following comments on your newest post:

1. Have the Apple ID, WIFI info, the iPhone and TM backup drive handy

You shouldn't need your iPhone handy during the setup/migration from your old Mac. (Might be handy to have, though, should you get "stuck" on something, as you could use it to call AppleCare for a (semi) quick answer.)

I assume that the following adapter would be appropriate (Syntech USB C to USB Adapter ; USB C to USB3.0 Female Adapter | Compatible with iPhone 15 MacBook Pro Air, other Type C or Thunderbolt Devices)

From what I could tell on Amazon, this adaptor should work just fine to connect your external Time Machine backup drive.

5. Launch Migration Assistant (MA) which is located in Applications - Utilities

Follow instructions at:   Restore your Mac - Apple Support

You shouldn't have to launch Migration Assistant. It should pop up on its own.

   5.1. DO I SELECT SYSTEM AND NETWORK TO TRANSFER?

Yes, I would select those.

5.2. I HAVE A TEST AND A GUEST ACCOUNT ON MY OLD MAC. WILL THEY BE AUTOMATICALLY TRANSFERRED? I ASSUME MY OWN ACCOUNT WILL BE TRANSFERRED “AS IS”. 

I believe the test and Guest accounts will appear as selections to migrate. If they're not needed, there's no need to select them, though. And yes, your own account will be transferred "as is". I should note here that, at some point, your new Mac will ask you to enter a password. It's up to you whether you want a new password, or use the same password you'd been using on your old Mac.

7. Update printer and scanner drivers as needed

This may not be needed. (See my comments further down to your point 8.4).

8.1 DID ANYONE INSTALL AFTER SUCH A TRANSFER TO A NEW MAC WITH A NEW OS THE MS OFFICE 365 APPS ? If so, have you encountered any issues?

I had no issues installing Microsoft 365 on my MacBook Air. You'll need to log in to your Microsoft office account the first time you launch one of the apps, but that's about it from what I recall.

8.2 DID ANYONE INSTALL AFTER SUCH A TRANSFER FIREFOX? If so, do I understand correctly that MA transfers bookmarks and all other settings and that this didn’t cause any issues?

Someone else will have to answer this one, as I transferred all applications when I migrated because most of them were Universal apps that run on either Intel or Apple Silicon Macs. So I don't know on this one.

  8.3 I assume that there is no way to select some 3rd party application to transfer with MA, to avoid having to re-install and configure everything.

Unfortunately, transferring applications is either all or none.

8.4 I was told that Airprint will be on the new iMac. If so, do I have to do anything when I want to print something (still download a driver, setup Airprint, etc.)?

If your current Mac connects to your printer wirelessly, your current Mac probably has AirPrint, too. Before trying to print anything on your new Mac, it's wise to check your printer to make sure it's connected to your WiFi network, though. I believe your printer will be migrated to your new Mac (but it's been a while now, and I can't remember what I had for breakfast this morning😄). AirPrint isn't something you actually have to set up...it's a communication protocol that's supported by most printers in the last few years.

Hopefully, others here will be able to verify what I've commented on here.

Do you have a timetable for purchasing your new iMac? If not, please make sure its internal storage is at least as much as your current iMac...I've seen a few questions lately from folks migrating to a new Mac that has a smaller internal storage than their old Mac...and it makes things a bit more complicated.

Hi - I am proceeding through a very similar scenario migrating from a iMac 2011 to the current 2023 M3 iMac. For Firefox I directly downloaded the current Mozilla Firefox application, signed in and all my bookmarks & settings installed with no issue.

I executed the Set Up assistant prior to reading this discussion so I missed the opportunity to transfer files from my TM back-up until the set up was otherwise completed therefore I plan to run MA for the transfer of my user account shortly.

I will follow the guidance here to download any required non Apple applications directly and NOT from my old iMac. I intend to load these onto my internal SSD.

Since I have more user files than I have memory for on the internal SSD I plan to copying these user files to an new external SSD & use these two storage devices in tandem.

When running MA & retrieving my files from my TM back-up I am uncertain what I need to do regarding selecting "Other files & folders" and "system & network" for the transfer. Not sure what is included in these categories. Is anyone familiar with what files are associated with these categories & suggest how I should handle importing or not importing these.

Great discussion. Thanks all for sharing your knowledge!

Suzy2014 wrote:

...Is there a way to know ahead of time what Setup Assistant will ask about, to be prepared?

See if these articles can get you "prepared" for your new iMac:

• Set up your iMac - Apple Support
• Set up your iMac for new Mac users - Apple Support

Have you tried the steps found in this link:

Rebuild the Spotlight index on your Mac - Apple Support

also this link helped me solve this problem awhile ago:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7144486?sortBy=best

If still an issue an appointment with the Genius Desk might resolve this quickest

Good luck.