After running Migration Assistant, the Mac shows folders on the Home screen, but the folders are empty. While MA was running, I could see that files were being transferred but I can't find them on the MacBook. Where are they/how do I find them?
MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 14.6
the Mac is inherently a multi-User system. If you decide to create only one user, NOTHING changes.
if you set up your Mac, creating an initial User-ID, then Migrated files to that computer, those files are in a different User-ID. if you log on with that migrated User-ID, or look around among the multiple User-IDs, you will likely find those files.
DO NOT Rename a Mac user-ID. Folks who do this end up locked out of their Mac, and their files gone. if you don't like the user-ID where the files have landed, create a new one to you liking and copy the files over.
User Files are stored at:
/Users
YourUsername
Desktop
Documents
Pictures
Music
Movies
...
YourSpousesUsername
Desktop
Documents
Pictures
Music
Movies
...
YourChildsUsername
Desktop
Documents
Pictures
Music
Movies
...
YourDogsUsername
Desktop
Documents
Pictures
Music
Movies
...
the Mac is inherently a multi-User system. If you decide to create only one user, NOTHING changes.
if you set up your Mac, creating an initial User-ID, then Migrated files to that computer, those files are in a different User-ID. if you log on with that migrated User-ID, or look around among the multiple User-IDs, you will likely find those files.
DO NOT Rename a Mac user-ID. Folks who do this end up locked out of their Mac, and their files gone. if you don't like the user-ID where the files have landed, create a new one to you liking and copy the files over.
User Files are stored at:
/Users
YourUsername
Desktop
Documents
Pictures
Music
Movies
...
YourSpousesUsername
Desktop
Documents
Pictures
Music
Movies
...
YourChildsUsername
Desktop
Documents
Pictures
Music
Movies
...
YourDogsUsername
Desktop
Documents
Pictures
Music
Movies
...
See the "What is transferred, and where" section of
Transfer from PC to Mac with Migration Assistant - Apple Support
Hopefully this will answer the question. Just in case, don't even think about getting rid of the original files on the PC until
Wild guess which might explain PART of what you're seeing:
Photos likes to store pictures within its own database, rather than "loose" in the Finder.
If you look in your Pictures directory, you may see a file called "Photos Library.photoslibrary" (or something like that). If you select it, and then right-click on it, the popup menu will include the item "Show Package Contents".
That means that this file is really a directory tree that the Finder is disguising as a single file – to discourage you from messing around inside, and destroying relationships between its components which the Photos application may be counting upon.
If you select Show Package Contents, the Finder will open a window onto the top-level folder of the package, and you can then navigate around and see things inside. If you do this, I would strongly recommend just looking – not touching. Don't move, delete, or modify anything. The internal structure may be organized in a what seems like a haphazard way - basically, because it only has to be convenient for Photos, not for you. The developers of Photos expect that if you want to export photos, you'll go use the File > Export menu item in the application.
I believe that Apple may have used packages for the iTunes Library in the past, but that these days the Music and TV applications store your imported media in folders. So I don't know why "nothing" would show up for them. It's also a good idea to apply a "look but don't touch" rule to these databases, whether they are in packages, or "just" in ordinary directories.
Another thing you could try is to contact Apple Support. According to the AppleCare Products page, "Every Mac comes with one year of hardware repair coverage through its limited warranty and up to 90 days of complimentary technical support."
If you're within that 90 day period, or if you bought AppleCare+ to extend it, it might be time to take advantage of the support you paid for.
Sorry, this does not help. I've been through this section several times. This is my first Mac. Maybe I'm so entrenched in the Windows world that I just don't get the Apple system. I see the Home folder and the various folders within (Documents, Pictures, etc.), but they are empty. I watched the Migration Assistant transfer files from the PC to the Mac over the course of several hours, so they must be somewhere in the SSD, but they are not in (or not visible to me in) the folders described in the migration process.
Any other suggestions?
When I couldn't find my files after my first migration attempt I ran migration again and, yep, created a new home folder. Not finding my files there either, I deleted the second home folder. I'm thinking of defaulting the computer to its as-shipped condition and starting over. Thoughts on that?
One trouble some users have is that the login on the old computer does not have free and easy access to all the files desired. The files may be present, but if they can't be read easily with the login you provided, they won't be moved.
Still no joy. Only iCloud Photos in that folder. Thinking of resetting the computer to make a fresh start. I will contact Support first for feedback. Thanks for your time.
Migration Assist PC to MacBook Pro
