Synchronising Macbooks

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Level 1

4 points

Synchronising Macbooks

I use Time Machine to back up my Macbooks. One is an Air, the other a Pro. They are in different locations and it can be weeks before I switch from one to the other. What is the best way of copying all data files from one to the other so that the currently used Mac is always up to date? Copying individual files is not the answer; too many changes. How about Migration Assistant? Or is there a way to restore all the data without overwriting the system settings?

MacBook Pro (2017 – 2020)

Posted on Sep 29, 2024 1:52 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

D.I. Johnson

Level 8

43,487 points

Sep 29, 2024 7:30 AM in response to twomacsm7

+1 for using iCloud to sync the files on these Macs.

iCloud allows you to store your files on the iCloud drive and access them from any Mac at any location.

Store files in iCloud Drive on Mac – Apple Support (AU)

While iCloud may be used to backup iPhone and iPad devices, iCloud is NOT a backup solution for the Mac computer. It IS, however, a great file syncing solution when a user wants or needs to access the same set of files on multiple computers (even PCs) at different locations.

You could do worse than use iCloud for the purpose you describe in your post.

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Answer 2

Sep 29, 2024 3:50 AM in response to twomacsm7

You could keep "master" data files on an external drive, and move that drive back and forth between the two Macs. (Of course, you would want to have other drives to back up the contents of that one.)

Another possibility might be to synchronize files through iCloud Drive.

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