Fastest data transfer from old Mac mini to new Mac mini M4

Using your old Mac's Time Machine backup, is the fastest and most reliable way to Migrate to the new Mac.

Transfer to a new Mac with Migration Assistant - Apple Support

If the old Mac's Time Machine backup drive has a USB-A plug, then you will need a USB-C to USB-A adapter.

for some adapter examples:

USB-C to USB Adapter - Apple

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08Z768LCW/ref=sspa_dk_detail_1?

https://www.target.com/p/philips-usb-c-to-3-0-usb-a-female-adapter/-/A-79804275

·       Always connect your old Mac's Time Machine External Hard Disk prior to startup, this will allow a migration from your TM backup and it will be dead simple! 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! This is 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. 

·       NOTE 1: You will likely need a USB A to USB C adapter, you can find them on Amazon for $10 or less. Something like: 

·       NOTE 2: 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, my recommendation is not using Wi-Fi when doing Setup Assistant or Migration Assistant. Why, it simply fails in a lot of the cases reported in these forums. A wired connection is more reliable and the last thing you need is a failed migration when there are safe methods readily available. 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. 

Connect the iPhone to the Mac with a USB cable and open the iPhone in the Finder sidebar.

Select the General tab, go down to Options: and mirror the following settings.

Then select the Music tab and mirror the following settings, buy select Playlist instead of Artists or Albums.

Check the desired Playlists and click the Apply button.

If that doesn't work, then you may need to adjust or turn off iCloud Music on your iPhone.

What iPhone do you have..?

If you are not into putting your large imported music collection into the iCloud to share with your iPhone.

You can connect the iPhone to your Mac with a USB cable and manually sync your music to the iPhone.

see > Sync music between your Mac and iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

Please be patient, the process often takes 2-3 hours.

👍 That is good news.

99% of my music (142GB on my Mac and another 185 GB on an external drive) is imported from my CD collection over the last 20 years and has never been offered up to Apple Music aka iTunes Match.

Years ago I used Playlists in iTunes for iPods that had limited space. Then with Music, I just checked some Songs or Albums that would fit on the iPod, until they either died or ended up in to junk drawer from lack of use. These days I just manually sync most of Music on my Mac with my iPhone as shown earlier.

Yes that is the way that Music works. If you cancel you will lose your playlist, however you should not lose any purchased or imported music from CDs that are in your Library.

You can no longer create Playlists in Music without a subscription.

Basically, it's a way to squeeze more money out of you.

Personally I'm not into paying anyone $5, $10 or $20 a month or more for a subscription.

Not nobody' not Apple, not MS, not Disney, Roku, Netflix, Amazon, etc. etc. etc....