Transfer Calendar, Mail, and Safari Bookmarks between iMacs

I have a legacy iMac running Catalina 10.15.8 and new one running Tahoe 26.5.1. I'd like to transfer some data from the old one to the new onwards. Specifically: (1) Calendar; (2) Mailboxes and mail contacts; and (3) Safari Bookmarks. Can this be done easily using Migration Assistant? Or is there a way to export from the old Mac and import into the new? I have already use Migration Assistant to move some data over, but I am unclear how to move application-specific support data, such as bookmarks.


Thank you, Richard

iMac 24″, macOS 26.5

Posted on Sep 15, 2026 7:21 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Sep 15, 2026 7:41 PM

Since you’ve already used Migration Assistant, I’d probably move these items manually rather than run it again just for this. Migration Assistant is better suited to transferring a user account and its data/settings as a whole, not picking out a few individual items afterward. → Transfer to a new Mac with Migration Assistant


First check whether any of this is already synced through iCloud, Google, Exchange, etc. If Calendar, Contacts, or Safari are using the same account on both Macs, signing into that account and enabling those services may be all you need.


For anything stored only on the old Mac:


• Calendar: select each local calendar and use File > Export > Export, then import the resulting .ics file on the new Mac. I’d use individual exports rather than a Calendar Archive, since importing an archive replaces the current calendar data. → Import or export calendars on Mac


• Mail: for mailboxes under On My Mac, select them and choose Mailbox > Export Mailbox. On the new Mac use File > Import Mailboxes > Apple Mail. IMAP/iCloud mail normally comes back when you add the mail account. → Import or export mailboxes in Mail on Mac


• Contacts: if they aren’t synced through an online account, select the contacts and export them as vCards, then import those on the new Mac.


• Safari bookmarks: if Safari isn’t syncing through iCloud, export the bookmarks from Safari on the old Mac and import the bookmarks file into Safari on the new one.


I’d keep the old iMac untouched until you’ve checked that everything you need made it across.

2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 15, 2026 7:41 PM in response to mom292

Since you’ve already used Migration Assistant, I’d probably move these items manually rather than run it again just for this. Migration Assistant is better suited to transferring a user account and its data/settings as a whole, not picking out a few individual items afterward. → Transfer to a new Mac with Migration Assistant


First check whether any of this is already synced through iCloud, Google, Exchange, etc. If Calendar, Contacts, or Safari are using the same account on both Macs, signing into that account and enabling those services may be all you need.


For anything stored only on the old Mac:


• Calendar: select each local calendar and use File > Export > Export, then import the resulting .ics file on the new Mac. I’d use individual exports rather than a Calendar Archive, since importing an archive replaces the current calendar data. → Import or export calendars on Mac


• Mail: for mailboxes under On My Mac, select them and choose Mailbox > Export Mailbox. On the new Mac use File > Import Mailboxes > Apple Mail. IMAP/iCloud mail normally comes back when you add the mail account. → Import or export mailboxes in Mail on Mac


• Contacts: if they aren’t synced through an online account, select the contacts and export them as vCards, then import those on the new Mac.


• Safari bookmarks: if Safari isn’t syncing through iCloud, export the bookmarks from Safari on the old Mac and import the bookmarks file into Safari on the new one.


I’d keep the old iMac untouched until you’ve checked that everything you need made it across.

Sep 15, 2026 8:05 PM in response to mom292

Turned iCloud ON for Calendar & Contacts apps so it will sync

over once you signed in on your new computer.

Mailboxes can be created new and all the emails will synced over.


With Safari you can export your Bookmarks Data as a file and import it on your new Mac's Safari.

Safari > File > Export Browsing Data to File...


Transfer Calendar, Mail, and Safari Bookmarks between iMacs

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.