iMac cannot authenticate to file server after migration

Question

Level 1

11 points

iMac cannot authenticate to file server after migration

I migrated to another iMac using the Migration utility. Other iMac doesn't authenticate to file server as registered user, it authenticates using an email address. How do I correct this?

iMac 24″, macOS 26.6

Posted on Oct 23, 2026 3:26 PM

Reply

Answer 1

MartinR

Level 7

27,377 points

Oct 24, 2026 1:41 PM in response to AnotherBruce

Please describe the situation more fully ...

What model was the old (source) iMac & what version of macOS was on it?
What model is the new iMac that you migrated to and what version of macOS is on it?
- Did you migrate Users from the old (source) iMac?
What is the "file server" you are trying to access, and from which iMac?

If you are trying to access one Mac from another Mac on a local network (i.e. file sharing) you don't use email addresses to authenticate, you use Mac User IDs. Pls. describe why/how you say you need to authenticate with an email address.

If you are trying to do file sharing between two Macs, do you have File Sharing enabled on the Mac that acts as the "file server?"

Reply

Answer 2

AnotherBruce Author

Level 1

11 points

Oct 24, 2026 4:53 PM in response to MartinR

Old iMac: 27 inch mid 2011 10.13.6

Target iMac: 27 inch late 2013 10.15.8

I used the migration utility. I did create another user afterwards but that account is only for testing.

The file server is the company file server. I didn't set it up so I won't poke at it to see what system is but the hardware is not recent - Mac Pro Model #A1289.

When I connect to the server to access folders, "connected as: [my personal email account address]"

The account which I expect to connect as does exist on the server

Reply