HT204350: Move your content to a new Mac

Learn about Move your content to a new Mac
baldwinf
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: migration help

Hey so  have an old mac book that I have upgraded to lion but i just got a new mac air for xmas. How to I get all my old files onto my new lap to

MacBook Air, OS X Mavericks (10.9.1)

Posted on Dec 25, 2013 10:08 PM

Close
baldwinf

Q: migration help

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by mende1,

    mende1 mende1 Dec 25, 2013 10:26 PM in response to baldwinf
    Level 10 (93,324 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 25, 2013 10:26 PM in response to baldwinf

    Welcome to Apple Support Communities

     

    If you have not set up your new MacBook Air yet, Setup Assistant will ask you to transfer your data > http://pondini.org/OSX/SetupLion.html

     

    There are different ways of transfering your files from an old Mac to a new computer. As your MacBook Air has not got a FireWire port, I recommend you two ways:

     

    • If you do not have to transfer a big amount of files -> go for the classic way: through your network. Simply connect your old MacBook to the same wireless network as your new Mac, and open Migration Assistant on the old Mac. Then, just simply follow its steps.
    • If you have to transfer a big amount of files -> make a Time Machine backup of your old computer onto an external drive. Then, connect it to your new Mac, set it up and follow the steps to transfer your files.

     

    If you have already transferred your files, the steps are the same, but now you have to open Migration Assistant on the new Mac. You can find it in /Applications/Utilities

  • by baldwinf,

    baldwinf baldwinf Dec 25, 2013 10:33 PM in response to mende1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 25, 2013 10:33 PM in response to mende1

    What constitutes a large amount of files? i have like 500 photos,10 movies and a buncha papers from high school and college. Wi-fi or time machine?

  • by mende1,

    mende1 mende1 Dec 25, 2013 10:34 PM in response to baldwinf
    Level 10 (93,324 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 25, 2013 10:34 PM in response to baldwinf

    Go for Time Machine. I do not recommend a Wi-Fi transfer for transfers of several GBs, and you say you need to transfer 10 movies

  • by baldwinf,

    baldwinf baldwinf Dec 25, 2013 10:48 PM in response to mende1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 25, 2013 10:48 PM in response to mende1

    yeah i have 1.98 gb

  • by mende1,

    mende1 mende1 Dec 25, 2013 10:49 PM in response to baldwinf
    Level 10 (93,324 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 25, 2013 10:49 PM in response to baldwinf

    Well, if you want to save money because you have not got an external drive, you can try using Wi-Fi. You do not need to transfer a big amount of GBs, but note that Wi-Fi is the slowest way