Mail from Mac Mini to iMac with migration assistant

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Mail from Mac Mini to iMac with migration assistant

I have a mac mini (2014 - El Capitan) that I have been using for sometime now and I have numerous mailboxes (30+) with many stored messages (100s maybe 1000s).

Because of vision issues I recently picked up a 2011 iMac 27 which is currently running OS X Sierra Final Release Candidate.

Both units are running fine but I would like to transfer my mailboxes, messages and account settings from the Mac Mini to the iMac using Migration Assistant to take advantage of the larger screen.

Am I able to select just the Mail data (mailboxes, messages, and settings) to be transferred somewhere in the Migration Assistant interface or will it just start transferring everything?

I use iCloud for note, calendars and contacts but would prefer not to use it for email.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

WN

Mac mini (Late 2012), OS X El Capitan (10.11.6)

Posted on Sep 18, 2016 10:06 AM

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Answer 1

Sep 18, 2016 7:14 PM in response to wnmacmini

The easiest option would be to use Time Machine to restore your data.

Other Options:

You can export the folders you want to transfer from the mini using Mail's export feature under Mailbox in the Menu bar > Export Mailbox.... Drag over the folder to the Desktop on the new iMac and import into Mail. File > Import Mailboxes...

You can also use a third party app, Emailchemy to export your Mail on the mini then drag over only the folders you want and import. If you have a lot of folders this would be a quicker option.

http://www.weirdkid.com/products/emailchemy/

Otherwise, you could drag over the entire Mail > V3 folder let Sierra upgrade the data. This assumes you have not already started using Mail in Sierra.

You don't have to use iCloud email to use Apple Mail. I highly suggest you use IMAP for what ever service you select to use. Comcast, Yahoo, Gmail, AOL, Hotmail (other)

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