Migration Assistant over USB?

ApMaX wrote:

Thanks. What do you mean by "No, not directly anyway. You would need a USB adapter to perform the same functions as the ports you don't want to use"?

What I mean is that you would need an appropriate adapter (for example) so that the Macs can use that protocol for Migration Assistant: Move your content to a new Mac - Apple Support.

Those connection options are as follows:

• Connect both computers to the same local Wi-Fi or Ethernet network.
• Or connect both computers directly using a Thunderbolt, FireWire, or Ethernet cable.
• Or connect your new Mac to a Time Capsule or external drive that has a Time Machine backup of your old Mac.

You stated that you wish to avoid all of them, and as I wrote that is not an option if you wish to use Migration Assistant.

There is nothing slow about any of those connection options. In any event you may not use USB directly.

Very interesting - and contradictory information: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201462

Target disk mode on MacBook with USB-C port

MacBook (12-inch, Retina, Early 2015) and later support USB target disk mode using the following USB-C cables to transfer data:

• USB 3.0 or USB 3.1 USB-C Cable (USB-C to USB-C): Use this cable to share files between a MacBook with a USB-C port and another MacBook with a USB-C port.
• USB 3.0 or USB 3.1 USB-A to USB-C Cable: Use this cable to share files between a Mac with USB-A port(s) and a MacBook with a USB-C port.

See the second paragraph mentioning USB-A...

No, not directly anyway. You would need a USB adapter to perform the same functions as the ports you don't want to use.

There is nothing slow about Wi-Fi or Ethernet. It's the migration itself that's slow.

Contrary to what you've been advised, NO, you can't migrate directly over USB because there is no USB "target mode". Target mode works only over Thunderbolt or Firewire.

You can clone your Air's drive to a USB drive or partition, then connect that drive to your new mac and migrate from it. Or if you have an up to date Time Machine backup of your Air you can migrate directly from the Time Machine, bypassing the Air entirely.

You are missing something. It is the MacBook (with USB-C) that supports Target Disk Mode, not the other way around (i.e. the newer USB-C machine would be turned into a glorified external disk drive).

In the situation at hand, the OP would have to have his old Air booting into TDM, over USB-A. That has never been supported, by inherent limitations of older USB.

Should be possible with this adapter: USB-C to USB Adapter - Apple

Sorry, you need 2 male connectors: Belkin USB-A to USB-C Cable (USB 3.1) - Apple