Migration connection

Without a doubt the best method is to use the backup (either Time Machine or Bootable Clone) of the older computer and connect via USB cable to the newer computer. Then launch Migration Assistant and select the EHD and then follow the on-screen direction.

• NEVER EVER use Wi-Fi!
• Ethernet works for some but isn't totally reliable
• Ethernet through the router even less reliable.

My method is not sexy like your first three suggestions however it works and it's reliable and that is what matters the most!

Most likely because they are used to dealing with users only having Wi-Fi in common. The fact that someone recommended Wi-Fi to you is not a reason to use it when you have alternatives. You did not question the user who told you to never use Wi-Fi. All of us helping you pretty much tried steering you away from Wi-Fi.

You might read Target Disk Mode for more discussion along with the link from Tesserax. Rkaufmann87's answer is not incorrect, it's just incomplete.

Thank you! You're right as I should have qualified that having both devices on the same network (preferably wired) AND using Migration Assistant with a recent Time Machine backup would be the "best" route ... at least, it has been my experience. I think rkaufmann87 covers it pretty well.

He's not altogether right. Nothing is wrong using Wi-Fi, but like Ethernet, it has reliability issues and may be slow depending on the network. I'm not a fan of using Time Machine so I like going with backing up to an external USB drive using CCC then restoring on the other machine using the same setup. I also like direct connections using Thunderbolt and/or FW800 when possible. The latter are reliable and faster than the other methods. Unfortunately, one cannot omit any method because it all depends on what the user has available. I've "never" been a fan of "never." 😀

Girshon Rutstein wrote:

So why the apple website support suggests WiFi by putting computers next to each other? I even called and they suggested WiFi. But I was not sure and therefore I came to the community. Thank you all for your help.

A few years ago I used the TM on some older iMacs, and it was a pain, for one reason, TM doesnt transfer serial numbers for some applications, so they needed to be reserialiazed, or reinstalled. I tried WiFi and it was sucesful transfer. But I heard that it might be an issues today. So according to rkaufmann87 and Kappy I will need an external clone HD, which I already created using Super Duper.

For some reason I thought connecting 2 computers direct is the fastest way, and more reliable. But since I have 2 version of thunderbolts I will have some issue, like buying some conversion wires.

Thanks again.

I wish I knew, every time I have seen someone attempt to use Wi-Fi migration it simply does not work. It's just too much data to use a Wi-Fi connection. I use SuperDuper as one of my backups and I have to admit it is more reliable than a Time Machine backup for the migrations I've done. Because both SD and CCC do the same job I'd recommend going the clone route.

I would suggest option #3.

Ref: Move your content to a new Mac - Apple Support

Without knowing what ports each computer has we cannot answer the question.

Only where the user cannot use Thunderbolt or FW800. Don't know what ports the computers have.