Best way to setup new MacBook, use Time Machine backup or do an iMac-to-MacBook transfer?

[Luba]

What’s the best way to setup a new MacBook, especially a “clean install” so that my new MacBook has the most storage space as possible. I read over the years devices “install” or create many new files to macOS that really add up.

I suppose device-to-device setup is the easiest but that just moves everything over including the “junk”, correct?

Setting up from a Time Machine backup also include all the “junk”?

How do I do a “clean install” without losing important data? I believe all my data files (Word files, photos, music, movies, books) are on iCloud. So I setup my new MacBook as a new user device and then manually reinstall apps from the Mac App Store and from app downloads site from apps not on Mac App Store, finally just sign into my iCloud account? Am I missing any steps?

Thanks in advance!

 

[decafjava]

I'll be watching this as I hope to do an iMac to Mac Mini transfer this year.

 

[ISKOTB]

What’s the best way to setup a new MacBook, especially a “clean install” so that my new MacBook has the most storage space as possible. I read over the years devices “install” or create many new files to macOS that really add up.

I suppose device-to-device setup is the easiest but that just moves everything over including the “junk”, correct?

Setting up from a Time Machine backup also include all the “junk”?

How do I do a “clean install” without losing important data? I believe all my data files (Word files, photos, music, movies, books) are on iCloud. So I setup my new MacBook as a new user device and then manually reinstall apps from the Mac App Store and from app downloads site from apps not on Mac App Store, finally just sign into my iCloud account? Am I missing any steps?

Thanks in advance!

I do not use iCloud, I did a TM backup/restore to my new 14” with no issues. You can do a TM backup and restore individual files if you like

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

If both ways still work (I know the TM way does), either should be equally good.

However, if you truly want "clean(est)" install, the very cleanest approach is the manual way in which you reinstall each app you want on the new one, hand select exactly what documents to migrate over, etc. Yes, that's a much bigger, time-consuming task. However, a way to do this is to first clone the existing main Mac so you have all of the files on a smallish external drive and then carry that external around with you for the next few weeks/months. As you need apps or files on the old system not yet installed on the new one, install them as you need them.

Eventually, all you really need on the new one will be migrated and you'll find you are just about never going back to the external. At that point, you are very cleanly migrated. Maybe put that external in a secure spot in case one more need shows itself in the longer term.

 

[Fishrrman]

Migration is easy -- IF you follow a few simple steps.

I will assume that you don't yet have the new MacBook, correct?

When you bring the new MacBook into the house, unbox it, put it on the table, but DO NOT OPEN the lid yet (because it will boot from "moment zero" when you open the lid, and you don't want to begin setup until you're ready).

You should now run your "last tm backup" on the OLD Mac.
The idea is to "capture" what was on it the moment you switched over to new.

Connect the time machine backup to the new MacBook.
NOW open the lid.
It will boot to the welcome screen.

Start clicking through.
Setup assistant will ask if you wish to migrate from another drive.
YES, you do, so "point the way" to the tm backup.

Give setup assistant some time to "digest" everything.
SA will present you with a list of stuff to migrate:
accounts
apps
settings
data

If you don't want to migrate apps, you can UNcheck this option.
But remember that with applications, it's "all or nothing".
If you don't migrate apps, you'll have to restore your 3rd-party (non-Apple) apps all over again.

I recommend that you migrate everything else. Things will just go easier that way.

OK, turn setup assistant loose and let it do the migration.
When done, you should see your old login screen, like before.

So... log in and "look around".
Good luck.

Final thought about apps:
You didn't tell us in your opening post what version of the OS you're using right now.
If it's "recent" (even 2-3 years' back), you might just migrate the apps, too.
My GUESS is that most of them will still work fine.

Those that don't, you could use the free utility "AppCleaner" to remove -- it does a bang-up job at removing all the old files.

 

[decafjava]

Migration is easy -- IF you follow a few simple steps.

I will assume that you don't yet have the new MacBook, correct?

When you bring the new MacBook into the house, unbox it, put it on the table, but DO NOT OPEN the lid yet (because it will boot from "moment zero" when you open the lid, and you don't want to begin setup until you're ready).

You should now run your "last tm backup" on the OLD Mac.
The idea is to "capture" what was on it the moment you switched over to new.

Connect the time machine backup to the new MacBook.
NOW open the lid.
It will boot to the welcome screen.

Start clicking through.
Setup assistant will ask if you wish to migrate from another drive.
YES, you do, so "point the way" to the tm backup.

Give setup assistant some time to "digest" everything.
SA will present you with a list of stuff to migrate:
accounts
apps
settings
data

If you don't want to migrate apps, you can UNcheck this option.
But remember that with applications, it's "all or nothing".
If you don't migrate apps, you'll have to restore your 3rd-party (non-Apple) apps all over again.

I recommend that you migrate everything else. Things will just go easier that way.

OK, turn setup assistant loose and let it do the migration.
When done, you should see your old login screen, like before.

So... log in and "look around".
Good luck.

Final thought about apps:
You didn't tell us in your opening post what version of the OS you're using right now.
If it's "recent" (even 2-3 years' back), you might just migrate the apps, too.
My GUESS is that most of them will still work fine.

Those that don't, you could use the free utility "AppCleaner" to remove -- it does a bang-up job at removing all the old files.

Thanks for this, I will be doing this in the near future so it will be helpful though I am going iMac -> Mac Mini.

 

[raythompsontn]

The migration can be done without a Time Machine backup by using both machines in close proximity and let the machines establish a wireless connection. I did that when I upgraded to the M4 pro. A USB-C cable can also be used connecting both machines. My migration took a couple of hours using the wireless method. I suspect the TM or cable connection would be faster.

 

[donawalt]

I have done several migrations to new Macs in the last few years, and these days in my opinion, the migration Mac to Mac with a fast thunderbolt cable is the fastest and cleanest. I have done the time machine migrations; it seems to me, while I may be wrong, that the Mac to Mac ends up with less apps needing to be logged in, etc. I make sure I have a current backup on Time Machine just in case things go awry. But I’ve been extremely happy with how well the Mac to Mac conversion goes.

 

[Luba]

Migration is easy -- IF you follow a few simple steps.

I will assume that you don't yet have the new MacBook, correct?

When you bring the new MacBook into the house, unbox it, put it on the table, but DO NOT OPEN the lid yet (because it will boot from "moment zero" when you open the lid, and you don't want to begin setup until you're ready).

You should now run your "last tm backup" on the OLD Mac.
The idea is to "capture" what was on it the moment you switched over to new.

Connect the time machine backup to the new MacBook.
NOW open the lid.
It will boot to the welcome screen.

Start clicking through.
Setup assistant will ask if you wish to migrate from another drive.
YES, you do, so "point the way" to the tm backup.

Give setup assistant some time to "digest" everything.
SA will present you with a list of stuff to migrate:
accounts
apps
settings
data

If you don't want to migrate apps, you can UNcheck this option.
But remember that with applications, it's "all or nothing".
If you don't migrate apps, you'll have to restore your 3rd-party (non-Apple) apps all over again.

I recommend that you migrate everything else. Things will just go easier that way.

OK, turn setup assistant loose and let it do the migration.
When done, you should see your old login screen, like before.

So... log in and "look around".
Good luck.

Final thought about apps:
You didn't tell us in your opening post what version of the OS you're using right now.
If it's "recent" (even 2-3 years' back), you might just migrate the apps, too.
My GUESS is that most of them will still work fine.

Those that don't, you could use the free utility "AppCleaner" to remove -- it does a bang-up job at removing all the old files.

The MacBook is still in the box and my iMac is on the latest macOS 15.2

I'll do a final TM backup.

I don't have many 3rd party apps, mainly Microsoft Office and a few 3rd party utility apps.

Actually, what's taking up a lot of storage are all the music loops from Logic and Final Cut Pro. That used to be a hobby of mine, but don't really use them now. Long ago, I should have installed those loops on an external drive. So it sounds like I should NOT migrate apps.

Settings would be a real pain to set back up, so I would migrate Settings.

Data is mostly on iCloud which has my Photos, Music, Movies from iTunes Store, so in my case I should migrate Data.

So sounds like the time consuming thing to do is install Apps (Apple and Microsoft Office and a 3rd party few Utility apps)?

 

[Luba]

I have done several migrations to new Macs in the last few years, and these days in my opinion, the migration Mac to Mac with a fast thunderbolt cable is the fastest and cleanest. I have done the time machine migrations; it seems to me, while I may be wrong, that the Mac to Mac ends up with less apps needing to be logged in, etc. I make sure I have a current backup on Time Machine just in case things go awry. But I’ve been extremely happy with how well the Mac to Mac conversion goes.

Darn, should have bought a Thunderbolt 5 cable when I bought the MacBook

 

[Luba]

Is this the cable I should get? Thunderbolt 5 (USB‑C) Pro Cable (1 m)

 

[donawalt]

Is this the cable I should get? Thunderbolt 5 (USB‑C) Pro Cable (1 m)

Yes - unless there is a lower one that you need for some reason. But for this exercise that should be plenty long enough. An Apple Thunderbolt 4 cable would be fine as well if money is an issue, as I think only the new Mac supports TB 5, not the old one....but for future-proofing having a TB 5 cable is better.

 

[Fishrrman]

I'll repeat what I posted above:
Just use your time machine backup.
Don't bother with thunderbolt.
Skip the apps if you wish.

Do this, and I predict that things will go fine.

 

[penelope_bk]

What’s the best way to setup a new MacBook, especially a “clean install” so that my new MacBook has the most storage space as possible. I read over the years devices “install” or create many new files to macOS that really add up.

I suppose device-to-device setup is the easiest but that just moves everything over including the “junk”, correct?

Setting up from a Time Machine backup also include all the “junk”?

How do I do a “clean install” without losing important data? I believe all my data files (Word files, photos, music, movies, books) are on iCloud. So I setup my new MacBook as a new user device and then manually reinstall apps from the Mac App Store and from app downloads site from apps not on Mac App Store, finally just sign into my iCloud account? Am I missing any steps?

Thanks in advance!

You're on the right track! For a clean install and to save storage, set up the new MacBook as a fresh device. This way, you won’t bring over any unnecessary files or "junk" from the old device or Time Machine backup. After that, just reinstall apps from the Mac App Store or their official sites, and sign into iCloud to get your files back. Make sure to back up your data (even if it's on iCloud) and double-check everything is synced before starting to avoid losing anything.

 

[Mr_Brightside_@]

You're on the right track! For a clean install and to save storage, set up the new MacBook as a fresh device. This way, you won’t bring over any unnecessary files or "junk" from the old device or Time Machine backup. After that, just reinstall apps from the Mac App Store or their official sites, and sign into iCloud to get your files back. Make sure to back up your data (even if it's on iCloud) and double-check everything is synced before starting to avoid losing anything.

Sign into iCloud to get your files back is poor, borderline misleading advice for macOS. Time Machine or Mac to Mac are the way to go.