How do you import all data from another Mac?

[levmc]

When I got my iMac more than a year ago and powered it on, it first gave me an option to import everything from an existing Mac in my home (my MBP), so that was really convenient.

Now I want to do the same thing with two MacBooks of my family.

Basically I want to swap MBP of two family members.

I want to first start over on one (delete everything and start fresh as if out of the box), then import from the other.

Then I would like to reset the latter to factory condition as well.

How do you go about doing this?

 

[0128672]

Apple's Migration Assistant sounds like what you need. Here's how to use it:

Transfer to a new Mac with Migration Assistant - Apple Support

Use Migration Assistant to copy your files from another computer.

support.apple.com

 

[levmc]

I know the Migration Assistant pops up when you first start the computer, but what should you do if you already started using the computer without migrating?
How do you erase everything so that you start over or can you still migrate without erasing everything?

 

[ApfelKuchen]

I know the Migration Assistant pops up when you first start the computer, but what should you do if you already started using the computer without migrating?
How do you erase everything so that you start over or can you still migrate without erasing everything?

You will find Migration Assistant in the Utilities folder of your Applications folder.

On a Mac that you have fully erased and then reinstalled the OS, it will startup in Setup Assistant, just like a new Mac. Setup Assistant includes the functionality of Migration Assistant.

On a Mac that is currently setup and running you would open Migration Assistant from Applications > Utilities.

 

[levmc]

"On a Mac that is currently setup and running you would open Migration Assistant from Applications > Utilities."

Would this override the current setup with the setup that will be migrated? Would you lose everything in the current setup?

 

[ApfelKuchen]

"On a Mac that is currently setup and running you would open Migration Assistant from Applications > Utilities."

Would this override the current setup with the setup that will be migrated?

To quote a footnote in the support article linked above,

If you transfer an account that has the same name as an account on your new Mac, you're asked to rename the old account or replace the one on your new Mac. If you rename, the old account appears as a separate user on your new Mac, with a separate home folder and login. If you replace, the old account overwrites the account on your new Mac, including everything in its home folder.

To clarify, this applies to User accounts, which contain all of a person's "customization."

Neither migration method overwrites the operating system on the new Mac.

In either case, you will have the option for migrating apps. This adds apps to the target Mac, but does not overwrite apps that are already present.

 

[levmc]

Do you need to provide password of the MBP you are importing the migration from?

(Nevermind, I see security code from the other computer needs to be provided).

 

[levmc]

I was trying to run the Migration Assistant and it says "Logging out failed"

 

[Fishrrman]

"How do you import all data from another Mac?"
"Basically I want to swap MBP of two family members."

Tell us the year and type of MBPs.
Do the two MBP's have removable drives?
If possible, easiest way might be to just "swap the drives".

If that IS NOT possible...
IF the two MBPs are running a version of the OS that BOTH OF THEM can boot from, another easy way to do it would be:
1. You will need TWO external drives
2. You'll need either CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper (both are FREE to download and use for 30 days, this costs you nothing to try).
3. Use CCC (or SD) to clone MBP1 to "backup 1"
4. Use CCC to clone MBP2 to "backup 2"
then...
5. Connect backup 2 to MBP1
6. Boot from backup 2
7. Open Disk Utility and ERASE internal drive on MBP1
8. Now use CCC to RE-clone backup 2 to MBP1
and then...
a. Connect backup 1 to MBP2
b. Boot from backup 1
c. Open Disk Utility and ERASE internal drive on MBP2
d. Now use CCC to RE-clone backup 1 to MBP2.
Done.