M4 Mac Mini initial setup based on my current MBP 14" M1

[tomstone74]

Hello,

will likely replace my current MBP 14" M1 Pro 10c/16c/32GB/2TB as "desktop" with clamshell with a M4 Mac Mini. Will still keep the MBP for couch work resp. when being on the road.

I'm happy with my MBP how it is currently set up from a MacOS settings / software perspective, so thought about doing the M4 Mac Mini initial setup as some sort of cloning my MBP. MBP was my first MacOS device and the M4 Mac Mini my second one, thus no experience with that .

Any thoughts appreciated. Thanks a lot!

 

[kitKAC]

Look up Migration Assistant.

 

[Fishrrman]

Get an external USB drive that is large enough to hold what is on the MBP now.
(How much of the 2tb drive is "used"?)

You didn't tell us whether or not you currently keep a backup.
If you do, just use that.
If you're already using time machine, use that

If you're NOT using tm, my suggestions...

Download CarbonCopyCloner. It's free to download and use for 30 days.
So... don't launch it (for the first time) until you're ready to use it.

You could also use SuperDuper instead of CCC. SD is also free to use, and it's actually easier for the first-time user than is CCC. Your choice.

When the new Mini arrives.
DON'T power it on yet.
Instead, use CCC or SD to clone the contents of the old MBP to the USB drive.

When done, connect the USB drive to the NEW Mini.
Press the power on button.

Begin setup.
Setup assistant will ask if you wish to migrate from a backup, etc.
YES, you do, so "point the way" to the backup USB and give setup assistant time to "digest" everything.

Setup assistant will present you with a list of stuff that can be migrated
apps
accounts
data
settings

I suggest you just migrate it all.
Give setup assistant time to do the job (it will take a while).

When done, you should see your old login screen, just as before.
So... log in and "look around".

Good luck.

NOTE:
It may also be possible to migrate DIRECTLY from the MBP to the Mini using wifi.
I have never tried this so I can offer no experience.
It may go somewhat more slowly, and things may not go as smoothly.

Using a USB backup as your "intermediary" is the best way.

 

[tomstone74]

Thanks for the responses!

~ 280GB of 2 TB are used, but the MBP hasn't been used yet with it's full storage potential in terms what I had planned, e.g. VMs / Containers, some games here and there and some bigger video files / video editing projects. But that my shift towards the new Mac Mini M4 anyway, being the real desktop working horse then. ~ 50GB of the used disk is for Photos, which is also stored in iCloud.

I used to have a TM backup when I got the MBP, with a Synology NAS being the target, but that was super slow IIRC, thus gave up the TM route, but perhaps I should re-think / re-try with a locally attached external disk for TM. I think I will give that a try.

If this doesn't work out, I will setup from scratch, had quite some customization I collected from the Internet back then, as this was my first MacOS device being new to the OS. Bigger portion is homebrew based, thus likely easily to repeat.

Thanks to you both!

 

[Fishrrman]

"~ 280GB of 2 TB are used"

Then all you need is a 1tb drive, or even 512gb or thereabouts.

Since at the current time you seem to NOT have a tm backup, I'd suggest either CCC or SuperDuper as mentioned above.

"Locally attached" will be best for this job.

Try SuperDuper.
You will be amazed at how easily it goes.

 

[HDFan]

I used to have a TM backup when I got the MBP, with a Synology NAS being the target, but that was super slow

My experience as well.

Be sure to implement the recommended 3-2-1 backup strategy with only one of those backups being TM due to its tendency to fail.