Setting up your new MacBook Air/Pro M1?

[tangfj]

I currently have a 32gb / 2tb 16" MacBook Pro and am seriously considering a move to a new MBA or 13" pro for the size and portability. The 16" is great but there are times when I just don't want to lug it around... I mostly use my computer for browsing web and some personal work in Lightroom and Illustrator. Even with a highly spec'd 16" I do find illustrator to be a little sluggish at times, especially when working with larger artboards for some reason.

Anyway, I wanted to get your guys thoughts and experiences setup up your new Mac M1... is the process the exact same as any other MacBook? I typically set up the Mac new and restore my docs from iCloud and just reinstall all the apps I need/want. Is there any better way?

 

[Zazoh]

Your way is the way I always do. No issues.

 

[James_C]

I usually use Migration Assistant with no problems, but on this occasion I wanted to start with a clean slate on my first M1 Mac, so I did actually what you are suggesting, documents, photos, contacts from iCloud and setup apps from scratch.

 

[nothingtoseehere]

Yesterday, I got my Mac mini M1. This is the second Mac I ever owned (not counting a machine I returned immediately), so I had my first migration. I decided to use the Migration Assistant, and I connected the two Macs with a Thunderbolt cable, setting the old one in Target Disk Mode. I followed the instructions read somewhere else in this forum to do the migration immediately when first starting the new Mac.

This went very well and surprisingly fast! My 600 GB of data were announced to be transferred in 4 hours but it took much less than that.

Therefore, I am a big fan of Migration Assistant plus Target Disk Mode now but please take into account that this experience is based on a total amount of n = 1

When migration was done and the new machine started, I removed the Thunderbolt cable from the old Mac, and I forgot to eject it properly! I didn't think of the Mac as a disk. An alert popped up, but luckily there seems to be no harm. Always ejecting disks, please

 

[1240766]

I always start clean slated, take the opportunity to clean up.

 

[TrueBlou]

I have always set up as new, just old habits I suppose. I do use iCloud for many of my documents and message/safari and so on sync, so it’s pretty painless. The bulk of my files are stored on my own server, so I don’t have to worry about those.

Partly why I do it, is new computer time is when I have one of my app clear outs, getting rid of things I no longer need, or use. Even with the occasional clear outs I do normally, it’s still surprising how much crap I accumulate.

 

[PeterJP]

Always from scratch. I have all my files on 2 OneDrive accounts (one work, one personal). So I prefer installing all apps from scratch, then connecting to OneDrive. I also use FireFox sync and a keepass file for passwords, so migration is half an hour, tops (except for some less obvious apps that I install later as I go).

 

[humerc]

After transferring my last 2 MacBooks I started from Scratch with my new M1 MBA, there was just too much mess on the old system from the last 10-12 years...

 

[WigWag Workshop]

I start fresh, then sync to iCloud (Favorites, pictures, documents). I only install apps has I need them.

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

I usually use Migration Assistant with no problems, but on this occasion I wanted to start with a clean slate on my first M1 Mac, so I did actually what you are suggesting, documents, photos, contacts from iCloud and setup apps from scratch.

Can I use Migration Assistant just to transfer my iTunes library?

In the past, I’ve copied over all of the playlists (quite a lot) then entered them into the new library one by one. Takes hours.

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

I start fresh, then sync to iCloud (Favorites, pictures, documents). I only install apps has I need them.

Same.

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

I have always set up as new, just old habits I suppose. I do use iCloud for many of my documents and message/safari and so on sync, so it’s pretty painless. The bulk of my files are stored on my own server, so I don’t have to worry about those.

Partly why I do it, is new computer time is when I have one of my app clear outs, getting rid of things I no longer need, or use. Even with the occasional clear outs I do normally, it’s still surprising how much crap I accumulate.

Hey bud, can you please reiterate how I transfer my iTunes library again, please?

Thanks.

(Hope you’re well.)

 

[Quackers]

Can I use Migration Assistant just to transfer my iTunes library?

In the past, I’ve copied over all of the playlists (quite a lot) then entered them into the new library one by one. Takes hours.

I've not done that but at the stage where it asks you what to transfer over you could untick everything you don't want, after expanding the one where that library is, leaving just that one ticked.
Maybe

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

I've not done that but at the stage where it asks you what to transfer over you could untick everything you don't want, after expanding the one where that library is, leaving just that one ticked.
Maybe

Thanks, buddy.

 

[Quackers]

Thanks, buddy.

Good luck with that new beast

 

[snakes-]

With icloud safari bookmarks and photos, a clean install is fast configured. Many of my data is archived on external hdd.
For the important daily things i usb a fast usb stick to backup this data.

To make a clean install i need roundabout 1 hour after install, for settings, apps and data transfer.
Sometimes i use time machine but only for apps and settings without photos or data.
But i changed my behavior, from up to 4-6 new installs per year, now i make it only after big upgrade once a year.

Clean install is the best way to prevent migration bugs or other bad things

 

[James_C]

Can I use Migration Assistant just to transfer my iTunes library?

In the past, I’ve copied over all of the playlists (quite a lot) then entered them into the new library one by one. Takes hours.

You have a couple of choices - Yes you can use Migration Assistant - when you get to the screen that shows you options to what to transfer wait until it has finished calculating the space needed and expand your home folder (You can't see the disclosure > until it has finished calculating), make sure everything is unchecked except for the music folder.

OR

The alternative which is a bit easier is to copy the entire music library from your old Mac.

Make sure your Mac is backed up first then if there is an existing library on your new Mac, make sure iTunes is not running and move the existing Library and media folder to another location on your Mac.

The copy your Library and media folder from your old Mac to the same location on your new Mac.

When you start Apple Music press the Alt Key down at the same time, this will allow you to point Apple Music to the new Library file you have moved from your old Mac.

Select Choose Library and point to your new Library file.

 

[TrueBlou]

Hey bud, can you please reiterate how I transfer my iTunes library again, please?

Thanks.

(Hope you’re well.)

Sorry, I’ve been putting Christmas decorations up for the wife
I’m always happy to help, but it would seem someone has beat me to it this time. So many helpful people on this forum. But feel free to shout me up if you’re in need of help in the future

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

Sorry, I’ve been putting Christmas decorations up for the wife
I’m always happy to help, but it would seem someone has beat me to it this time. So many helpful people on this forum. But feel free to shout me up if you’re in need of help in the future

Thanks for showing me the courtes of responding, buddy.

I know you’d help where you can.

Hope the decorations look nice?

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

You have a couple of choices - Yes you can use Migration Assistant - when you get to the screen that shows you options to what to transfer wait until it has finished calculating the space needed and expand your home folder (You can't see the disclosure > until it has finished calculating), make sure everything is unchecked except for the music folder.

OR

The alternative which is a bit easier is to copy the entire music library from your old Mac.

Make sure your Mac is backed up first then if there is an existing library on your new Mac, make sure iTunes is not running and move the existing Library to another location on your Mac.

The copy your Library from your old Mac to the same location on your new Mac.

View attachment 1690984
When you start Apple Music press the Alt Key down at the same time, this will allow you to point Apple Music to the new Library file you have moved from your old Mac.

View attachment 1690985
Select Choose Library and point to your new Library file.

Thanks for the detailed response.

It’s much appreciated.

If it were you, which method would you go with?

 

[James_C]

I would just copy the library, unless you have other stuff you want to move over.

in my original post I should have said copy the library file and the media folder over, apologies. I have edited the original post.

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

I would just copy the library, unless you have other stuff you want to move over.

I think that’s what I’ll do.

So I copy everything in the music folder?

 

[James_C]

So I copy everything in the music folder?

Yep

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

Yep

Thank you .

 

[jerryk]

I always start clean slated, take the opportunity to clean up.

Same. I have a NAS and do backups every few days. When I get a new Mac I load files from the old Mac's back up as I need them. Over time, I find about 70% of the stuff I backup from an old Mac is never brought over.