Transferring data to a new M1 Mac

[Mostly Adequate]

My sister’s got an M1 Mac on the way and tasked me with helping set it up for her. Her outgoing Mac is a slightly aged Intel iMac with a hard disc rather than an SSD.

I’m wondering how to transfer her existing stuff – external hard disc with Time Machine on the old Mac then connect to the new one, or just set up the M1 Mac and transfer folders with a USB stick with specific data (document files, iTunes library, etc)? Presumably the latter will be ‘cleaner’ and faster? Or is there another method that I’m not thinking of?

 

[Fishrrman]

If you have a tm backup available, that's probably the easiest way.
Just make sure it's up-to-date before you power on the NEW Mac for the very first time.

Then, take the new Mac out of the box and put it on the table.

Then, connect the tm backup drive (do you have a USBa-to-USBc adapter?).

NOW press the power on button for the first time (or if it's a laptop, open the lid).

Begin clicking through the setup. At the appropriate moment, setup assistant will ask if you wish to migrate from another drive. YES, you do.

So "point the way" for setup assistant to the tm backup, and then... let setup assistant "digest everything" Be patient, takes a little time.

SA will present you with a list of stuff that can be migrated. It's up to you and your sister to determine whether to migrate all of it, or just some of it.

Then, turn SA loose and let it do its thing.
When done, you should see her login screen.

 

[Daverich4]

If you have a tm backup available, that's probably the easiest way.
Just make sure it's up-to-date before you power on the NEW Mac for the very first time.

Then, take the new Mac out of the box and put it on the table.

Then, connect the tm backup drive (do you have a USBa-to-USBc adapter?).

NOW press the power on button for the first time (or if it's a laptop, open the lid).

Begin clicking through the setup. At the appropriate moment, setup assistant will ask if you wish to migrate from another drive. YES, you do.

So "point the way" for setup assistant to the tm backup, and then... let setup assistant "digest everything" Be patient, takes a little time.

SA will present you with a list of stuff that can be migrated. It's up to you and your sister to determine whether to migrate all of it, or just some of it.

Then, turn SA loose and let it do its thing.
When done, you should see her login screen.

When I set up my current Mac Mini it was from a Time Machine backup of my laptop and I ended up with the same administrator and computer name as the laptop. Is there a way to setup the new computer and operating system from scratch and just use the Time Machine backup for the programs?

 

[lcubed]

the computer name is easy to change and having the same administrator avoids permissions issues on the new machine.

 

[Fishrrman]

Dave wrote:
"When I set up my current Mac Mini it was from a Time Machine backup of my laptop and I ended up with the same administrator and computer name as the laptop. Is there a way to setup the new computer and operating system from scratch and just use the Time Machine backup for the programs?"

The operating system IS NEVER TRANSFERRED by setup assistant.
It wasn't when you previously used SA.

Other things are:
- applications
- accounts
- data
- user settings.

 

[MarineBand5524]

My sister’s got an M1 Mac on the way and tasked me with helping set it up for her. Her outgoing Mac is a slightly aged Intel iMac with a hard disc rather than an SSD.

I’m wondering how to transfer her existing stuff – external hard disc with Time Machine on the old Mac then connect to the new one, or just set up the M1 Mac and transfer folders with a USB stick with specific data (document files, iTunes library, etc)? Presumably the latter will be ‘cleaner’ and faster? Or is there another method that I’m not thinking of?

I always set up my new machines as brand new. I reinstall all the apps and then hook up an external HD and push everything over to the new machine what isn't there or I need to have.

 

[Daverich4]

Dave wrote:
"When I set up my current Mac Mini it was from a Time Machine backup of my laptop and I ended up with the same administrator and computer name as the laptop. Is there a way to setup the new computer and operating system from scratch and just use the Time Machine backup for the programs?"

The operating system IS NEVER TRANSFERRED by setup assistant.
It wasn't when you previously used SA.

Other things are:
- applications
- accounts
- data
- user settings.

Is it possible to rename the User and still retain passwords and anything else relating to a specific User? My Mac mini started out as an exact mirror of my laptop (where the Time Machine backup came from) so the User is named macbookpro which is not what I want passed on to the Mac Ultra I'm about to purchase.

 

[MarineBand5524]

Is it possible to rename the User and still retain passwords and anything else relating to a specific User? My Mac mini started out as an exact mirror of my laptop (where the Time Machine backup came from) so the User is named macbookpro which is not what I want passed on to the Mac Ultra I'm about to purchase.

yeah it's just the local machine name, you can go into settings and rename.

 

[Daverich4]

yeah it's just the local machine name, you can go into settings and rename.

That's the Home directory and while I've found directions for how to change it there are just as many warnings about not doing it. I'm trying to find out a way to change it when I'm setting up a new computer from my Time Machine backup.

 

[satcomer]

I say going from intel Mac DON'T transfer applications because those programs are way too old now! Just transfer saved email boxes, videos and Music! Setup the Mail manually and use the serial numbers to buy updated software you need that is either Universal or Silicon! Try to stay away Intel only programs if you wing it!

 

[Fishrrman]

"Is it possible to rename the User and still retain passwords and anything else relating to a specific User?"

I would STRONGLY ADVISE you NOT to attempt this unless you're absolutely sure you know what you're doing and what could go wrong. And how to "fix things" if they do go wrong on you.

It can really mess an account up...!

 

[MarineBand5524]

That's the Home directory and while I've found directions for how to change it there are just as many warnings about not doing it. I'm trying to find out a way to change it when I'm setting up a new computer from my Time Machine backup.

Change the name of your macOS user account and home folder - Apple Support

You can rename your macOS user account and home folder, which were named when the account was created.

support.apple.com