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Migration Assistant: does it transfer System Preferences choices; Favorites & Top Sites; Reading List; Preferences in apps like Mail or Safari?

I have read that Migration Assistant does not migrate the OS; does this means that it does not

transfer one's choices/setting/option selections in System Preferences? What about the Preferences in different apps: for example, Preferences in Mail or Safari: are they transferred from an old to a new Mac computer using Migration Assistant?


What does Migration Assistant actually NOT transfer from an old to a new Mac?


Is there a way not to have to review all the Preferences choices in apps like Mail or Safari, etc. on a new Mac, but somehow move them over from a previous Mac?


Might AirDrop be used for some of this transferring?


Currently on a MacBook Air (mid 2013) Mojave 10.14.6 -- and getting ready for a 'move'.


Thank you for any consideration that you are able to give to these questions.

Posted on Feb 27, 2021 5:21 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Feb 27, 2021 12:00 PM

Others have already responded to some of your questions.


The fastest and most reliable method for migration from an old to a new computer is through either a direct connection between the two computers (e.g. ethernet), or via a backup external drive, which can be Time Machine, "clone," etc. Migration Assistant asks you which method you are choosing to use, and then provides step by step instructions depending on your answer.


Before you migrate, Migration Assistant provides you with a candidate list of what to migrate. You can check or uncheck boxes by each item to indicate what you wish to migrate it or not migrate it. The options include individual users' files and folders, applications, settings and misc items.


Review of individual files, preferences etc. is not an option -- you migrate either the entire user or not. However you can choose to not migrate applications; in that case you would reinstall clean new versions, which may be helpful for situations where the version you were using under Mojave is not compatible with the latest operating system.

4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Feb 27, 2021 12:00 PM in response to allan299

Others have already responded to some of your questions.


The fastest and most reliable method for migration from an old to a new computer is through either a direct connection between the two computers (e.g. ethernet), or via a backup external drive, which can be Time Machine, "clone," etc. Migration Assistant asks you which method you are choosing to use, and then provides step by step instructions depending on your answer.


Before you migrate, Migration Assistant provides you with a candidate list of what to migrate. You can check or uncheck boxes by each item to indicate what you wish to migrate it or not migrate it. The options include individual users' files and folders, applications, settings and misc items.


Review of individual files, preferences etc. is not an option -- you migrate either the entire user or not. However you can choose to not migrate applications; in that case you would reinstall clean new versions, which may be helpful for situations where the version you were using under Mojave is not compatible with the latest operating system.

Feb 27, 2021 1:39 PM in response to steve626

Steve, you say: "Review of individual files, preferences etc. is not an option -- you migrate either the entire user or not. However you can choose to not migrate applications; in that case you would reinstall clean new versions, which may be helpful for situations where the version you were using under Mojave is not compatible with the latest operating system. "


Your entire response is helpful but this particular information the most significant and helpful in my decision making on

how best to proceed.


Thank you so much!

Migration Assistant: does it transfer System Preferences choices; Favorites & Top Sites; Reading List; Preferences in apps like Mail or Safari?

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