Migration assistant or Time Machine backup

Question

Level 1

26 points

Migration assistant or Time Machine backup

Hello, I have listed spec of old iMac and New below. Will i be able to use migration assistant to transfer all data, software user accounts basically copy everything or is a time machine back up better. Not sure what OS is os on newer macs so concerned there may be issues. thanks

I have a late 2012 iMac - OS Catalina version 10.15.7, Intel Core iS processor - 8GB memory.

Received delivery of new iMac 24-inch iMac with 4.5K Retina displayWith the following configuration:

apple M1 chip with 8-core CPU with 4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores, 8-core GPU and 16-core Neural Engine

NEURAL ENGINE 065-C9GM 16-core Neural Engine

8GB unified memory

Gigabit Ethernet

Two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports

Two USB 3 ports

256GB SSD storage

iMac 21.5″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Dec 3, 2022 10:20 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Jack-19

Level 8

46,176 points

Dec 3, 2022 10:46 AM in response to Swaby9

Swaby9 wrote:

hello Jack, Old imac has 500gb ss sata drive of which 132.gb used. thanks

Great! Just wanted to check first.

If you made a Time Machine backup of your Mac, Migration Assistant can use that backup to restore your personal files, including apps and everything in your user account: Restore your Mac from a backup - Apple Support.

Jack

Reply

Answer 2

Swaby9 Author

Level 1

26 points

Dec 3, 2022 12:09 PM in response to Jack-19

thank you jack. Sorry just one more question. Is it better to use time machine or put old and new macs side by side and transfer data from old mac to new wirelessly. That is what apple suggests but you tube videos question that method of transfer. Thank you

Reply

Answer 3

den.thed

Level 10

88,810 points

Dec 3, 2022 01:05 PM in response to Swaby9

Wi-Fi is slow and prone to failures

Ethernet to Ethernet is a little better, but requires an USB-C to Ethernet adapter for the Ethernet-less Mac’s.

Using your Time Machine backup is the fastest and most reliable way. However a USB-A cabled backup drive, will require a USB-C to USB-A adapter to plug into many of the newer Mac’s.

Reply