jennibelize Author

Level 1

20 points

My Migration Assistant is stuck on "Starting Up" on iMac

Transferring from older mac (2017) to newer (2022), with migration assistant. It has been almost an hour and it is still reading "starting up" on both old and new mac, with a blue line zipping back and forth. I have made sure that both are running on the same network, and have tried to transfer with USB-c. This is the 3rd time of trying...very trying. Can anyone help, please?

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Transfer with migration assistant

Posted on Jul 9, 2025 2:16 PM

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Top-ranking reply

Level 10

90,382 points

Posted on Jul 9, 2025 2:43 PM

Migrating over your local Wi-Fi network is slow and unreliable.

The fastest and most reliable method, is to connect the 2017 Mac's Time Machine backup drive to the 2022 Mac and migrate from it.

The second most reliable method, is using a direct Ethernet connection between the two Mac's.

for ref: > Transfer to a new Mac with Migration Assistant - Apple Support

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5 replies

Top-ranking reply

Level 10

90,382 points

Jul 9, 2025 2:43 PM in response to jennibelize

Migrating over your local Wi-Fi network is slow and unreliable.

The fastest and most reliable method, is to connect the 2017 Mac's Time Machine backup drive to the 2022 Mac and migrate from it.

The second most reliable method, is using a direct Ethernet connection between the two Mac's.

for ref: > Transfer to a new Mac with Migration Assistant - Apple Support

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Level 10

90,382 points

Jul 9, 2025 2:53 PM in response to jennibelize

Good work. These things take time, so let it run without interference until done.

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Level 10

90,382 points

Jul 9, 2025 3:04 PM in response to jennibelize

You're welcome.

The old saying "a watched pot takes longer to boil" is true in this case.

Turn on the TV, play some music or a game on your phone, get something to drink or eat, do something else to kill some time.

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jennibelize Author

Level 1

20 points

Jul 9, 2025 2:49 PM in response to jennibelize

Ok, guys, I finally have lift-off! Have no idea what I did or didn't do, but it appears we are ok now. Thanks!

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jennibelize Author

Level 1

20 points

Jul 9, 2025 2:56 PM in response to den.thed

Thanks so much! Now to sit and wait! Appreciate your input!

Jenni

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My Migration Assistant is stuck on "Starting Up" on iMac

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