I am going to buy a new laptop but I will keep my old laptop. I will regi9ster my new device on my Apple account I have my contacts, calandar mail all backed up via the cloud and any files I create on myb laptop, I always save in the icloud drive so that I can access them on any device. Do I jeed to use the Migration Assistant?
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
Original Title: New Macbook laptop
MacBook Air (2018 – 2020)
If the only data you're concerned about is the data you mentioned (contacts, mail, iCloud Drive, etc.) then no, you wouldn't need to use Migration Assistant. That data should all be accessible once you sign into the Apple Account on the new Mac.
robert_coady wrote:
I have my contacts, calandar mail all backed up via the cloud
If you mean synced with iCloud (which isn’t the same as backed up), then when you sign into your Apple Account in the new Mac those data will be synced.
If you have any mail content in On My Mac folders in the macOS Mail app, those will not sync over (but would transfer with Migration Assistant).
You don't need to use it if you don't want to. For several years, my practice has been not to migrate from an old Mac to a new one. I have data synced to iCloud and use iCloud photo library and desktop and documents in iCloud.
I just let it sync and reinstall any apps needed. This also avoids bringing over 'fluff' that I no longer need.
Do I need Migration Assistant for my new MacBook?
