Curated user import from old mini to Mojave on the new mini

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Level 1

9 points

Curated user import from old mini to Mojave on the new mini

I have decades of cruft in my user settings that I've carried from 10.6 (if not older) onward that I would like to drop off when I move to a newer mini.

First I'll update the current mini from 10.13 to 10.14 which will bring everything forward.

Then I want to do a curated import from the old mini to the new mini.

I primarily want to make sure that my email setting and filters transfer over, along with the internet accounts, but Chrome and Firefox settings and cookies are probably also important.

Is there a way that I can manage what gets imported to the new mini that isn't too complicated? Or am I stuck just bringing all that cruft forward.

If there is a way to do it, and since I have a Time Machine back up, if there's something I forget would the same process apply to pulling stuff out of the TM back up and adding to the new mini?

Thank you.

Edit - I wanted to put this in the macOS section but I guess Apple decided it should go in the mini section...

Mac mini

Posted on Oct 20, 2025 4:07 PM

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Answer 1

Oct 20, 2025 6:03 PM in response to Smithcraft

I empathise

What are the specifications e.g. date of the ‘new’ mini? What is MacOS on it at present?

If the new MacOS is greater than Mojave (10.14) then your 32-bit apps from the ‘old’ mini won’t work.

Make sure before doing any update that you preferably have, in addition to your TM backup, another backup, hopefully bootable. (I use Carbon Cloner Cloner). Before doing the update disconnect the backup hard

drives so when the update is finished it does not try to overwrite your backups.

That said I would recommend that you do the transfer then up date the OS leaving your old mini alone and an extra backup if things go wrong.

I would also recommend that you transfer everything then do the house cleaning.

Just to clarify when you do a transfer with TM and you bring across user(s) there isn’t a way of bringing over just some of the user, all or nothing. If you use a bootable backup and say Carbon Copy Cloner then there is some scope to transfer some or all across but again I’d do the transfer of everything then clean up.

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Answer 2

Smithcraft Author

Level 1

9 points

Oct 20, 2025 7:46 PM in response to Need_help_give_help

Just to clarify when you do a transfer with TM and you bring across user(s) there isn’t a way of bringing over just some of the user, all or nothing.

I guess that's the answer. Thank you for sharing the information.

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Answer 3

Old Toad

Level 10

215,088 points

Oct 20, 2025 4:53 PM in response to Smithcraft

The currency offered Mac Mini M4 will only run Tahoe 26. Are you considering being a used or reconditioned older Mac Mini? If you are then make absolutely sure it's prepared according to this Apple document: What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your Mac - Apple Support.

And, I would only get it from OWC (MacSales.com). They are considered the premier 3rd party hardware supplier for Macs.

If you're considering a new M4 Mini then you can cull out the files/apps that you don't want before using Migration Assistant on the new Mini to migrate over your apps and user data when you first fire up the new Mini. Also it's best to use a Time Machine backup to migrate from.

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Answer 4

Smithcraft Author

Level 1

9 points

Oct 20, 2025 7:48 PM in response to Old Toad

Old Toad wrote:

The currency offered Mac Mini M4 will only run Tahoe 26. Are you considering being a used or reconditioned older Mac Mini? If you are then make absolutely sure it's prepared according to this Apple document: What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your Mac - Apple Support.

And, I would only get it from OWC (MacSales.com). They are considered the premier 3rd party hardware supplier for Macs.

If you're considering a new M4 Mini then you can cull out the files/apps that you don't want before using Migration Assistant on the new Mini to migrate over your apps and user data when you first fire up the new Mini. Also it's best to use a Time Machine backup to migrate from.

I will never, for the rest of eternity, consider OWC to be the premier 3rd party hardware supplier and I will avoid them at all costs.

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