I am getting ready to get a new Mac Mini to replace my 2017 Intel iMac (running Monterey). Does Apple still offer Migration Assistant? I use Time Machine to an external drive and would be importing from there. I don’t use iCloud because of where I live, I can not count on always having access to it.
Thanks,
Steve
Yes:
You should be able to migrate directly from the old Mac but make sure you also have a Time Machine backup that can be used if the direct method does not work.
Thank You!
I always try a direct Thunderbolt connection first when using MA, as it is usually fastest. If that doesn’t work (wrong ports the most common problem; older TB used mini display port), a TM backup is next best. Then an Ethernet connection and lastly wireless.
It should be easy with Migration Assistant from a good backup or Time Machine and usually works fine, but that does not mean it will be easy. I migrated from Monterey too, but after I had no network access and also had firewall problems. Make a backup file of your Contacts and Calendar first.
Despite System Settings devices being correct in Network, the only way to get any network access was by deleting several related preference files. But the firewall is still half broken, listing legacy entries in the firewall for programs to block that I don’t have installed. Deleting those entries only deletes them temporarily, and figuring out what preferences to delete to fix the firewall is still a mystery.
Syncing Calendar entries from the Mac without iCloud goes through the sync process, but only puts some entries on iOS devices, and duplicates many entries. Restoring the Calendar from a backup file after that fixed the Calendar on the Mac side, but I have no iOS calendar.
Another thing I sometimes have to do is kick off MA manually on both old and new machines.