Two Ways to Clone Mac to New Mac

PAGE CONTENT:

I recently bought a new iMac. The biggest headache is how to synchronize the files of the old mac to the new mac. This experience is worth writing about and sharing with you. There are two recommended methods for migrating Mac to new Mac.

Solution 1: Migration Assistant for Mac Disk Cloning

The first option is using Migration Assistant. It's a macOS built-in tool used to migrate data from one machine to another one. Like from a Mac, Time Machine backup, or even a Windows PC.

The software is free to use. You can easily migrate data from one Mac to a new one by following the wizard step by step.

📍 Notice:
1. Connect the two computers to the power supply (the migration time may be very long).
2. Both computers are guaranteed to be connected to the same network using Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
3. The migration assistant is to copy (back up) all the resources of the old mac to the new mac. Don't worry about the old mac losing files.

Steps to Move Data from Old Mac to New One

Step 1:

On new Mac: Open the Migration Assistant software located in the Applications folder's Utilities folder.

When asked how you want to transfer the information, select the transfer option "From Mac, Time Machine Backup, or Startup Disk." Then click the "Continue" button.

On old Mac: Open Migration Assistant. When asked how you want to transfer the information, select the transfer option "To Another Mac." Then click the "Continue" button.

Step 2:

On new Mac: When asked to choose a Mac, Time Machine backup, or another startup disk, click the appropriate icon.

Click the "Continue" button. You may see a security code.

On old Mac: Skip these two steps if you have an older Mac booted in target disk mode or if you are migrating from a Time Machine backup.

If you see a security code, make sure it's the same on your new Mac. Then click the "Continue" button.

Step 3:

On new Mac: Choose the backup from which to transfer information. Click the "Continue" button. Choose which information to transfer from the backup. Click the "Continue" button to start the transfer. The transfer may take several hours to complete if there is a lot of content.

The process will transfer everything you choose to the new Mac without affecting the existing data on the new Mac. However, if there are users or applications in the same name, something might be messed up. So check and be careful when transferring user accounts and applications.

Solution 2: Use Robust Mac Disk Cloning Utility

Donemax Disk Clone for Mac is a top macOS clone software that helps you create bootable backups of macOS by cloning all data (including macOS data, applications, user files, and settings) from your Mac's startup disk to an external HDD or SSD. Compared to Mac Migration Assistant, Donemax Disk Clone for Mac is simpler and more convenient.

Cloning creates an exact copy of your old Mac's system, apps, and files on the new one—ideal for seamless migration. You can use the new Mac the same as the old one. The following are the specific steps to clone Mac system drive with Donemax Disk Clone for Mac:

Step 1: Choose the disk copy mode.

First of all, connect the external disk to your Mac. Run Donemax Disk Clone for Mac and then choose OS Clone.

Step 2：Select the external disk as the destination drive.

The system drive will be selected as the source drive, and you just need to select the external disk as the destination drive.

Step 3. Clone system drive to the external disk.

Click on Clone Now button. This process will format the external disk first, then wholly clone the system drive to the external disk.

After completing the process, you have successfully created a bootable backup of your Mac. You can use the cloned disk as a bootable startup disk on any compatible Mac. You can also use a backup to restore macOS or data in macOS Recovery Mode.

Conclusion:

Cloning Mac to new Mac is simple and straightforward to migrate everything from Mac. You an use the macOS built-in tool Migration Assistant to do the job. However, there are some limits with it and it may cause some issues. So you need to be careful and make sure every step is right.

Instead, you can use Donemax Disk Clone for Mac to clone Mac directly. The software is able to make a fully and bootable clone copy for macOS. System data, settngs, installed applications and user data will be 100% copied. It can make sure the new Mac will run in the same way as the old Mac.

FAQs about Cloning Mac to New Mac