Transfer your data to your new iMac. It’s easy to move your files and settings from another Mac or PC to your iMac. To transfer the data when you first set up your iMac, use Setup Assistant. To transfer data later, you can use Migration Assistant. If both computers are connected to the same Wi-Fi network, you can transfer the data wirelessly.
Windows Migration Assistant transfers your contacts, calendars, email accounts, and more from a PC. It migrates this data to the appropriate places on your Mac. After migrating data to your Mac, authorize your computer for iTunes Store purchases. It’s important to authorize before you sync or play content that you download from the iTunes Store.
If you're migrating from one Mac to another Mac, follow the steps to move your content to a new Mac.
Before you begin
- Connect the new Mac to a hard drive where you have cloned your startup volume (using an app like Intego Personal Backup), or connect it to a drive where you’ve done a Time Machine backup. Select the Mac or hard drive from which you want to copy data, and then select what type of data you want to transfer—user accounts, applications, other.
- Jan 20, 2020 How To Transfer Data From Mac To Mac: Preparation Steps. Before you start transferring data, make sure you have updated the Software on both Macs. Ensure your old and new Mac are running macOS X Snow Leopard v10.6.8 or later. You can also check and update all third-party apps.
To prepare for a smooth migration:
- Make sure that Windows is up to date. Migration Assistant works with Windows 7 and later.
- Make sure that you know the name and password of an administrator account on your PC.
- Connect your Mac and PC to the same network, such as your home Wi-Fi network. Or connect an Ethernet cable between the ports on your Mac and PC to create a direct network connection. Some Mac models require an Ethernet adapter, such as the Belkin USB-C to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter or Apple Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter.
- If you're using Microsoft OneDrive on your PC, follow Microsoft's instructions for uninstalling OneDrive before continuing. You can reinstall OneDrive after migration is complete.
Then use the check disk (chkdsk) utility on your PC to make sure that your Windows hard drive doesn’t have any issues:
- Right-click the Start button, then click Run.
- Type
cmd
and press Enter. Command Prompt opens. - At the prompt, type
chkdsk
and press Enter. - If the utility reports that it found problems, type the following, where drive is the letter that represents your Windows startup disk, such as D:
- Press Enter.
- At the prompt, type
Y
, then restart your PC. - Repeat this process until the check disk utility reports no issues. If the utility can't fix every issue that it finds, you might need to have your PC serviced. Then migrate your data to your Mac.
Move your data
This section guides you through migration, post-migration, and what to do if the steps don’t work for you.
How to move your information from a PC to your Mac
- On your PC, download and install the appropriate Windows Migration Assistant, based on the version of macOS on your Mac:
- Windows Migration Assistant for macOS Mojave or later
- Windows Migration Assistant for macOS Sierra and High Sierra
- Windows Migration Assistant for OS X El Capitan or earlier
- Quit any open Windows apps.
- Open Windows Migration Assistant, then click Continue.
- Start up your Mac. Setup Assistant automatically opens the first time you turn on your Mac. If you’ve already set up your Mac, open Migration Assistant, which is in the Utilities folder of your Applications folder.
- On your Mac, follow the onscreen prompts until you get to the migration pane of the assistant. Select the option to transfer your information “From a Windows PC,” then click Continue.
- When prompted, enter an administrator name and password.
- Click Continue to close any other open apps.
- In the migration window on your Mac, select your PC from the list of available computers. Then wait for the PC to show the same passcode that your Mac shows.
- When both computers display the same passcode, click Continue on your PC and Mac.
- Your Mac scans the drives on your PC to build a list of information to migrate. When the scan completes, select the information that you want to migrate to your Mac and click Continue. Learn about some of the data that you can transfer.
You can watch the progress and estimated time remaining on both the PC and your Mac. They tell you when migration is complete.
After you move your data
When migration completes, close Windows Migration Assistant on your PC. Then log in to the new user account on your Mac. The first time you log in to a user account migrated from your PC, you’re asked to set a password. You can use the same password that you used on your PC, or create a new password.
After logging in to the user account that you migrated, your computer for iTunes Store purchases. It’s important to authorize before you sync or play content downloaded from the iTunes Store.
If you have issues moving your data
- Quit all open apps on your PC, then try migrating your content again. For example, you can press Alt-Tab to choose an open application, then press Alt-F4 to quit it.
- If your PC doesn't appear in the Setup Assistant or Migration Assistant window on your Mac, make sure the computers are connected to the same network. You can create an network by connecting a single Ethernet cable between your Mac and PC. If that doesn't help, check for firewall software on your PC and turn it off. Firewall software can block network ports needed during migration. After migration completes, you can turn firewall software on again.
- If Migration Assistant doesn’t open on your PC, turn off any antivirus software on your PC. Then try to open Migration Assistant again. After migration completes. You can turn that software on again.
- If you still can't migrate your information successfully, you can use an external drive or file sharing to manually copy important data to your Mac.
What data can I transfer?
Migration Assistant lets you choose the data to move to your Mac. Here’s what moves over for specific apps and data types:
Email, contacts, and calendar information
Email messages, email-account settings, contacts, and appointments move based on which version of Windows you're using and which accounts you have.
Outlook1
Data from 32-bit versions of Outlook in Windows 7 and later move as follows:
- People move to Contacts2
- Appointments move to the Calendar app
- IMAP and Exchange settings and messages move to the Mail app
- POP settings and messages move to Mail2
Windows Live Mail
Data from Windows Live Mail in Windows 7 and later moves as follows:
- IMAP settings and messages move to Mail
- POP settings and messages move to Mail2
Windows Mail
Data from Windows Mail in Windows 7 and later (excluding Windows 8) move as follows:
- IMAP settings and messages move to Mail
- POP settings and messages move to Mail2
- People move to Contacts
Bookmarks
Bookmarks from Internet Explorer, Safari for Windows, and Firefox move to Safari.
System settings
Language and location settings, and custom desktop pictures move to System Preferences. Your web browser homepage moves to Safari preferences.
Pictures
Photos and other images move to your home folder. You can then add them to Photos, or open Photos and let it search your Mac for photos to import.
iTunes content
Migration Assistant transfers your iTunes media as follows: music to the Apple Music app, videos to the Apple TV app, podcasts to the Apple Podcasts app, and audiobooks to the Apple Books app. What happened to iTunes?
Other files
Migration Assistant also moves these files:
- Files from the top-level folder of the currently logged-in user’s home directory
- Non-system files located in the Windows or Program Files folders
- Top-level folders located on the Windows system disk and other attached disks
1. Migration Assistant doesn’t support 64-bit versions of Outlook. You can manually migrate Mail, Contacts, or Calendars from Outlook 2013 or Outlook 2016 by signing in and entering the content on your Mac manually.
2. Migration Assistant transfers only the Mail or Contacts data that belongs to the logged-in Windows user. To transfer data from another user account, use Migration Assistant again while you’re logged in to another Windows account. Each time you migrate, your Mac creates a new user account.
So you’re wondering how to transfer files from your iPhone to Mac. Not only do we know how to do this, but we’re also willing to share this knowledge with you. With one of the best hardware on the market, Apple devices are famous for their premium finish. But, perhaps the most exciting part is the seamless interaction between these devices. From the iOS to the Mac OS, the operating systems work together to enhance the user experience.
As a result, passing files back and forth between an iPhone and Mac is fast, convenient, and secure. That said, you’re about to find out just how easy it is.
Related:How to pair Bluetooth between iPhone and Mac?
4 Ways to Transfer Files from iPhone to Mac
Outlined below are four ways to move files of various types from your iPhone to your MacBook.
- AirDrop
- iCloud Drive
- iTunes
- Third Party Apps
Let’s jump right in.
1. AirDrop
Launched in 2011 on iOS 7, Apple’s AirDrop may be the most convenient way to transfer files from your iPhone to Mac. Thanks to a combination of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, users can send files to their computer at top speed. Ensure to turn on your Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections on Mac and iPhone to use AirDrop. You also need to sign into the same iCloud account to use this feature.
On your Mac, hit the Command + Spacebar button to access Spotlight and type “Airdrop”. A Finder window will open up that shows your current connection as well as the AirDrop settings. Click on the “Allow me to be discovered by” option at the end of the page and select “Contacts Only” option. This will ensure your security by showing your Mac only to your contacts and not to everyone on the network.
You need to enable AirDrop on your iPhone. Tap on “Settings” app and go to “General > AirDrop”. Here tap on “Contacts Only” option to enable file transfer to contacts.
Now select the file that you want to send on your iPhone. Let’s say you want send a video to your Mac. Open Photos app and select that video. Tap on the share icon at the left corner showing as a square box with an up arrow. A list of sharing options will pop up, with the AirDrop option being at the top.
Tap the MacBook’s username on the iPhone and accept the request on the computer. If you are sending to your Apple ID then the file will be transferred automatically without the need of acceptance.
AirDrop Notification on Mac
How long does it take? The transfer time varies from a couple of seconds to several minutes, depending on the size of the file.
2. iCloud Drive
Move Mac To Pc
Unlike other cloud services, iCloud stores file from specific apps in their dedicated folders. For example, a document on the Pages app is not only available on your iPhone, but the Mac too via iCloud. Of course, you must be logged in with the same Apple ID on both devices. Here is how to transfer files from iPhone to Mac using iCloud.
Related:Backup and restore iPhone with iCloud and iTunes.
Select the file you intend to send on the iPhone and tap the share option. Next, select ‘Save to File” to have a range of options. Aside from saving on iCloud, these options include saving on other cloud services as well as on your iPhone.
Pick the iCloud Drive option, select the appropriate folder, and tap “Add.” Congratulations, you have successfully transferred your file to the cloud.
To open the file on your Mac, click Finder on the dock and select the iCloud folder. Finally, open the folder which you saved the file.
3. iTunes
Our list can’t be complete without mentioning the good old iTunes file sharing. Whether you’re sending a document, music, or video files, iTunes is the oldest way to share files between your iPhone and Mac. How does it work, you wonder?
Connect your iPhone to the Mac via USB and launch the iTunes app. Next, click on your iPhone and select the “File Sharing” option on the sidebar. You’ll see a list of apps installed on your iPhone that supports file sharing. Select your preferred app including the file you wish to transfer to your Mac, and click Save.
iTunes File Sharing
However, iTunes file sharing will only work on the supported apps and not with all apps.
4. Third Party Apps
Apps For Mac
There are so many file transfer apps available on iOS App Store. You may need to choose the app depending on the type of file you want to transfer. Most of the apps support media files transfer from Photos app to your Mac and PC. For example, “Send Anywhere – File Transfer” is a popular iOS app that allows to send files freely using different methods.
- Generate a security key for sending and receiving files.
- Create a sharing link to send to multiple people.
- You can trigger a notification to the receiver for receiving files without security key.
Wrap Up
Move All App Data To Mac Free
The iPhone doesn’t support mass storage mode like most phones. As such, you can’t transfer files as you would do on an external hard disk or other Android phones. But, this is not necessarily a bad thing. With the transfer methods outlined above, you’ll enjoy a better file transfer experience and a secure one too. Furthermore, you don’t need to have a USB around to send files from your iPhone to the Mac.