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can you use icloud to transfer data from one iMac to another?

can you use icloud to transfer data from one iMac to another

iMac 27″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Jul 17, 2020 11:35 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jul 17, 2020 11:46 AM

iCloud is NOT a data migration tool. We recommend that you use Migration Assistant. Using Migration Assistant is very simple.


  • Connect the old Mac's Time Machine or bootable clone backup external HD to the new Mac using a USB cable.
  • Launch Migration Assistant (Applications - Utilities - Migration Assistant) on the new Mac and follow the on-screen prompts.


This is the fastest and most reliable method. Obviously the backup EHD has to be in good shape. It is smart computing to test your backups about 1x a month to check if you can restore a file and to verify the backup is working okay. NEVER assume it's working just fine, hard drives fail when they want to!!!!!!

1 reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jul 17, 2020 11:46 AM in response to jdravi

iCloud is NOT a data migration tool. We recommend that you use Migration Assistant. Using Migration Assistant is very simple.


  • Connect the old Mac's Time Machine or bootable clone backup external HD to the new Mac using a USB cable.
  • Launch Migration Assistant (Applications - Utilities - Migration Assistant) on the new Mac and follow the on-screen prompts.


This is the fastest and most reliable method. Obviously the backup EHD has to be in good shape. It is smart computing to test your backups about 1x a month to check if you can restore a file and to verify the backup is working okay. NEVER assume it's working just fine, hard drives fail when they want to!!!!!!

can you use icloud to transfer data from one iMac to another?

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