You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Transfer data

Can I transfer data from my old mac that is backed up on an external hard drive to my new mac directly from that external hard drive? Migration Assistant failed for me.

Posted on Jan 20, 2022 9:36 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jan 20, 2022 9:45 AM

di37 wrote:

Can I transfer data from my old mac that is backed up on an external hard drive to my new mac directly from that external hard drive? Migration Assistant failed for me.


Yes.


Failed how...?


The most trouble free way to move to a new machine, is using the Setup Assistant on the initial boot of a brand new machine— you have one shot here. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205749


The second best way is use the Migration Assistant.

How to move your content to a new Mac https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204350





3-2-1 Backup Strategy: three copies of your data, two different methods, and one offsite.


— How to create a boot clone https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-10081

—Back up your Mac with Time Machine: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201250


4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jan 20, 2022 9:45 AM in response to di37

di37 wrote:

Can I transfer data from my old mac that is backed up on an external hard drive to my new mac directly from that external hard drive? Migration Assistant failed for me.


Yes.


Failed how...?


The most trouble free way to move to a new machine, is using the Setup Assistant on the initial boot of a brand new machine— you have one shot here. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205749


The second best way is use the Migration Assistant.

How to move your content to a new Mac https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204350





3-2-1 Backup Strategy: three copies of your data, two different methods, and one offsite.


— How to create a boot clone https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-10081

—Back up your Mac with Time Machine: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201250


Jan 20, 2022 10:03 AM in response to di37

di37 wrote:

Thanks Leroy. During the transfer there was a message that it was transferring and showed a number around 2000 files with 1hr abd 45 minutes remaining. Same message on both screens. After 3 hours it was the ssme message with same number of files and same time remaining. I cancelled at that point.


It can take some time to transfer large amount of data—


The predictive times are notoriously inaccurate, I would try not cancelling and see if it finishes...

Transfer data

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.