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.

Migration assistant with different Os versions

I'm upgrading a very old MacBook Air with OSX.13.6 High Sierra to a system with MacOS15.x, can I use Migration Assistant on both machines to move all the files over to the new computer?

Basically, if the old system is using an older Mac OS and the newer unit is the current OS does Migration assistant still work?

MacBook Air 13″, OS X 10.11

Posted on Dec 7, 2022 9:14 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Dec 8, 2022 4:28 AM

Below is a debatable point were some say it works moving ALL Data from Old to New machine will work.


Then, there are those, like myself, who have a different perspective on the matter.


If the new computer is going to be the Apple Silicon M1 / M2 Equipped Computer - would suggest Only Migrating the User Account and nothing more.


Some have had success and others have been left with a mess when Migrating everything.


1 - Apple Silicon with Big Sur macOS 11 / Monterey macOS 12 or Ventura macOS 13 Only Support everything 64 bit and there is no workaround.


2 - Issues that may exist on the older computer will be migrated to the New Computer. This would badly pollute the new Original and Pristine installation of the new OS.


3 -  Applications, extensions and Software Drivers may or may not even work on the new computer.


4 - IMHO - it would be best to only install new application etc Directly from the Developer or the Apple Apps Store.


5 - Due Diligence on New Applications and make sure they are Ventura / Monterey / Big Sur compatible and factor in the ARMs CPU of the Apple Silicon Computer  

5 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Dec 8, 2022 4:28 AM in response to Carl Camp

Below is a debatable point were some say it works moving ALL Data from Old to New machine will work.


Then, there are those, like myself, who have a different perspective on the matter.


If the new computer is going to be the Apple Silicon M1 / M2 Equipped Computer - would suggest Only Migrating the User Account and nothing more.


Some have had success and others have been left with a mess when Migrating everything.


1 - Apple Silicon with Big Sur macOS 11 / Monterey macOS 12 or Ventura macOS 13 Only Support everything 64 bit and there is no workaround.


2 - Issues that may exist on the older computer will be migrated to the New Computer. This would badly pollute the new Original and Pristine installation of the new OS.


3 -  Applications, extensions and Software Drivers may or may not even work on the new computer.


4 - IMHO - it would be best to only install new application etc Directly from the Developer or the Apple Apps Store.


5 - Due Diligence on New Applications and make sure they are Ventura / Monterey / Big Sur compatible and factor in the ARMs CPU of the Apple Silicon Computer  

Dec 8, 2022 5:28 PM in response to PRP_53

Great Advice there, fortunately it's an intel Mac not an ARM mac so that doesn't cause as big an issue, however there are a lot of very old programs that are 32 bit and even PowerPC based that should be purged before moving over, not really thought of that. Will have to do some serious research on her computer before I do the move.

Migration assistant with different Os versions

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