Why would two iMacs (one a 2024 M4 the other a 2011 iMac not be able to connect? Have tried with wifi and with USB-A to USB-C cable. Did not connect either time.
iMac 24″, macOS 15.3
Please create the Time Machine backup and migrate from that, otherwise you will only have a failed migration AND an exercise in frustration.
Alas, I suggested she not get the model with Ethernet - she has no other use for it. I will create the Time Machine backup.
Usually the best: Use a Time Machine backup.
Via cabling: If your new Mac has an Ethernet connection on the power brick, you can try connecting that directly to the Ethernet on the previous iMac.
No Thunderbolt here. iMac 2011 has Display Port, and not Thunderbolt.
I've migrated from a late 2013 iMac to a 2023 iMac. I did use the migration assistant and followed all instructions. My files got scrambled. Documents popped out of folders; it was a mess.
Anyway, after that attempt at migration, I put my documents into iCloud. (As a warning, it took quite a bit of time to do the first upload to the cloud.) I did a migration from a late 2013 iMac to a 2024 iMac and things did go well. Then again, there wasn't much to migrate.
Simply follow the steps in Setup Assistant and Migration Assistant and your migration will be simple and flawless.
I have followed the directions and it hangs with the new iMac saying it’s checking and the old one saying it is discoverable. This happens whether they are on the same WiFi or directly connected USB-A to USB-C. They have been in that mode without sending a code for 3 hours.
I am helping someone else with this, but have migrated my two iMacs in the last two years with no difficulty.
Am stumped. May have to create a Time Machine backup (user doesn’t use it.)
Migrating from very old iMac to new one
