Migrating from old MacBookPro

I am using migration assistant to transfer programmes and data from old to new MacBookPro (mid-2012 to 2020). Both are running Catalina and are connected via Thunderbolt ports and cable. Migration assistant is running, “transferring information”, but stuck at “searching for programmes and files to transfer” for the past hour or so, with the number of found files not changing and the status bar not progressing. No time to completion indicated.

Is that how it works or should I just quit and chose another way of doing this? Is there another efficient way to transfer chosen files by hand and just reinstall latest versions of all programmes? Or would it be better to migrate from TimeMachine backup?