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Moving your old data to a new computer can be a headache, especially if you’re going from a PC to a Mac. Fortunately, there are several ways to do it, so you can get your new Mac set up and ready to go.
There are several ways to transfer data from your old PC to your new Mac. You can drag your files to an external hard drive and transfer them manually, set up a network share between the two systems, or sync them using a cloud storage account. There’s also the Windows Migration Assistant, a special tool that Apple created expressly for this purpose. Both computers will need to be on the same network to use this tool, but beyond that, there are no other strict requirements.
Here’s how to use Windows Migration Assistant to transfer your files.
Step One – Prepare Your Windows Machine
To start this process, start on your Windows PC. Open a browser of your choice. There is an Apple page located in Apple’s official help database with links to the Windows Migration Assistant program for each of the various versions of macOS on your new Mac. You will install this app on your Windows machine.
Choose the correct download for the version of macOS on your new machine and click the link to go to the download page. Once there, click on the blue “Download” button.
Once you’ve downloaded Migration Assistant, make sure you’ve closed all open Windows applications, and then open Windows Migration Assistant by double-clicking it. In the Migration Wizard window, click “Continue” to start the process.
Make your PC available on the next screen, where a code will appear shortly. We’ll come back to this, don’t worry.
Step two: Prepare your Mac
You’re done with your Windows machine for now, so turn on your Mac. Open the Mac Migration Assistant, which is located in the Utilities folder. It is already pre-installed.
When you open Migration Assistant on your Mac and click “Continue,” all applications on the Mac will close, so make sure you’re ready to proceed before doing so.
On the next screen, choose the option to transfer data “From a Windows PC”. Then click “Continue” via the arrow at the bottom of the screen.
The next screen will show a passcode for the Mac where you are migrating data. You will see that your PC also displays the same code in your instance of the Migration Assistant. The screens will look identical as long as you have both machines running.
Make sure both computers display the same code. Next, first click “Continue” on your PC and then do the same on your Mac.
You will focus on your Mac for the rest of the process.
Step Three: Choose What Data to Transfer
When you hit “Continue,” Migration Assistant on your Mac will search for a list of files that you can migrate to your new computer. Once it’s done, it will show you all the files it found, separated by user. Select the data you want to move and then click “Continue”.
After doing this, the process will begin and you will be shown an ETA until it is complete. The transfer may take a while to complete, depending on the amount of data you are transferring, and the Wizard will notify you when it is complete.
Congratulations! Now you can start using your new Mac.
