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How to Move Files and Apps from a Windows PC to a MacBook Air

Apple Migration Assistant can copy supported Windows files and personal information to a MacBook Air during setup or afterward. Windows apps need separate Mac-compatible versions.
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Use Apple’s Migration Assistant to copy supported files and personal information from your Windows PC to your MacBook Air. You can start the transfer during the Mac’s first-time setup or later through Migration Assistant. It does not turn installed Windows programs into Mac apps: plan to install Mac-compatible versions separately.

How do I transfer everything from my Windows PC to my new MacBook Air?

Apple’s Migration Assistant is the standard route for moving supported information. “Everything” has limits: the tool transfers selected personal data and some settings, not a complete Windows installation or runnable copies of ordinary Windows applications.

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For a new MacBook Air, select the Windows PC transfer option when Setup Assistant asks whether you want to transfer information. Follow the prompts on both computers. Apple’s MacBook Air migration guide covers the setup-time path.

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Can I move my files and apps after setting up my Mac?

Yes. On the Mac, open System Settings → General → Transfer or Reset → Open Migration Assistant, then choose From a Windows PC. On the PC, open the Windows Migration Assistant version that matches the Mac’s macOS. When a code appears on the Mac, enter it on the PC; after the Mac scans the PC, choose the categories or items to transfer and start the copy. See Apple’s Windows-to-Mac instructions for the current steps and supported utility versions.

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If you have data under more than one Windows user account, Apple says to sign into each PC account and repeat the transfer for that account’s information.

Prepare both computers before migrating

  • Check the utility version. Update Windows and macOS, then download the Windows Migration Assistant version Apple lists for the Mac’s macOS. Apple’s support page currently lists version 3.2.0.0 for Windows 10 or later moving to macOS 27, Tahoe 26, Sequoia 15, or Sonoma 14; version 2.4.5.0 for Windows 7 or later moving to Ventura 13 or Monterey 12; and version 2.3.1.0 for Windows 7 or later moving to Big Sur 11. These are version listings on Apple’s page, not a guarantee that the same versions will remain current; verify the match there before downloading.
  • Keep the computers nearby. Quit open Windows applications. Apple’s PC migration instructions call for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to be on; they also describe using the same network or a direct Ethernet connection for some older setups or when needed.
  • Temporarily turn off interference. Apple recommends temporarily disabling antivirus, firewall, or VPN software if installed. Turn security software back on after migration.
  • Set aside time. Large transfers can take hours and may appear to pause. The time depends on the amount of data, network, and computer conditions; there is no reliable fixed duration.

What Migration Assistant transfers—and what it does not

The available categories depend on the source apps and operating-system versions. Apple’s Mac migration overview describes these common destinations:

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From Windows Where it goes on the Mac
Outlook and Windows Mail email and settings Mail
Contacts Contacts
Calendar appointments Calendar
Eligible Outlook tasks, when transferring to macOS 13 or later Reminders
Music, podcasts, audiobooks, movies, and TV shows Music, Podcasts, Books, and TV, respectively
Browser homepages and bookmarks Safari
Documents and other files in the home directory Your Mac home folder
Photos The home folder, where you can import them or find them in Photos
Selected desktop picture, language, and location settings System Settings
Some non-system files on available disks, when migration runs with PC administrator access A Shared folder

Apple does not list installed Windows programs as applications that become runnable Mac apps. Treat app migration as a separate task: check whether each program has a macOS edition, then download and install that edition and sign in or activate it as needed. This follows from Apple’s documented list of transferred information; it is not a promise that any particular app or license will carry over.

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Windows network settings and passwords do not transfer, so expect to reconnect to networks and enter credentials on the Mac.

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Check the Mac after the transfer

  1. Open the Mac’s Mail, Contacts, Calendar, and media apps and confirm that the expected information appears.
  2. Check important documents and photos in the Mac home folder, and import photos into Photos if that is how you want to organize them.
  3. Sign in to mail and cloud accounts, reconnect to networks, and enter passwords that were not transferred.
  4. Install the Mac versions of the apps you rely on, then confirm that their files open and that you can access any needed accounts or licenses.
  5. Keep the Windows PC and an independent backup until you have checked the Mac and confirmed that your important data is available.
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If Migration Assistant will not finish

  1. Confirm the Windows utility matches the destination macOS, both computers are prepared as Apple recommends, and the connection is available.
  2. If Apple’s checks do not resolve the issue, use the PC’s chkdsk utility to look for disk problems that could prevent migration.
  3. If the transfer still fails, copy important files manually using an external storage device or file sharing. An external SSD is one possible storage device, not a requirement for Migration Assistant.

Migration Assistant is suited to copying a supported selection of a Windows user’s information. Manual copying is a practical fallback when the migration cannot complete or when you only need particular files. Apple does not provide a speed comparison for these PC-to-Mac routes.

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  • TEAR THROUGH TOUGH ASSIGNMENTS — With its faster CPU and unified memory, the M5 chip delivers even more performance and fluidity across apps, making multitasking and creative workflows smooth and responsive. A powerful Neural Engine and next-generation GPU with Neural Accelerators give you a powerful platform for AI.
  • MAKE QUICK WORK OF YOUR TO-DO LIST — Apple Intelligence helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly — whether it’s for school or everyday life. With groundbreaking privacy protections, it gives you peace of mind that no one else can access your data — not even Apple.*
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