The safest way to move from an old Mac to an M2 MacBook Air is Apple’s built-in Migration Assistant. During the MacBook Air’s first setup, choose From a Mac, Time Machine or startup disk. If setup is finished, open System Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Open Migration Assistant.
Migration Assistant can copy documents, applications, user accounts and settings without deleting anything from the old Mac or replacing macOS on the new one. Create a current Time Machine backup first, keep both computers powered, and expect a large transfer to take hours.
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Choose the transfer method that fits your situation
Migration Assistant supports several sources. Your choice affects whether you get a recovery copy, how much control you have over individual files, and whether accounts and settings come across with the data.
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|---|---|---|---|
| Another Mac | Migration Assistant connects the old Mac and the M2 MacBook Air, then copies the categories you select. | A direct move when the old Mac is available. | User accounts, privacy and security settings, and system and network settings can be selected. |
| Time Machine backup | Connect the backup disk, choose it as the source in Migration Assistant, and select what to restore. | A move that also leaves you with a recovery copy and a repeatable source. | Personal files, applications and the user account can be restored; other selectable settings depend on the categories shown. |
| Startup disk | Choose the startup disk as the source when it is offered by Migration Assistant. | A Mac whose usable system source is available separately from the computer itself. | Migration Assistant presents selectable data categories. |
| Windows PC | Install the Windows Migration Assistant version that matches the macOS version on the M2 MacBook Air, then choose the information to transfer. | Moving documents and supported information from a Windows computer. | Review the migration summary because some software or documents may not be compatible. |
| Manual external-drive copy | Copy chosen files to external storage and then to the new Mac. | Selective file copying when you do not need to reproduce accounts and settings. | Does not reproduce user accounts and settings by itself. |
For most Mac owners, direct Mac-to-Mac migration is the shortest path. A Time Machine source is the stronger choice when you want a verified backup before changing computers. Manual copying gives fine-grained control, but it is not a substitute for Migration Assistant if you want accounts, applications and system settings carried over.
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Prepare both Macs before you start
Install current macOS updates
Update macOS on both the old Mac and the M2 MacBook Air before opening Migration Assistant. Keeping the computers current reduces the chance that the transfer is interrupted by an available system update and makes it easier to identify software that is already incompatible with the new Mac.
Connect both laptops to power
Plug both computers into power for the entire operation. A transfer can take hours, and a sleeping or shutting-down source Mac can interrupt the process.
Prepare a reliable connection
For a wireless migration, turn on Wi-Fi on both Macs and keep them near each other. If you choose a wired workflow, use a USB-C or Thunderbolt data cable that matches the ports and the data standard required by both computers. The exact cable specification matters; a cable that only charges may not provide the data connection you need.
Temporarily remove software that can block the connection
If antivirus software, a third-party firewall or a VPN is installed, turn it off temporarily before migration. Such software can interfere with discovery or data transfer. Turn those protections back on after you have verified the move.
Create a current Time Machine backup
Make a fresh Time Machine backup before transferring anything. Apple recommends a backup disk with at least twice the storage capacity of the Mac. For example, a Mac with 512GB of storage points to a disk of at least 1TB under that recommendation.
A USB-C or Thunderbolt external SSD is a practical fit because it can serve as the pre-migration backup and, if necessary, as the Migration Assistant source. Keep the backup available until you have checked the new Mac rather than treating the direct transfer as your only copy.
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Choose the correct format for a new backup disk
Apple prefers APFS or APFS Encrypted for a new Time Machine disk. If the disk is formatted for Windows, it must be reformatted before Time Machine can use it. Reformatting permanently removes the data already on that disk, so copy anything important elsewhere first.
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For a network-based backup, SMB is preferred when available. Older AFP-based approaches are being retired in newer macOS releases, so an older network setup may need to be changed before it can act as the source.
Transfer directly from another Mac during first setup
Use this route when the M2 MacBook Air is still displaying its setup screens. The old Mac remains intact; Migration Assistant copies the selected information rather than erasing the source.
- On the M2 MacBook Air, continue setup until Migration Assistant asks how you want to transfer information.
- Choose From a Mac, Time Machine or startup disk.
- On the old Mac, open Migration Assistant and choose To another Mac.
- On the new Mac, select the old Mac when it appears.
- Compare the security code shown on both screens. Continue only when the codes match.
- Wait while Migration Assistant calculates how much storage the selected information will use.
- Select the categories to copy. Use each category’s disclosure arrow to narrow the selection instead of importing everything automatically.
- Review any account-name conflict and choose whether to replace the account on the new Mac or rename the incoming account so both accounts remain available.
- If Migration Assistant displays a temporary password for a standard account, record it. You may need it for the first sign-in.
- Start the transfer and leave both Macs connected to power until it finishes.
The available categories can include Applications, User Accounts, Other Files & Folders, Privacy & Security Settings, and System & Network. Selecting only the categories you need can reduce the amount of data moved, while selecting all applicable categories gives the closest match to the old Mac.
Transfer after the M2 MacBook Air is already set up
You do not have to erase the new Mac or restart setup to use Migration Assistant. In current macOS, open it from the following path:
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- Select General.
- Choose Transfer or Reset.
- Click Open Migration Assistant.
- When asked for an administrator password, authenticate and choose the option to transfer from a Mac, Time Machine or startup disk.
- Open Migration Assistant on the old Mac and choose To another Mac.
- Select the old Mac on the new Mac, verify the security code, wait for the storage calculation, and choose the categories to import.
The same account decisions apply after setup. If the new Mac already has an account with the incoming account’s name, replace it only if you intend to overwrite that account. Otherwise, rename the incoming account so both remain available.
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Restore from a Time Machine backup
A Time Machine backup can be the source even when the old Mac is unavailable or you prefer not to connect the computers directly. Connect the backup disk to the M2 MacBook Air, then use Migration Assistant rather than manually browsing the backup folders.
- Connect the Time Machine disk and make sure the Mac can read it.
- Open Migration Assistant. During first setup, choose From a Mac, Time Machine or startup disk; after setup, use System Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Open Migration Assistant.
- Select the Time Machine backup when it appears as a source.
- Choose the user account, applications, files and other categories you want to restore.
- Start the transfer and wait for it to complete before disconnecting the disk.
- Sign in to the restored account and review the migration summary.
Apple says this route can restore personal files, applications and a user account to another Mac. It also gives you a separate recovery copy, which is why making the backup before migration is valuable even when you plan to use a direct Mac-to-Mac connection.
Do not confuse local snapshots with an external backup
On APFS, Time Machine can keep local snapshots hourly for up to 24 hours. Those snapshots are useful for short-term recovery, but they are stored on the Mac itself and are not a substitute for an external backup before migration.
Move files from a Windows PC
Apple supports migration from Windows as well. Download and install the Windows Migration Assistant version that matches the macOS version running on the M2 MacBook Air. Start the Windows utility, then follow Migration Assistant on the Mac and select the information to transfer.
- Update the M2 MacBook Air and note its macOS version.
- Install the matching Windows Migration Assistant release on the PC.
- Connect the computers using the connection method the migration utility presents.
- Start the transfer and select the available information.
- When it finishes, review the migration summary for documents that could not be copied and software that is incompatible.
A Windows migration is not a promise that every Windows application will become a usable Mac application. Treat the transferred documents and account data as the primary result, and plan to reinstall or replace software that the summary identifies as incompatible.
What transfers, and what needs follow-up
| Category | What Migration Assistant can copy | Follow-up to perform |
|---|---|---|
| Documents and folders | Files selected under User Accounts and Other Files & Folders. | Open important folders on the new Mac and confirm that the expected contents are present. |
| Applications | Applications can be selected during migration. | Incompatible apps, or apps for which a newer version is already installed, may not transfer or may not be usable. Check the summary and test the applications you depend on. |
| User accounts | User accounts can be imported. | Resolve a matching account name by replacing the existing account or renaming the incoming one. Use any temporary password shown for a standard account. |
| Privacy and security settings | These settings are selectable as a category. | Review them after sign-in, especially if you temporarily disabled security software before migration. |
| System and network settings | These settings are selectable as a category. | Check network connections and other system preferences on the new Mac. |
| Apple notes that email transfers. | The email account may still need to be set up again in the mail application. | |
| Operating system | Migration Assistant does not replace macOS on the M2 MacBook Air. | Keep the new Mac’s macOS installation in place and handle updates through normal System Settings. |
Will Intel Mac apps work on an M2 MacBook Air?
Migration Assistant does not guarantee that every application from an Intel Mac will transfer or run. Apple specifically warns that incompatible apps, and apps with newer versions already installed on the new Mac, may not transfer or may not be usable after migration.
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Use the Applications category and the migration summary as your checklist. After the transfer:
- Open the applications you rely on most.
- Check whether the app transferred, whether a newer copy was already present, and whether it reports an incompatibility.
- Keep installers, license details and any required account credentials available for software that needs a fresh installation or activation.
- Do not delete the old Mac or its applications until the programs you need have been tested on the M2 MacBook Air.
The operating-system portion of the move is separate from app compatibility: Migration Assistant leaves the new Mac’s macOS in place and does not replace it with the old Mac’s system.
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Wireless Mac-to-Mac migration
Wireless is convenient when both Macs have Wi-Fi and can remain close together. Turn Wi-Fi on before launching Migration Assistant, keep the computers near each other, and connect both to power. Avoid moving either laptop during the transfer.
USB-C or Thunderbolt storage
An external SSD connected over USB-C or Thunderbolt can hold the Time Machine backup and can also provide a source for Migration Assistant when you choose to move from external storage. Match the cable and drive connection to the ports and required data standard; Apple’s guidance identifies USB-C and Thunderbolt storage as supported destinations but does not identify one specific retail cable or drive model.
Network-based backups
If your Time Machine source is on a network, SMB is the preferred protocol when available. AFP-based arrangements are older and are being retired in newer macOS releases, so verify that the backup can be reached before starting the restore.
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How to handle a transfer that appears stuck
The progress display has not changed
Large transfers may take hours and can appear to pause occasionally. Keep both Macs powered and connected, and allow the process time to continue before assuming it has failed.
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The old Mac does not appear
Confirm that Migration Assistant is open on both Macs, the old Mac is set to To another Mac, Wi-Fi is on for a wireless transfer, and the computers are close together. If security software, a firewall or a VPN was left enabled, temporarily turn it off and try the discovery step again.
The security codes do not match
Do not approve the connection when the codes differ. Cancel that pairing attempt, reopen Migration Assistant on both Macs, select the intended source again, and compare the newly displayed codes before proceeding.
An account already exists on the new Mac
Choose Replace only when the incoming account should take the place of the existing one. Choose the rename option when you need to preserve both accounts. A standard account may receive a temporary password during this decision; record it for the first login.
An application is missing or will not open
Check the migration summary first. Apple identifies incompatible applications and applications with newer versions already installed as cases in which an app may not transfer or may not be usable. Reinstall or update the affected application using its current Mac-compatible installer rather than assuming the transfer was incomplete.
Email is present but not sending or receiving
Migration Assistant transfers email, but the mail account may need to be configured again in the mail app. Re-enter the account setup information there and then test sending and receiving.
Verify the new Mac before retiring the old one
After Migration Assistant reports completion, sign in to the migrated account and work through a deliberate check rather than relying on the progress bar alone.
- Open the migration summary and note documents that were not copied or software marked incompatible.
- Open several important folders, including any locations selected under Other Files & Folders.
- Launch the applications you use regularly and confirm that their data is available.
- Check the migrated user account, privacy and security settings, and system and network settings.
- Open the mail application and complete account setup if it requests it.
- Turn antivirus, firewall and VPN protections back on if you disabled them before migration.
- Keep the old Mac and the Time Machine disk available until these checks are complete and the new Mac has the files and apps you need.
Migration Assistant is designed to copy information, not to erase the source or replace the new Mac’s operating system. A current external backup, careful category selection and a post-transfer review give you the clearest recovery path if an application or file needs attention.
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