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If your old computer was a Mac, the easiest way to transfer everything is by using Migration Assistant. If you have a Time Machine backup on your external drive, connect it to the new Mac and follow these steps:
Open Migration Assistant (Applications > Utilities).
Select “From a Mac, Time Machine backup, or startup disk.”
Choose your backup as the source and transfer your files, apps, and settings.
If you don’t have a backup, you can manually copy files and reinstall apps from the App Store or developer websites. Some apps may require fresh installations, especially if your old Mac was Intel-based and your new one is Apple Silicon.
If your old computer was a Windows PC or Chromebook, the applications won’t transfer since macOS runs different software. However, most of your files—like documents, music, and photos—will still work. You’ll need to install Mac-compatible versions of your apps manually.
For those looking to save space, macOS Sequoia 15.1 and later allows you to install large apps directly onto an APFS-formatted external drive. To do this, format the drive correctly and choose it as the install location when downloading apps.