Skip to main content
Tech Radar TechRadar the technology experts
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
RSS
Asia
flag of Singapore
Singapore
Europe
flag of Danmark
Danmark
flag of Suomi
Suomi
flag of Norge
Norge
flag of Sverige
Sverige
flag of UK
UK
flag of Italia
Italia
flag of Nederland
Nederland
flag of België (Nederlands)
België (Nederlands)
flag of France
France
flag of Deutschland
Deutschland
flag of España
España
North America
flag of US (English)
US (English)
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of México
México
Australasia
flag of Australia
Australia
flag of New Zealand
New Zealand
  • Phones
  • Computing
  • TVs
  • AI
  • Streaming
  • Health
  • Audio
  • VPN
  • More
    • Cameras
    • Home
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Opinion
    • How to
    • Versus
    • Deals
    • Coupons
    • Best
Tech Radar Pro
Tech Radar Gaming
Trending
  • Back to school
  • Nintendo Switch 2
  • Best VPN
  • ChatGPT
  • NYT Wordle today
  • Best laptop
  • Best web hosting
Recommended reading
Windows 10's grave
Windows Windows 11's hidden PC migration feature proves Microsoft isn't messing around when it comes to killing off Windows 10
A Google Pixel 7 phone next to an iPhone 14 on an orange background
Phones Switching from Android to an iPhone just got much easier thanks to this handy update
Apple's Craig Federighi demonstrates the iPhone Mirroring feature of macOS Sequoia at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024.
Computing These MacBook Pros and iMacs could be left behind by macOS 16 – which could be called macOS 26
macOS Tahoe pink desktop on iMac
macOS macOS Tahoe 26 is official: here’s everything we know about the release date, compatibility and all the new features
Acer Aspire 14 AI laptop display showing the Windows 11 login screen
Windows Windows 11 is getting some big upgrades to tackle dreaded boot failures – and help novices set up their new PC
Apple developer beta announcement
macOS How to download the macOS Tahoe 26 developer beta
Apple WWDC
macOS macOS Tahoe 26 announced at WWDC 2025 with a new look and new numbering scheme: these are the best features for your new Mac or MacBook
  1. Computing
  2. Desktop PCs
  3. Macs

How to migrate from an old Mac using Migration Assistant

How-to
By MacFormat published 31 March 2016

Move to a new Mac

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Migrating to OS X El Capitan

Migrating to OS X El Capitan

You can upgrade to OS X El Capitan on Macs from as far back as 2007. In terms of software, you'll need to be running at least OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard – if you're still running OS X 10.5 Leopard, then you'll first have to buy an upgrade to 10.6 and install it before you can move to El Capitan (which itself is free).

You'll also need an Apple ID to download the upgrade from the Mac App Store. In theory, all your settings and data will be preserved when you migrate. However, because theory and practice sometimes differ, it's a good idea to ensure that you have an up-to-date Time Machine backup on an external drive or removable disk before you start. Check out our tutorial on how to set up and configure a Time Machine backup for more information.

If your Mac is set up to make regular backups, then all you need to do is check when the last successful one ran. Click the Time Machine status icon in the menu bar and choose Open Time Machine Preferences.

If the latest backup is older than today, run a new one; if your settings get wiped when upgrading, you'll then be able to restore them from this backup.

Get the updates

You'll also need to ensure that the most recent OS X updates are installed so that you can access the App Store, because this is the only way to get an El Capitan upgrade. Note that the update process will be different depending on whether you're updating from 10.9, 10.8, 10.7 or 10.6.

In 10.6 Snow Leopard, go to the Apple menu, select Software Update and wait while it checks for new software. Once updates have been identified, choose Show Details to see which ones are available.

To save some time, you can opt to install only the Mac OS X Update Combined. Once all applicable updates have been downloaded and installed, you may need to restart your Mac.

Then, once you've made sure there's a recent backup in place, go to the Apple menu, then open the App Store to get and install El Capitan. In OS X 10.9, 10.8 and 10.7, Click on the Featured tab and look for 'OS X El Capitan' a little way down under Quick Links on the right.

In this guide we'll show you how to migrate data from another Mac, by connecting the two via a network cable. This might not be useful to you now, if you've got just the one Mac, but in the future when you upgrade to a new machine, you can use this method to transfer your data and ensure that nothing vital is overlooked.

Page 1 of 7
Page 1 of 7
1. Open Utilities

1. Open Utilities

To migrate data you need either a Time Machine backup on a removable disk or an older Mac connected to your new one with El Capitan already on it.

Once you have your backup connected, open Applications and scroll through to the Utilities folder.

Page 2 of 7
Page 2 of 7
2. Migration Assistant

2. Migration Assistant

Within Utilities, find and launch Migration Assistant. You'll need to prevent the computer from going to sleep during a potentially lengthy migration: from the Apple menu, choose System Preferences > Energy Saver and slide the Computer sleep fader to the Never position.

Page 3 of 7
Page 3 of 7
3. Migration type

3. Migration type

The simplest migration works using a Time Machine backup on a connected external disk. On the destination Mac, choose 'From another Mac, PC, Time Machine Backup or other disk' and click Continue.

Select the disk that the backup is on and click Continue again.

Page 4 of 7
Page 4 of 7
4. Migration method

4. Migration method

If you're migrating from a networked Mac, choose 'From another Mac or PC'. While Migration Assistant displays 'Looking for other PCs', run the Assistant on the source Mac, choose 'To another Mac' and click Continue.

Check the passcode on both Macs is the same.

Page 5 of 7
Page 5 of 7
5. Items to migrate

5. Items to migrate

Whichever way you migrate, you need to quit other apps and programs on any machine running the Migration Assistant. Click Continue again. On the target Mac, the Assistant displays a list of items that can be migrated – user settings, applications, files and folders.

Page 6 of 7
Page 6 of 7
6. Perform the migration

6. Perform the migration

In the list, select the items that you want to migrate by ticking or unticking the boxes next to them. To view smaller items within a group, click the arrow next to the group.

Click Continue to begin the process of migrating the data. How long this takes will depend on the amount of data selected and the connection method you're using. Obviously, using a physically-connected disk will be the fastest method; if you're connecting over a wireless network, the transfer will be a lot slower than over a Thunderbolt or FireWire cable.

Once the transfer has completed, migrated users will have their own Home folders on the target Mac. To check that settings and documents for a particular user have migrated successfully, log out and log back in as that user.

  • Enjoyed this article? Get more tutorials, guides, and tips on how to get the most from your Apple devices inside MacFormat. Take advantage of an exclusive offer in our sampler today.
Page 7 of 7
Page 7 of 7
TOPICS
Apple
MacFormat
See more Computing How Tos
Read more
Windows 10's grave
Windows 11's hidden PC migration feature proves Microsoft isn't messing around when it comes to killing off Windows 10
A Google Pixel 7 phone next to an iPhone 14 on an orange background
Switching from Android to an iPhone just got much easier thanks to this handy update
Apple's Craig Federighi demonstrates the iPhone Mirroring feature of macOS Sequoia at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024.
These MacBook Pros and iMacs could be left behind by macOS 16 – which could be called macOS 26
macOS Tahoe pink desktop on iMac
macOS Tahoe 26 is official: here’s everything we know about the release date, compatibility and all the new features
Acer Aspire 14 AI laptop display showing the Windows 11 login screen
Windows 11 is getting some big upgrades to tackle dreaded boot failures – and help novices set up their new PC
Apple developer beta announcement
How to download the macOS Tahoe 26 developer beta
Latest in Macs
Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 could be the Mac gaming moment we’ve been waiting for, and it’s all thanks to AI
A person putting a MacBook Air M4 in a bag
Apple could use a nifty iPhone trick for Macs - updating them to the latest version of macOS while still boxed
Apple iMac M4 and Apple peripherals against a blue TechRadar deals background
Apple's M4 iMac is the best all-in-one computer out there, and it's $150 off in every color for Prime Day
Apple Mac Mini M4
Quick! The tiny but mighty Mac mini is cheaper than ever before, thanks to a fresh discount on Amazon
Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition on a 16-inch M4 Max MacBook Pro
I just experienced super-smooth Cyberpunk 2077 at Ultra settings on a Mac, but the developers say there’s more to ‘squeeze out’ of Apple Silicon
Apple's new dedicated gaming app on macOS Tahoe
Apple just leveled up Mac gaming with these two new features – and it's about time
Latest in How Tos
PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND - JULY 16: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland looks on during a practice round prior to The 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 16, 2025 in Portrush, Northern Ireland. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)
British Open 2025 live stream: how to watch the golf online, schedule, Round 1 tee times
Kevin Vauquelin of France and Team Arkea - B&B Hotels attacks climbing the Cote d'Outreau
Watch Tour de France LIVE: Stage 12 updates, TV channels, free streams
People wave flags at the Royal Albert Hall in west London on September 7, 2013 during the last night of the Proms. US conductor Marin Alsop became the first woman to conduct the Last Night of the Proms in its 118-year history. AFP PHOTO/CARL COURT (Photo credit should read CARL COURT/AFP via Getty Images)
How to watch First Night of the Proms 2025: live stream for free online from anywhere
MLB All-Star Game Logo
How to watch MLB All-Star Game 2025 — watch baseball online from anywhere
The Great British Sewing Bee season 11 contestants
How to watch The Great British Sewing Bee season 11 for free online from anywhere
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 12: Wimbledon tennis balls sit ready on the Queens Club practice court at The Queen's Club on June 12, 2025 in London, England.
How to watch Sinner vs Alcaraz Wimbledon on BBC iPlayer (it's free)
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. 1
    First poster for Supergirl reveals near-full look at the DC comic book hero's outfit – and puts a rebellious spin on Superman's 'look up' tagline
  2. 2
    I reviewed Marshall’s new Bluetooth speaker and it rocked my world with awesome audio and unbelievable battery life
  3. 3
    The 8BitDo Pro 3 is compatible with Switch 2 and could be a must-own retro gaming controller
  4. 4
    Microsoft’s Copilot Vision can now see your entire desktop – but it probably won't judge you for the clutter
  5. 5
    OpenAI really helped me finish my to-do list when it launched ChatGPT's Advanced Voice Mode, and it can do the same for you

TechRadar is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Web notifications
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...