This wikiHow teaches you how to move files from one Mac computer onto another Mac computer. Turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for both Macs. In order to use AirDrop, both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth must be enabled on both of your Macs:
Method 1 of 4:
Using AirDrop
Turn on AirDrop if necessary. If AirDrop is disabled on either of your Macs, you can enable it by clicking Go at the top of the screen, clicking AirDrop in the resulting drop-down menu, clicking the AirDrop: Off link at the bottom of the window that appears, and clicking Everyone in the drop-down menu. You can then close the AirDrop window.
Select files to send. Go to the location of the files you want to transfer, then hold down ⌘ Command while clicking each file you want to transfer.
Hold down Control while clicking a selected file. Doing so will prompt a drop-down menu.
Select Share. It's in the drop-down menu. Selecting it prompts a pop-out menu to appear.
Click AirDrop. This option is in the pop-out menu. Doing so opens the AirDrop window.
Select your other Mac's username. Click the name of the account you use for your other Mac. This will send a file transfer request to the other Mac.
Accept the transfer on your other Mac. When prompted, click Accept in the AirDrop notification on the other Mac. The AirDrop files should begin downloading into your Mac's Downloads folder.
Click Done on the first Mac. Doing this will close the AirDrop menu.
Method 2 of 4:
Using an External Hard Drive
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Chiara Corsaro
General Manager of macVolks, Inc. Chiara Corsaro is the General Manager and Apple Certified Mac & iOS Technician for macVolks, Inc., an Apple Authorized Service Provider located in the San Francisco Bay Area. macVolks, Inc. was founded in 1990, is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) with an A+ rating, and is part of the Apple Consultants Network (ACN).Chiara Corsaro
General Manager of macVolks, Inc.
Using a USB device is one of the easiest ways to backup and/or transfer files. To copy files to a USB device, connect your USB flash drive or external hard drive to your computer, locate the file you want to copy, then drag the file to the USB device. When you are ready to transfer that file to another system, connect your USB device to the other computer, click on the USB device icon, and drag the file to the other machine's desktop.
Go to the files you want to transfer. Open the folder in which the files you want to transfer are located.
Copy the files. Press ⌘ Command+C to do so.
Click your external drive's name. It's in the lower-left side of the Finder window. Doing so opens your external drive.
Paste in the copied files. Press ⌘ Command+V to do so. Your files will appear in the external drive's window.
Plug the drive into your other Mac. This should be the Mac onto which you want to transfer your files.
Move the files onto your Mac. Click and drag the files from the drive onto your desktop (or into your preferred folder). This will place the files on your Mac.
EXPERT TIP
Chiara Corsaro
General Manager of macVolks, Inc. Chiara Corsaro is the General Manager and Apple Certified Mac & iOS Technician for macVolks, Inc., an Apple Authorized Service Provider located in the San Francisco Bay Area. macVolks, Inc. was founded in 1990, is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) with an A+ rating, and is part of the Apple Consultants Network (ACN).Chiara Corsaro
General Manager of macVolks, Inc.
Try using Time Machine if you want to do a full system backup or restoration. Once configured, Time Machine will backup anything and everything that is on your computer automatically, each time you connect your external hard drive to your computer. If you use Time Machine, please make sure you get an external hard drive that is twice the size of your internal hard drive, as Time Machine backs up not just your data files (eg: photos, documents, desktop items, etc.), but also your programs, operating system, and settings.
Method 3 of 4:
Using a Thunderbolt 3 Bridge
Buy a Thunderbolt 3 cable. Thunderbolt 3 cables have a USB-C connector at each end of the cable. You can find these cables online or in tech department stores.
Connect the two Macs with the cable. Plug one end of the cable into one Mac's Thunderbolt 3 port, then plug the other end into your other Mac's Thunderbolt 3 port.
Click System Preferences…. It's in the drop-down menu.
Click Network. This option is a globe-shaped icon in the System Preferences window.
Click +. It's at the bottom of the left-hand column of connections. A pop-up window will appear.
Click the "Interface" drop-down box. You'll find this near the top of the pop-up window. Clicking it prompts a drop-down menu.
Click Thunderbolt Bridge. It's in the drop-down menu.
Click Create. This is at the bottom of the pop-up window.
Click Apply. It's in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
Note the IP address on the target computer. The address to the right of the "IP Address" heading is the address you'll use to connect to the current computer.
Sign in. Enter the username and password you use to log into the Mac to which you're connecting, then click Connect.
Click OK. It's at the bottom of the pop-up window.
Method 4 of 4:
Using a Time Machine Backup
Create a Time Machine backup. If you don't already have a Time Machine backup, create one using a blank hard drive before proceeding.
Press and hold ⌘ Command and R. You'll need to do this as your Mac is restarting.
Release the keys when you see the Utilities window appear. This window will have a few options (e.g., Restore from Time Machine Backup) in it.
Click Restore from Time Machine Backup. It's in the middle of the window.
Click Continue twice. It's in the bottom-right corner of the window.
Click Time Machine Backup. This option is in the middle of the window.
Click Continue. It's in the bottom-right corner.
Select the backup you want to use. Click the name and date of the backup from which you want to restore this Mac.
Click Continue. It's at the bottom of the window. Your Mac will begin restoring your Time Machine backup; once the restore finishes, you should be able to access your old Mac's files and settings on your new Mac.
Update 04 March 2020
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