I will have to transfer my user account and some other stuff to a new mac and I am currently considering what would be the most efficient way of doing that. The list of things I would like and wouldn't like to transfer is below:
To transfer
- Current user documents
- Emails
- Photos / Music
- Address book, preferences settings
From applications:
- Precisely defined list of applications
- plus corresponding application preference folders
Not to transfer
- The whole content of the user folder as I have things that I do not need there. Like bin folder with some old stuff, Virtual Boxes, etc.
What's the best strategy to approach this problem?
- Clean current account leaving only stuff to transfer? I'm thinking that no matter what I do they will be orphans from software left. Also in the course of years, I made mess using homebrew and macports in the same time, instaling various python frameworks, etc.
- Install new clean account and copy selected things by hand. If this is better, how to efficiently copy selected application with corresponding preference folders?
Best Answer
Use Apple's Migration Assistant to copy all of your documents, apps, user accounts, and settings to a new Mac from another computer.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204350