So you have just purchased a Macbook for the first time, and you are incredibly excited to get to work on it. But wait, all your data is still on your old Windows computer. Does it mean that you will have to sacrifice your data and start fresh on your Mac? Absolutely not!
You can quickly transfer all your data and required files from Windows to Mac thanks to the “Migration Assistant”. This article will serve as a step by step guide that will help you throughout the process and become a guide so you can carry out the data transfer with ease.
What is the “Migration Assistant”?
Migration Assistant is a free utility that comes with all Apple Macbooks. As soon as you start your Mac for the first time and it takes you through the setup process, you will be asked whether you would like to transfer data from your old device to the new one. Here you will see the transfer options from Mac to Mac as well as from Windows to Mac.
Although the utility is pre-installed in the Macbook, it is not the case with Windows computers. To initiate the transfer, you will have to download the Migration Assistant on your Windows laptop. Another perk of downloading the Migration Assistant on your Windows laptop is the fact that it will also prove helpful when transferring data between different Windows operating systems.
When you have downloaded the migration assistant on your Windows laptop, you have to ensure that both the Windows laptop as well as Mac are on the same network. The best tip in this regard is to carry out the transfer at home so that both devices can be connected to the home internet.
The use of the Migration Assistant is an efficient and proven way of carrying out data transfer between Windows and Mac. However, it is essential to be aware that a hundred percent of data transfer cannot be guaranteed. The data transfer depends on the version of the Windows operating system and may vary from one device to another.
Requirements
Ensure that you have a few things up and running before you get started with the actual data transfer process.
● Firstly, you should have the administrator’s username and password for the laptop. Without access to the administrator account, you will not be granted permission for the data transfer.
● Run drive performance check and ensure that your Windows laptop does not have any underlying issue. If the scan finds any issue, you should first try and resolve the problems and then proceed with the data transfer.
Data Transfer Process
Step 1: Connecting the Computers
The Mitigation Assistant carries out the data transfer over the internet. Therefore, the first step is to connect both computers to the same internet connection. It is up to you to choose an ethernet connection or utilize WiFi.
Step 2: Preparing the Mac
Now you need to open your Mac and launch the “Finder Window”. Go to “Applications” and then double click to open the “Utility” folder. You will find the Mitigation Assistant here. Click on it and press Continue on the pop-up. Choose “From a PC” from the available options and click Continue.
Step 3: Preparing the PC
After the download and installation of the Mitigation Assistant have been completed, click to launch it. You will see an option to enter a code on the pop-up. Tally the code from your Mac and enter it on the pop-up. Select the files and data that you want to move to the Mac and click continue. The file transfer will be initiated and all your data will be transferred.