Migration Assistant stuck or taking forever to transfer
Migration Assistant hangs because of a network hiccup or interference. Unplug both Macs from power for 30 seconds, plug them back in, close Migration Assistant, and start fresh. If that doesn't work, switch to a wired Ethernet cable connecting the two Macs—WiFi transfers stall regularly.
Migration Assistant transfers your files, apps, and settings from your old Mac to your new one. When it gets stuck, it's because the connection between the two computers dropped or became too slow. The fastest fix is a restart and switching to a network cable if you're using WiFi. If you have very large files or a lot of data, a wired connection makes a huge difference.
- ✓Check that both Macs are plugged in and not going to sleep—Migration can't happen if either one sleeps
- ✓Check your WiFi connection on both Macs—is it strong and stable (look for full WiFi bars at the top right)
- ✓Check that you can see both Macs on the same network
Fix-IT-Bot will walk you through each step, just tap, no typing needed.
Skip, I just want a technicianCommon mistakes to avoid
- Using WiFi for large transfers—Ethernet is drastically faster and won't drop like WiFi does
- Putting the Macs to sleep during the transfer—disable sleep on both before starting
- Unplugging either Mac during the transfer—let it finish even if it takes hours
Signs you need professional help
- After restarting both Macs and switching to Ethernet, Migration Assistant still gets stuck at the same spot. You've tried three times and it keeps failing—we can help you move files a different way.
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