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Migrating Older Software

I have a 2013 vintage iMac. It's most recent OS is Catalina. Some time in the next 2 months I'm plannig to purchase a new iMac. My current system has only a few hybrid programs thatr will run on a new iMac. Some prorams have been updated to run on mewer M1 tach and the recent Mac OS versions.


What will happen to my existing software when I attempt to migate it from my old 2023 iMac to a 2023 iMac?


Thanks.

iMac 21.5″, macOS 11.4

Posted on Oct 7, 2023 8:53 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Oct 8, 2023 8:18 AM

The easiest way to see which apps will work and which ones won't would be to run a System Report.


Get system information for your Mac - Apple Support


Run the report, then sort by Kind. If you see 32 bit apps listed, those won't run on your new Mac.


Apps that are written for Intel Macs but not Apple Silicon will run under Rosetta. For many of those, updates are available from the software publisher that are either Universal (will run on either Intel or Apple Silicon) or Apple Silicon.


Hope this helps.

5 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Oct 8, 2023 8:18 AM in response to inspiredmac

The easiest way to see which apps will work and which ones won't would be to run a System Report.


Get system information for your Mac - Apple Support


Run the report, then sort by Kind. If you see 32 bit apps listed, those won't run on your new Mac.


Apps that are written for Intel Macs but not Apple Silicon will run under Rosetta. For many of those, updates are available from the software publisher that are either Universal (will run on either Intel or Apple Silicon) or Apple Silicon.


Hope this helps.

Oct 7, 2023 10:41 PM in response to inspiredmac

When you buy a new Mac the easiest, quickest and most reliable method to migrate from the old Mac to the new Mac is to simply connect the old Mac's Time Machine External Hard Disk to the new Mac using a USB cable before you turn on the new Mac. You will likely need a USB A to USB C adapter, you can find them on Amazon for $10 or less. When you start the new Mac for the first time it will startup Setup Assistant (SA), SA will get to a point where it asks if you are migrating from another computer, select Yes  and follow the on-screen prompts and it's done! It is THAT simple.

 

If you have already done SA on the new computer then simply connect the Time Machine External Hard Disk using a USB cable and launch Migration Assistant (MA) which is located in Applications - Utilities - MA. Then follow the on-screen prompts. 

 

The ONLY difference between MA and SA is MA will create a new user account that you need to log into.

 

Both SA and MA migrate applications (not 32 bit apps), data files & settings. They do not migrate Mac OS itself. Some professional apps such as Adobe and Microsoft apps may require re-installing their apps as they will not allow them to be migrated. As long as you kept the security keys for installing their apps, it is not an issue. 

 

Finally, never EVER use Wi-Fi when doing Setup Assistant or Migration Assistant. Why, it simply fails in most cases. Please read and follow the directions in Setup Assistant and Migration Assistant. If you do not have a Time Machine backup of the older Mac then create one! If you are not aware of Time Machine, please read Back up your Mac with Time Machine and finally if you need an External Hard Disk to use as a Time Machine External Hard Disk then many experience users on these forums prefer the OWC Mercury Elite Pro due to it's reasonable price, high level of quality and ease of use. 


Oct 8, 2023 7:53 PM in response to rkaufmann87

If the old Mac isn't damaged, why can't the files be migrated directly from the old computer to the new computer? Why is it necessary to migrate from a Time Machine copy stored on an external drive? I do have my computer backed up to an external drive via 3rd party software, so my data isn't at risk. When you say using the SA won't require me to creatre a new account, do you mean that the account I had on my old computer will transfer to the new mac?

Thanks.

Oct 8, 2023 11:01 PM in response to inspiredmac

Simple because that method is not the most reliable method, sometimes it fails. Use your Time Machine backup and it won't fail, the only time Time Machine will fail is if the External Hard Disk is in bad shape itself.


Are you operating the old Mac without backing it up using Time Machine? If you are that is a HUGE and I mean HUGE mistake and a 100% guarantee of losing data.

Migrating Older Software

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