Migration Assistant stuck on “starting up”? What to check

You’ve unboxed a new Mac, opened Migration Assistant to bring everything over from the old one, and now it just sits there. The window says it’s starting up, or it’s still “calculating” or “looking for” your information, and the progress bar hasn’t moved in what feels like forever. It’s one of the more common Mac questions I get around Midland and Penetanguishene, and people keep finding this site by searching for exactly that.

I’m Brent, and at TechBrent I help people move to new Macs, PCs and phones. Here’s what I check, in order, when Migration Assistant seems stuck. Everything below follows Apple’s own instructions, and I’ve linked those pages so you can read them yourself.

First, it may not actually be stuck

Before you click anything, give it time. Apple says Migration Assistant first works out how much storage space all of your information uses (apps, user accounts, files, folders and settings) and that you should wait for that calculation to finish. Apple also says large transfers might need hours to complete and might seem to pause now and then (Apple Support: Transfer to a new Mac with Migration Assistant).

If your old Mac has years of photos on it, a slow start is normal. My rule of thumb: if nothing at all has changed for a long stretch, and both Macs are awake and on power, it’s time to work through the list below. If the numbers are still creeping along, leave it alone. Cancelling a transfer that’s working only means starting over.

Check the basics on both Macs

Most stalls I see come down to something Apple lists in its “get ready” steps. Cancel the transfer, then check each of these on both computers:

1. Update macOS. Apple says to make sure macOS is up to date on each Mac. They don’t need to be on the same version, but each should have its available updates installed.
2. Turn on Wi-Fi and keep them close. For a wireless transfer, both Macs need Wi-Fi turned on and should sit near each other. If either Mac is running OS X El Capitan or earlier, or you’re not sure, Apple says to connect both to the same Wi-Fi network as well.
3. Turn off antivirus, firewall and VPN software. Apple’s advice is to turn these off on either Mac until the transfer is done. Security software is a common reason the two Macs can’t talk to each other properly.
4. Plug in laptops. Apple’s Mac User Guide says to connect a laptop to power before you begin (Apple Support: Transfer your information to Mac from another computer or device). A MacBook that goes to sleep halfway through can look exactly like a stuck transfer.

Start it again, in the right order

Once those are sorted, quit Migration Assistant on both Macs and start fresh, following Apple’s order:

1. On the new Mac, open Migration Assistant (it’s in the Utilities folder inside Applications, or use Spotlight). If the new Mac is still in its first-time setup, migration is part of that setup instead. Choose to transfer from a Mac, Time Machine backup or startup disk.
2. On the old Mac, open Migration Assistant and choose to transfer to another Mac.
3. Back on the new Mac, select the old Mac’s icon and click Continue.
4. If a security code appears, check that it matches on both screens, then click Continue on the old Mac.

On recent versions of macOS you can also open it from System Settings: General, then Transfer or Reset, then Open Migration Assistant.

Move less at once

After it finishes calculating, Migration Assistant shows checkboxes for each category, and Apple notes you can click the arrow beside a category to pick specific items inside it. If the transfer keeps stalling, try a smaller first pass, for example your user account and documents without all of your applications, then bring the rest over afterwards. Apple also notes that incompatible apps, or apps that already have newer versions on the new Mac, may not transfer or may not be usable anyway, so leaving some apps behind often costs you nothing.

Use a Time Machine backup instead

If the two Macs just won’t cooperate, Apple says Migration Assistant can transfer from a Time Machine backup of your old Mac instead. If you already keep a Time Machine drive, plug it into the new Mac and choose it as the source. If you don’t have a backup yet, this is a good reason to start one. My post on checking that your backups actually work walks through a quick test.

A few things that catch people out

• Passwords. When you transfer an administrator account, Apple says you’ll be asked to set a password, and you need it to log in on the new Mac. For a standard account, a temporary password appears on screen. Write it down.
• Same account name. If the new Mac already has an account with the same name, you’ll be asked to replace it or rename the old one. Read that screen carefully before you choose.
• Your old Mac is safe. Apple says Migration Assistant doesn’t delete anything from your old Mac. Even if a transfer fails, your files are still there.

When to ask for help

If you’ve been through all of this and it still won’t budge, or you’d rather not spend your evening watching a progress bar, I can help. I work on Macs as well as PCs for people in Midland, Penetanguishene and the surrounding area, remotely or at your home, by appointment. See my Mac help page for what I cover. I’m not an Apple repair shop, so if the problem turns out to be hardware, I’ll tell you and point you to Apple or an authorized provider.

Stuck partway through a move to a new Mac? Send me a note through the contact page and tell me what the screen says.

Frequently asked questions

How long should Migration Assistant take?

It depends on how much you are moving. Apple says large transfers might need hours to complete and might seem to pause occasionally, so give it time before cancelling.

Will Migration Assistant delete anything from my old Mac?

No. Apple says Migration Assistant does not delete information from your old Mac or replace macOS on your new Mac.

Do both Macs need the same version of macOS?

No. Apple says each Mac should be up to date, but they do not need to be on the same version of macOS.