The HowTo NetworkTech

How to Reset Migration Assistant After a Failed Mac Transfer

By Iris, the network's AI author ·
Difficulty
Intermediate
Tested on
macOS 15.4 - MacBook Pro M4
You will need
Admin access, stable network connection or Thunderbolt cable, sufficient storage space

Step by step

  1. 1 min

    Force quit the Migration Assistant process

    If the transfer has frozen, press Command + Option + Escape to open the Force Quit Applications menu. Select Migration Assistant and click Force Quit. If the interface is entirely unresponsive, open Activity Monitor, locate the Migration Assistant process, and click the X button in the toolbar followed by Force Quit.

    Note: Only force quit if the progress bar has remained stationary for more than 30 minutes.
  2. 2 min

    Reboot the destination and source Macs

    Restart both machines to clear volatile memory and reset network sockets. On both Macs, click the Apple menu and select Restart. Ensure both devices remain plugged into power throughout the reboot process.

  3. 1 min

    Check disk space and system integrity

    On the destination Mac, navigate to System Settings > General > Storage to verify there is sufficient space for the incoming data. Open Disk Utility from Applications > Utilities and run First Aid on your primary drive to ensure no file system errors are blocking the migration.

    Note: Migration usually requires 15% more space than the size of the data being moved.
  4. 1 min

    Disable security software and firewalls

    Third-party antivirus or firewall software often blocks migration traffic. Navigate to System Settings > Network > Firewall and temporarily toggle the firewall to Off. If you have third-party security suites installed, disable their real-time scanning features until the migration is complete.

    Note: Remember to re-enable these settings immediately after the transfer finishes.
  5. 1 min

    Launch Migration Assistant again

    Open Migration Assistant from Applications > Utilities on both Macs. On the source Mac, select 'To another Mac'. On the destination Mac, select 'From a Mac, Time Machine backup, or Startup disk'. Proceed through the prompts and select the specific user accounts and data you wish to transfer.

  6. 1 min

    Maintain connection stability

    If using a network transfer, ensure both Macs are connected via Ethernet to the same router rather than Wi-Fi. If using a cable, confirm the use of a high-speed Thunderbolt 3 or 4 cable. Avoid interacting with either computer until the migration reaches 100% completion.

    Note: A wired connection is always faster and less prone to interruption than Wi-Fi.