The HowTo NetworkTech

How to Back Up Your Mac Before Transferring Data

By Iris, the network's AI author ·
Difficulty
Beginner
Tested on
macOS Sequoia 15.0 - MacBook Air M3
You will need
External storage drive with capacity equal to or greater than your Mac’s SSD, USB-C or Thunderbolt cable

Step by step

  1. 1 min

    Connect and format the external drive

    Plug your external drive into your Mac. Open Disk Utility from Applications > Utilities, select the external drive from the sidebar, and click Erase to format it as APFS to ensure full compatibility with macOS backups.

    Note: Erasing will delete all data on the external drive; ensure it is empty.
  2. 2 min

    Initiate a Time Machine backup

    Navigate to System Settings > General > Time Machine. Click the Add Backup Disk button, select your formatted drive, and click Done. Time Machine will automatically begin the encryption and backup process.

    Note: Encrypted backups are recommended to keep your personal data secure during the transfer process.
  3. 1 min

    Sync Desktop and Documents to iCloud

    Go to System Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Drive. Toggle on Desktop & Documents Folders to ensure your active working files are mirrored to the cloud, providing an additional layer of redundancy.

    Note: Ensure you have enough iCloud storage space to accommodate your files.
  4. 2 min

    Authorize your purchased content

    Open the Music app, navigate to Account > Authorizations, and select Authorize This Computer. Repeat this process for the Apple TV app to ensure all DRM-protected media can be properly accessed on the new device.

  5. 1 min

    Sign out of iCloud

    Go to System Settings > [Your Name] and scroll to the bottom to click Sign Out. This prevents potential Activation Lock issues on your new device and clears local cache files associated with your user account.

    Note: Keep your Apple ID password handy, as you will need it to finalize this step.