How to Clone macOS to a New Mac

This post will explore can you clone macOS to a new Mac directly and how to achieve this goal with step-by-step instructions.

Cloning your macOS to a new Mac ensures a seamless transition of your operating system, applications, settings, and files. This process is ideal for upgrading hardware, creating backups, or migrating data. Below, we explore three reliable methods: built-in tools like Migration Assistant, EaseUS Partition Master for Mac, and Disk Utility, with detailed preparations, steps, and insights. EaseUS will offer a detailed guide on migrating macOS from an old Mac to a new Mac.

Way 1. Clone macOS to New Mac via Apple Migration Assistant

Mac Migration Assistant is a powerful, built-in utility on macOS designed to simplify the process of transferring data from one Mac to another, or even from a Windows PC or Time Machine backup. This tool helps users migrate their user accounts, documents, applications, and settings to a new device, ensuring a seamless transition without the need for manual setup.

#1. Preparation for Cloning:

✅Choose the Proper Destination Drive: Use an external SSD or HDD with sufficient storage (ideally larger than your current macOS drive). For internal upgrades (e.g., replacing an old HDD with an SSD), ensure the new drive is compatible with your Mac model.

✅Format the Destination Drive

• Connect the drive to your Mac.
• Open Disk Utility (via Spotlight or Applications > Utilities).
• Select the external drive, click Erase, and choose: APFS (for macOS 10.13 or later). macOS Extended (Journaled) (for older systems).
• Name the drive (e.g., "MacOS_Clone") and confirm.

✅Backup Critical Data: While cloning is non-destructive to the source drive, ensure important files are backed up separately to avoid accidental loss.

#2. Detailed Steps:

Step 1. Connect both Macs to the same Wi-Fi network or via a Thunderbolt/USB-C cable. Ensure both are charged or plugged in.

Step 2. On the new Mac, navigate to "Finder" > "Applications" > "Utilities" > "Migration Assistant." Select From a Mac and click "Continue."

Step 3. On the old Mac, open Migration Assistant, choose "To another Mac," and click "Continue." A verification code will appear on both screens. Confirm they match.

Step 4. Choose "Users" > "Applications" > "Settings" > "Files." Exclude outdated apps (especially Intel-based ones on Apple Silicon Macs).

Step 5. Wait for the process to finish (may take hours for large datasets). The new Mac will restart automatically.

Way 2. Clone macOS Using EaseUS Partition Master For Mac

EaseUS Partition Master for Mac is designed to simplify the complex workflow of macOS cloning. It offers a range of features that enhance the Mac experience, including disk cloning, which is particularly useful for cloning macOS to a new Mac. By using EaseUS Partition Master for Mac, you can efficiently clone your macOS system to a new Mac, ensuring all your data and settings are transferred accurately and securely.

Step 1. Install and connect another new disk to Mac computer, run EaseUS Partition Master for Mac, then, click "Clone" under the Abilities section. Click the "+" icon to browse and locate the macOS disk and target new disk.

Step 2. Select the Source and the Destination disk and click "Select" to confirm.

Step 3. Confirm if you've selected the correct macOS OS disk and the new target disk you'd like to clone and upgrade the macOS disk to. Then, click "Start" and click "Yes" to confirm if EaseUS Partition Master for Mac requests you to confirm the operation.

Step 4. Wait patiently and let EaseUS Partition Master for Mac to complete cloning the old macOS disk to the new target disk.  

This powerful software eliminates the complicated process of cloning a macOS or Mac hard drive. Check the related topics to learn more:

Way 3. Clone macOS to a New Mac via Disk Utility

Disk Utility is a free, built-in macOS tool that can clone your system drive to an external hard drive or a new Mac. This utility provides a straightforward feature, "Restore", to help Mac users copy macOS to another Mac. Here's a detailed overview of how to use Disk Utility for cloning macOS:

Stage 1. Prepare the External Hard Drive

Step 1. Connect an external drive (SSD recommended) to your Mac.

Step 2. Open Disk Utility by going to "Finder" > "Applications" > "Utilities."

Step 3. Select the external drive from the sidebar. Click the "Erase" tab.

Step 4. Choose APFS or macOS Extended (Journaled) as the format. Click "Erase" and then "Done" once completed.

Stage 2. Clone macOS System

Step 1. In Disk Utility, choose the external drive you just formatted.

Step 2. Click the "Restore" tab.

Step 3. Drag your system disk (usually named Macintosh HD) to the Restore from field.

Step 4. Drag the external drive to the Destination field.

Step 5. Click Restore to begin the cloning process.

Step 6. Wait until the cloning is finished, then click Done.

Stage 3. Boot New Mac from the Bootable Drive

To make the cloned drive bootable, you need to boot from it:

• Hold the Option key during startup.
• Use the arrow keys to select the cloned external drive.
• Press Return to boot from the cloned drive.

Time to try a new way of cloning macOS from your old Mac to the new one. Don't forget to share this post with more users:

Conclusion

Cloning macOS to a new Mac safeguards your data and streamlines system migration. For beginners, EaseUS Partition Master offers simplicity and flexibility. Advanced users may prefer Disk Utility for its native integration, while Migration Assistant suits selective data transfers. Always verify clones by booting from them and keep multiple backups for critical systems. For a full system clone, EaseUS is more reliable. For selective data transfer, Migration Assistant can get you covered.

FAQs of How to Clone macOS to a New Mac

1. Can I copy macOS from one Mac to another?

Yes, you can copy macOS from one Mac to another using several methods:

• Disk Cloning Software: Tools like EaseUS Partition Master for Mac or Carbon Copy Cloner can create a bootable clone of your macOS system on an external drive, which can then be restored to a new Mac.
• Migration Assistant: While not a direct clone, Migration Assistant transfers user data, apps, and settings from one Mac to another. However, it doesn't create a bootable clone.
• Time Machine Backup: You can create a Time Machine backup and use Migration Assistant to restore it on a new Mac, though this won't be bootable without additional steps.

2. How do I transfer everything from my old Mac to a new Mac?

By using Migration Assistant, you can transfer everything from your old Mac to your new Mac. Refer to the step-by-step tutorial in this post.

3. How long does Mac migration take?

The time it takes to migrate data from one Mac to another varies based on the method and data volume. In general, migrations can range from a few hours for smaller datasets to over 30 hours for large ones (e.g., 800 GB via USB 3.0).