Use Apple’s Migration Assistant to copy supported files and personal information from your Windows PC to your MacBook Air. You can run it during the Mac’s first setup or later. It does not turn installed Windows programs into Mac apps, so plan to install Mac-compatible versions separately.
What Migration Assistant transfers—and what it does not
Apple’s Windows-to-Mac migration can bring over supported personal data and some settings. Depending on the source apps and operating-system versions, categories may include email and settings, contacts, calendar appointments, eligible Outlook tasks, music, podcasts, audiobooks, movies and TV shows, browser homepages and bookmarks, documents, and other files in your Windows home folder. Some photos are placed in your home folder for manual import or can be found with Photos search. Selected desktop picture, language, and location settings may also transfer. With PC administrator access, some non-system files on available disks may go to a Shared folder. See Apple’s current list of Windows-to-Mac transfer categories and check the items shown during migration.
Installed Windows applications are not listed as runnable Mac apps in Apple’s transfer scope. Treat apps as a separate task: check whether each one has a macOS edition, then download or reinstall that edition on the Mac. Apple also says Windows network settings and passwords do not transfer, so expect to reconnect to networks and sign in to accounts as needed. Apple’s Mac migration guide describes what information is and is not transferred.
Before you start
- Check the macOS version and choose the matching Windows utility. Apple’s current PC-to-Mac page lists Windows Migration Assistant 3.2.0.0 for Windows 10 or later moving to macOS 27, macOS Tahoe 26, Sequoia 15, or Sonoma 14; version 2.4.5.0 for Windows 7 or later moving to Ventura 13 or Monterey 12; and version 2.3.1.0 for Windows 7 or later moving to Big Sur 11. These are Apple’s listed combinations, not a guarantee that every PC or Mac setup is supported. Versions and compatibility change, so verify the current instructions and download the correct utility from Apple’s Windows-to-Mac Migration Assistant page.
- Update both computers. Apple recommends current software and matching the Windows Migration Assistant to the Mac’s macOS.
- Keep both computers nearby and quit open Windows apps. Apple’s PC migration steps call for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to be on. For some older setups, or if wireless migration is not working, Apple also describes using the same network or a direct Ethernet connection.
- Temporarily turn off antivirus, firewall, or VPN software if installed. Apple includes this in its preparation guidance; turn security software back on when migration is finished.
- Allow plenty of time. Apple warns that large transfers can take hours and may appear to pause. The time depends on the amount of data and the computers and connection involved; there is no dependable universal duration.
How to transfer during first-time Mac setup
- Start the MacBook Air’s Setup Assistant and choose the option to transfer information from a Windows PC when prompted.
- Follow the on-screen instructions on both computers. Apple’s MacBook Air migration guide covers transferring from a PC during setup.
How to move files after setting up the Mac
- On the MacBook Air, open Apple menu > System Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Open Migration Assistant. Choose From a Windows PC and continue.
- On the PC, open the Windows Migration Assistant version that matches the Mac’s macOS. Follow its prompts.
- When the Mac displays a code, enter it in Migration Assistant on the PC to confirm the computers are connecting.
- Let the Mac scan the PC. Select the categories or individual items you want to bring over, then start the transfer.
- If you need data from more than one Windows user account, sign in to each account on the PC and repeat the migration for it, as Apple instructs.
For the exact screens and PC utility versions, consult Apple’s step-by-step PC migration instructions. The wording or placement of Setup Assistant prompts can vary with the macOS version.
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What to check once the transfer finishes
- Open important documents and confirm that key folders and photos are present. Photos may need manual importing into Photos.
- Open the destination apps—such as Mail, Contacts, Calendar, Music, Podcasts, Books, TV, and Safari—and check the transferred content.
- Sign in to mail, cloud, and other accounts, and reconnect to Wi-Fi or other networks because Windows network settings and passwords are not transferred.
- For every Windows program you still need, find and install a Mac-compatible edition separately. Confirm that it supports your macOS version before relying on it.
- Keep the PC and an independent backup until you have checked the Mac. Apple says Migration Assistant copies information; it does not delete information from the PC or replace macOS.
If Migration Assistant cannot complete the transfer
- Recheck that both computers meet Apple’s preparation instructions, that the correct Windows Migration Assistant is installed, and that the connection requirements are satisfied.
- If the PC may have disk errors, Apple recommends running Windows’
chkdskutility to check for problems that could prevent migration. - If the migration still fails, copy the important files manually using an external storage device or file sharing. An external SSD is one possible storage device, not a requirement for Migration Assistant.
Apple outlines these checks and fallback options in its PC-to-Mac troubleshooting guidance.
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