macOS comes with two tools designed to move your data: Time Machine and Migration Assistant. Time Machine provides backups of your data and files, while Migration Assistant is used to restore that data or transfer it to another Mac.
Although this system is designed to provide a seamless experience to transfer your data, carrying out a Migration of data from an older device or outdated system can cause various issues which can have an impact on performance on your new Mac.
Potential Issues
Based on our experience, we’ve identified a range of common issues that can arise when migrating data from a Time Machine backup. We’ve outlined these below, so if you’re noticing problems after a migration, there’s a good chance your Time Machine backup is the culprit for these issues.
- Slowness: You might encounter a rainbow spinning wheel, slowness when moving windows around on your desktop, internet connection issues and/or general slowness when using your device.
- Applications: Software or Applications may not open and/or show errors when in use. If you've got legacy or outdated software then this may not be compatible with your new system. For example, intel-based applications may not work correctly with Apple silicon.
- Permissions: You might have issues opening files, folders or software.
- iCloud or login issues: You might have trouble logging into your iCloud or even when you try entering your login password when you switch on your device.
Allow for System Adjustments
When setting up a new Mac, there are two common reasons it may feel sluggish. Fortunately, both are temporary, so it’s best to give your device some time to complete its setup after a migration.
Drive Indexing: When you first set up a Mac, the drive indexes your files and folders so Spotlight can work properly. This process can be demanding on the system and may take some time, especially if you have a large number of files. Even a brand-new Mac set up without a Time Machine migration will go through this indexing process.
iCloud Synchronisation: If you’ve signed into iCloud on your new Mac, the system will run background processes to download, organise, and optimise your iCloud documents. Depending on the amount of data in your iCloud, this can take some time and may cause your Mac to feel temporarily sluggish until the process is complete.
💡Tip: You can keep an eye on the background processes by using Activity Monitor. We provide a guide on how to use Activity Monitor linked here.
Update macOS
If you’ve already given your Mac time to complete its initial setup and it still feels sluggish, the next step is to update macOS. Updating can often resolve performance issues. You can follow our step-by-step guide here to update your device.
Update Applications
If you’ve migrated from an older device, it likely has an older operating system and outdated versions of your software or applications. This can cause compatibility issues on your new Mac. We recommend updating your apps, to do this:
- Click on App Store, at the bottom in your Dock.
- Select Updates.
- Install all Updates for your applications.
💡Tip: If you’ve installed third-party applications outside of the App Store, you can usually download the latest updates directly from the developer’s website.
Update Applications
If you’ve migrated from an older device, it likely has an older operating system and outdated versions of your software or applications. This can cause compatibility issues on your new Mac. We recommend updating your apps. To do this:
- Click on App Store in your Dock.
- Select Updates.
- Install all available updates for your applications.
💡Tip: If you’ve installed third-party applications outside of the App Store, you can usually download the latest updates directly from the developer’s website.
Uninstall and Reinstall Applications
If compatibility is confirmed and the application is up to date, the next step is a clean reinstall. Occasionally, software can become corrupted during migration or transfer. A fresh install often resolves these issues.
Uninstall:
- Open Finder and go to the Applications folder.
- Locate the application you want to remove.
- Drag it into the Bin.
- Empty the Bin.
Reinstall:
- Visit the App Store or the application developer’s official website.
- Download the latest version.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to install a fresh copy.
Erase and Reinstall macOS
If issues persist, you may need to erase your Mac and reinstall macOS. This will give you a completely fresh start.
⚠️ Important: This process will erase all data on your device. Be sure you have a working backup before proceeding.
- Open System Settings.
- Click General.
- Select Transfer or Reset.
- Click Erase all Content and Settings
- Follow the on-screen prompts to erase your device and reinstall macOS.
If your Mac is still running slowly after a clean reinstall, it may point to a hardware issue that requires professional attention.
