Should I use Migration Assistant and how much?

There's no right answer. This is deeply situational.

Migrating is easy and quick, and usually works fine.

It also migrates older apps you may no longer need or want, or that might have or introduce issues on newer versions. If you have a pile of Intel-only apps, they'll migrate and will work prior to macOS 27, and will need to be replaced or retired then.

If you had add-on cleaner apps, add-on firewalls or network-monitoring apps, add-on anti-malware apps, apps akin to the "haxies" of old tied that are into or modifying the internal details of macOS, or similar system-level whatnot, I'd consider migrating files and documents and settings, and not migrating apps.

If you had the typical user apps, I'd migrate.

If you want a clean start, don't migrate.

One Size does Not fit All 

If the new computer is going to be the Apple Silicon  Computer - would suggest Only Migrating the User Account and nothing more.

Some have had success and usually they are well seasoned veterans who are well versed in trouble shooting 

Others have been left with a mess when Migrating everything.

 Issues that may have existed on the older computer will be migrated to the New Computer.

This would badly pollute the new Original and Pristine installation of the new OS.

Applications, extensions and Software Drivers may or may not even work on the new computer.

IMHO - it would be best to only install new application etc Directly from the Developer or the Apple Apps Store.

Due Diligence on New Applications and make sure they are Tahoe compatible and factor in the ARMs CPU of the Apple Silicon Computer  

https://eclecticlight.co/2024/11/15/should-you-migrate-to-your-new-mac-and-when/

For the past 3 or 4 Macs, I have just used Migration Assistant to move everything. This includes moving from my last Intel Mac to my M1 Max MacBook Pro 16?

I gave up the last time I tried to just move over select stuff manually. I just had lots of problems getting it just right. I tried multiple times, and it never resulted in a Mac setup the way I wanted.

I will point out a few things.

A) I've been using Macs since 1988

B) I actually make my living working on a kernel level Linux file system. And before that a UNIX kernel level file system.

So I actually have a clue, and it frustrated me too much doing a manual transfer.

My opinion, just allow Migration Assistant move everything from your previous Mac to your new Mac, and get on with your life.

Personally I use Migration Assistant to move my User account to the new machine - which is all my data. Then I install new copies of my apps from source, which means I get the latest versions of those.

The MBAir I’m typing this on was migrated from a computer that was migrated from a computer…all the way back to when Migration Assistant first became available. I’ve always prepped my notebooks the same way: 1) Make sure all my software is up to date. 2) make sure that all my software is compatible with the new hardware (this has mostly been a nonissue for my notebooks). 3) backup the notebook and then back up to my second backup drive. 4) Migrate. following this procedure I’ve experienced no failures.

I used Migration Assistant to migrate everything from my 2017 iMac running Ventura to a 2024 Mini Mr running Sequoia. Had no problem. All apps that ran on Ventura ran on Sequoia. Without MA I would have had to reinstall some software and activate with a code. I did save all of the activation codes but it would have been a real hassle to get them out and reactivate.

You can go to RoaringApps.com and check if there are any problems with our 3rd party apps and Tahoe.

Your old Mac will have loads of crud and if Migration Assistant does its job it will move everything including the garbage to your new machine, which is not a good way to treat anything new.

You do not have to migrate everything immediately and it is far safer to move things manually.

Start with the essentials like Mail and Safari followed by the apps you use regularly. The rest of your documents, photos and videos can follow later,

Take this opportunity to do some "spring-cleaning" and rid yourself of any superfluous items that have been cluttering your old machine.

JayElDee2 wrote:

A question...when y'all say "user files" what exactly is meant by that? Is it the internal drive...users? IE, the folder tht contains "Applications...Users...Library...system?"

User files are files located within the /Users area.

Here is an overview: File System Basics (scroll down to ”About the macOS File System“ section.)

Outside of /Users and such (and well outside of what you need to deal with for the migration), some details have changed and things are a little more complex. The signed security volume isn’t reflected in that “file system basics” diagram, for instance:

Signed system volume security - Apple Support

Don't browsers store passwords and usernames for visited websites, so migrating that over is not necessary once I sign in to the browser? I use Firefox for my main browser, and less often Safari.

Safari and most Apple and third-party tools use Keychain. Keychain can be kept and managed locally, or can be configured to use iCloud Keychain and shared across the Apple Account. If you have more than one Apple device, iCloud Keychain can be handy.

Set up iCloud Keychain - Apple Support

Firefox does its own thing, but Apple has an add-on:

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/icloud-passwords/

PS: Whitespace in text helps with readability.

JayElDee2 wrote:

@MrHoffman

>>PS: Whitespace in text helps with readability.<<

huh? Is my text not easily readable?

Thanks

it was not the first read-through where I noticed the question. As an example of it, here my previous reply text, with no whitespace.

User files are files located within the /Users area.Here is an overview: File System Basics (scroll down to ”About the macOS File System“ section.) Outside of /Users and such (and well outside of what you need to deal with for the migration), some details have changed and things are a little more complex. The signed security volume isn’t reflected in that “file system basics” diagram, for instance: Signed system volume security - Apple Support

Safari and most Apple and third-party tools use Keychain. Keychain can be kept and managed locally, or can be configured to use iCloud Keychain and shared across the Apple Account. If you have more than one Apple device, iCloud Keychain can be handy. Set up iCloud Keychain - Apple Support

Firefox does its own thing, but Apple has an add-on: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/icloud-passwords/

PS: Whitespace in text helps with readability.