{"id":"comparisons.storage-studio-vs-migration-assistant","url":"/faq/comparisons/storage-studio-vs-migration-assistant","category":{"id":"comparisons","title":"Comparisons & alternatives"},"subcategory":{"id":"backup-and-cloning","title":"Backup and cloning tools"},"question":"Can Storage Studio move my data to a new Mac like Migration Assistant does?","alt_questions":["storage studio migration to new mac","use storage studio to transfer to a new macbook","migration assistant vs storage studio","new mac what do I do with storage studio moved folders","set up new mac with storage studio"],"short_answer":"No. Use Migration Assistant to move to a new Mac. Move back anything you've relocated to the external drive first, then migrate, then set Storage Studio up again on the new Mac.","answer_markdown":"No — use Apple's **Migration Assistant** to move your account, apps and settings to a new Mac. Storage Studio isn't a migration tool.\n\nWhat deserves a moment of planning is anything you've **moved** to your external drive, because on your old Mac those folders are links pointing at the drive. The simplest, safest route is:\n\n1. On the old Mac, move back what you want on the new Mac's internal drive — from the Storage Inspector's **Relocated** panel or the Apps window's **Moved** tab.\n2. Run Migration Assistant.\n3. Install Storage Studio on the new Mac and move things out again as needed.\n\nIf you're retiring the old Mac, the **Uninstall** wizard can also bring every relocated folder back for you. See [Getting started](/faq/getting-started/).","answer_html":"

No — use Apple's Migration Assistant to move your account, apps and settings to a new Mac. Storage Studio isn't a migration tool.

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What deserves a moment of planning is anything you've moved to your external drive, because on your old Mac those folders are links pointing at the drive. The simplest, safest route is:

\n
  1. On the old Mac, move back what you want on the new Mac's internal drive — from the Storage Inspector's Relocated panel or the Apps window's Moved tab.
  2. Run Migration Assistant.
  3. Install Storage Studio on the new Mac and move things out again as needed.
\n

If you're retiring the old Mac, the Uninstall wizard can also bring every relocated folder back for you. See Getting started.

","answer_text":"No — use Apple's Migration Assistant to move your account, apps and settings to a new Mac. Storage Studio isn't a migration tool.\n\nWhat deserves a moment of planning is anything you've moved to your external drive, because on your old Mac those folders are links pointing at the drive. The simplest, safest route is:\n\n1. On the old Mac, move back what you want on the new Mac's internal drive — from the Storage Inspector's Relocated panel or the Apps window's Moved tab.\n2. Run Migration Assistant.\n3. Install Storage Studio on the new Mac and move things out again as needed.\n\nIf you're retiring the old Mac, the Uninstall wizard can also bring every relocated folder back for you. See Getting started.","tags":["new mac","migration assistant","move back"],"related":[{"id":"comparisons.cloning-apps-vs-storage-studio","question":"Is Storage Studio a cloning tool like Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper!?","url":"/faq/comparisons/cloning-apps-vs-storage-studio"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"Can Storage Studio move my data to a new Mac like Migration Assistant does? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"No. Use Migration Assistant to move to a new Mac. Move back anything you've relocated to the external drive first, then migrate, then set Storage Studio up again on the new Mac.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Comparisons & alternatives","path":"/faq/comparisons/"},{"name":"Can Storage Studio move my data to a new Mac like Migration Assistant does?","path":"/faq/comparisons/storage-studio-vs-migration-assistant"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/comparisons/storage-studio-vs-migration-assistant","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Can Storage Studio move my data to a new Mac like Migration Assistant does?","alternateName":["storage studio migration to new mac","use storage studio to transfer to a new macbook","migration assistant vs storage studio","new mac what do I do with storage studio moved folders","set up new mac with storage studio"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"No — use Apple's Migration Assistant to move your account, apps and settings to a new Mac. Storage Studio isn't a migration tool.\n\nWhat deserves a moment of planning is anything you've moved to your external drive, because on your old Mac those folders are links pointing at the drive. The simplest, safest route is:\n\n1. On the old Mac, move back what you want on the new Mac's internal drive — from the Storage Inspector's Relocated panel or the Apps window's Moved tab.\n2. Run Migration Assistant.\n3. Install Storage Studio on the new Mac and move things out again as needed.\n\nIf you're retiring the old Mac, the Uninstall wizard can also bring every relocated folder back for you. See Getting started.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/comparisons/storage-studio-vs-migration-assistant"}}]},"fragment":"
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Comparisons & alternatives · Backup and cloning tools

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Can Storage Studio move my data to a new Mac like Migration Assistant does?

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Short answer: No. Use Migration Assistant to move to a new Mac. Move back anything you've relocated to the external drive first, then migrate, then set Storage Studio up again on the new Mac.

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No — use Apple's Migration Assistant to move your account, apps and settings to a new Mac. Storage Studio isn't a migration tool.

\n

What deserves a moment of planning is anything you've moved to your external drive, because on your old Mac those folders are links pointing at the drive. The simplest, safest route is:

\n
  1. On the old Mac, move back what you want on the new Mac's internal drive — from the Storage Inspector's Relocated panel or the Apps window's Moved tab.
  2. Run Migration Assistant.
  3. Install Storage Studio on the new Mac and move things out again as needed.
\n

If you're retiring the old Mac, the Uninstall wizard can also bring every relocated folder back for you. See Getting started.

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Last reviewed

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Related questions

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