If you are buying a new computer and decide to move from PC to Mac or if you have both types in your home network or at work, you may be wondering how to transfer files from PC to Mac. Follow this guide to learn several easy methods that will allow you to transfer the data.
Steps
Method 1 of 5: Use the Windows Migration Assistant
Step 1. Download Windows Migration Assistant on your Windows PC
This program runs on both Windows and Mac computers and transfers files and settings to the Mac. During this process, a new user will be created on the Mac computer, and all information will be transferred to the new user.
- Apart from all the methods listed here, this is the only one that will transfer personal information such as bookmarks, calendar information, contacts and preferences.
- Mac is sold with the assistant already installed.
- The program can be downloaded directly from the Apple website. Once downloaded, run the program to install it. After installation, the Migration Assistant will open automatically.
Step 2. Disable the other programs
To ensure that the transfer goes smoothly, disable any antivirus and firewall software on your PC.
Step 3. Get the administrator password
Depending on what you are moving and where, you may need administrator information for both your PC and Mac.
Step 4. Connect the computers
For Windows Migration Assistant to work, both computers must be on the same network. The most stable way to do this is to connect both computers directly with a CAT6 Ethernet cable. Both computers can also be connected to a home network through a router. You can also connect them wirelessly, but this is not recommended due to the amount of data that can be transferred and the potential for disconnection.
Step 5. Run the Migration Assistant
Once you have it open on Windows, click Continue to begin searching for the Mac. On the Mac, open the Migration Assistant in the Utilities folder. Open Finder, then click Go -> Utilities. Double-click on the Migration Assistant.
Select "From another Mac, PC, Time Machine backup or other disk", then click Continue. After entering the administrator password, select "From another Mac or PC" and click Continue
Step 6. Close other programs
The Mac Assistant will ask for permission to close other running programs. It will not work properly with other open programs.
Step 7. Select your PC
In the Mac Assistant, select your PC from the list and wait for the passcode to appear. You should see the same passcode on your Mac and PC screen. Once you have verified that they are showing the same code, click Continue in the PC Assistant.
Step 8. Select the information you want to move
After your Mac has scanned the PC for data, a list will appear showing you the data that can be transferred. You can select and deselect the data you prefer to transfer. Once you are satisfied, click Continue on the Mac. The transfer process will begin and a window will show the progress.
Step 9. Log into your new account
Once the transfer is complete, you will be able to log into your newly created account and adjust the settings. You will be prompted to enter a new password when you log into your new account for the first time.
Method 2 of 5: Sharing Folders Using a Direct Connection
Step 1. Set up the folders you want to share
Browse to find the folders you want to transfer to your Mac. When you've found one, right-click on it and select Properties from the menu. In the Properties window, choose the Sharing tab
Step 2. Click Advanced Sharing to open its dialog box
Check the "Share this folder" box. You can rename the folder to make it appear differently when opened on your Mac.
Step 3. Connect the computers
Take a CAT6 Ethernet cable and connect one end to the Mac and the other to the PC. Make sure the cable is connected to the Ethernet port.
Step 4. Find your PC's IP address
Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog. Enter "cmd" in the field and press ENTER. The command prompt will open. Type "ipconfig" and press ENTER to view the PC network information. Look for the IP or IPv4 address; will consist of 4 groups of digits separated by ".". For example: 192.168.1.5
Step 5. Open the server connection on your Mac. Open Finder, then click Go in the menu bar. Select Connect to Server. A dialog box will open, asking for the server address. In the field, type "smb: / /" followed by the IP address for the PC. Using the above example, the entry would look like "smb: //192.168.1.5". Press Connect.
Step 6. Enter your login information
To connect to it, you may need to enter the username and password for your PC. The server will appear on your desktop and you will be able to browse and copy all the files you have shared.
Method 3 of 5: Using Portable Hard Drives
Step 1. Format the drive
There are two main file system formats for external drives, which can use both Mac and PC. NTFS is the native filesystem for Windows. FAT32, on the other hand, works on all operating systems.
The NTFS drive can be read by Mac, but not written. This means that the data can be copied from an NTFS drive to the Mac, but it cannot be written backwards. FAT32 supports reading and writing, both on Mac and PC
Step 2. FAT32 has a file size limit of 4GB
This means that if you are transferring large files from your PC, you will need to use NTFS. This will make the disk unwritable for Mac until you have reformatted it, but you can still use it to transfer files from PC to Mac.
Step 3. Connect the drive to the PC
Once the drive is connected, you can copy files and folders to it. Wait for the file transfer process to finish, then unplug the drive.
Step 4. Connect the drive to the Mac
Once the drive is connected, you can copy files and folders by extracting them. Wait for the transfer process to finish, then unplug the drive.
Method 4 of 5: Burn CD or DVD
Step 1. Make sure you have the proper hardware
To burn a CD or DVD, you need a disc capable of being burned. Most newer discs have this property. In addition to the hardware, you need to have the right software. Windows Vista and later are sold with support originally built into the operating system for DVD burning. Windows XP can burn CDs, but not DVDs; you will need third party software to create a data DVD in Windows XP.
Step 2. Insert a blank disc
Autoplay should open, giving you the option to add files to the disc to burn. If Autoplay does not start, go to Computer and open the disk drive. You can drag the files here and click the Burn button when you're ready.
CDs typically hold around 750MB, while DVDs have a capacity of around 4.7GB
Step 3. Wait for the burning process to complete
Depending on the amount of data you are burning and the speed of the disc, this process could take up to several minutes.
Step 4. Insert the disc into your Mac
The disc will appear on your desktop, allowing you to open it and copy the files to your computer.
Method 5 of 5: Sending Files Via Email
Step 1. Decide if the files are small enough
If you only have a few small files to transfer, using email will be the easiest option. Many email providers limit files to 25MB or less.
Step 2. Open your email on your PC
Compose a new email, with you as the recipient. Add files by attaching them to the email. When you're done attaching the files, send the email.
Depending on how the email service works and how large the files are, it may take a few minutes for the email to arrive
Step 3. Open your email on your Mac
Open the email you sent to yourself. Download the files attached to your Mac.
Advice
- Programs cannot be copied, only documents and data.
- There are some Windows-only files, such as *.exe files, which don't work on Mac.
