{"id":75601,"date":"2021-06-16T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-06-16T20:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/?p=75601"},"modified":"2021-06-16T10:22:12","modified_gmt":"2021-06-16T15:22:12","slug":"transfer-files-between-m1-and-intel-macs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/75601-transfer-files-between-m1-and-intel-macs\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Transfer Files Between M1 and Intel Macs With Share Disk Mode"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Transfer<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Back in the good old days, Macs used to have a special startup condition called target mode<\/strong>. What it allowed you to do is connect one Mac to another via a cable (usually FireWire), using the non-startup Mac as an \u201cexternal hard disk\u201d for the startup Mac. This was perfect for transferring files en masse from an old Mac to a newer model. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Target mode became problematic in later years, but Apple has now made it possible to connect an Apple Silicon-based Mac (AKA “M1 Mac”) to an older Intel-based Mac. This can make moving from an older Mac to a speedy new M1 Mac quite fast and easy. Here\u2019s how to do it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How to Transfer Files Between Your Apple Silicon & Intel Mac<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
  1. Using a USB, USB-C, or Thunderbolt cable, connect the two computers together.<\/li>
  2. On the Apple Silicon Mac, select Apple (\uf8ff) Menu > Shut Down<\/strong>.<\/li>
  3. Press and hold the power button on the Apple Silicon Mac until \u201cLoading startup options<\/strong>\u201d appears on the screen.<\/li>
  4. Click Options<\/strong>, then click Continue<\/strong>. If you\u2019re asked for an administrator password, please enter it. This opens the Mac in Recovery mode.<\/li>
  5. Choose Utilities > Share Disk<\/strong>. If your disk is encrypted on the Apple Silicon Mac, you’ll be asked to unlock it with your administrative password. <\/li>
  6. Select the disk or volume you wish to share, then click Start Sharing<\/strong>.<\/li>
  7. On the other Mac, open a Finder window, then click Network. You\u2019ll find it below Locations in the Finder window sidebar (see screenshot below).<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    \"Network
    The M1 Mac appears on the Intel Mac in a Finder window under Network<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    1. In the Network window, double-click the Mac with the shared disk or volume. Click “Connect As,” select Guest in the Connect As window, then click Connect.<\/li>
    2. Transfer the files from one Mac to the other.<\/li>
    3. When you\u2019re all done transferring files, eject the disk on the Intel Mac.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      At this point, you can also disconnect the cable connecting the two Macs and restart the Apple Silicon Mac from the Apple (\uf8ff) Menu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Transferring files between the two Macs\u2014particularly if you’re using a Thunderbolt connection\u2014is ultra-fast with this method. Be sure to give it a try when your Apple Silicon Mac arrives!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Need to know how to use Target Mode on an older pair of Macs not running macOS Big Sur? Here’s a 2017 Rocket Yard article on the subject. <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      Related Links<\/h4>\n\n\n\n