You can transfer files from one Mac to another using a USB connection. This method is particularly useful when you don’t have access to a stable network connection or if you prefer a direct and secure transfer of your files.
To transfer files from a Mac to another Mac using a USB connection, you will need a USB-C to USB-C cable or a USB-C to USB-A adapter and a USB-A to USB-A cable, depending on the ports available on your Macs.
Here are the steps to transfer files from one Mac to another using a USB connection:
1. Connect the two Macs using the appropriate USB cables or adapters. Make sure both Macs are turned on and awake.
2. On the Mac that you want to transfer files from, go to the “System Preferences” by clicking on the Apple menu in the top-left corner of the screen and selecting “System Preferences.”
3. In the System Preferences window, click on “Sharing.”
4. Enable “File Sharing” by checking the box next to it. This will allow the Mac to share its files with other computers on the same network.
5. Click on the “Options…” button next to “File Sharing.”
6. In the File Sharing options, check the box next to “Share files and folders using SMB.”
7. Below the list of shared folders, you’ll see a section called “Shared Folders.” Click on the “+” button to add a folder you want to share with the other Mac.
8. Select the folder you want to share and click on “Add.”
9. Set the appropriate permissions for the shared folder. You can choose to allow “Read & Write” access or “Read Only” access. You can also set specific permissions for individual users if needed.
10. Close the File Sharing options and System Preferences.
11. On the other Mac, open a new Finder window by clicking on the Finder icon in the dock.
12. In the sidebar of the Finder window, you should see the name of the Mac that you want to transfer files from under the “Shared” section. Click on the Mac’s name to connect to it.
13. Enter your username and password for the Mac you are connecting to if prompted.
14. Once connected, you will see a list of shared folders on the other Mac. You can now browse and access the shared files and folders.
15. To transfer files from one Mac to another, simply drag and drop the files from the shared folder on the other Mac to the desired location on your Mac.
16. Wait for the files to finish transferring. The time it takes will depend on the size of the files and the speed of the USB connection.
17. Once the transfer is complete, you can safely disconnect the USB cables or adapters from both Macs.
It’s important to note that when using this method, both Macs need to have File Sharing enabled and be connected via the USB cables or adapters. Also, make sure to have enough storage space on your Mac to accommodate the transferred files.
Transferring files from one Mac to another using a USB connection can be a reliable and secure method, especially when dealing with large files or sensitive information.