Why migrating to MacBook M5 is different from previous Mac upgrades
Short answer: MacBook M5 runs macOS Sequoia on Apple Silicon (ARM64 architecture). If you are migrating from an Intel Mac, every app copied over will initially run through Rosetta 2 (Apple’s Intel-to-ARM translation layer). Most apps work fine on day one, but kernel-extension-based tools, 32-bit apps, and some VPN or security clients need ARM64-native replacements. Migration Assistant handles the data transfer; app compatibility is a separate step you address after landing.
Step-by-step Migration Assistant guide for MacBook M5
Step 1: Prepare both Macs before starting
On your old Mac: update to the latest macOS available for that model (at minimum Sonoma 14.x for smooth cross-migration). Run Disk Utility → First Aid on your startup volume to repair any directory errors. Delete obvious junk — large Downloads folder, trash — before migrating, since transfer time is proportional to data size. Sign out of iCloud if you want a clean iCloud setup on the M5 rather than inheriting the old session. Also note down your Wi-Fi passwords, Adobe/Microsoft/Tally licence keys — they may not transfer.
On your new MacBook M5: do not complete Setup Assistant fully if the machine is brand new — the migration option appears during the initial setup screen titled “Transfer Information to This Mac.” If you already completed setup, open Applications → Utilities → Migration Assistant to start a post-setup migration.
Step 2: Choose the right transfer method
For 200 GB and above, use a Thunderbolt 4 cable directly between the two Macs. Connection speed is ~40 Gb/s (gigabits per second), which means 500 GB transfers in about 30–45 minutes. Wi-Fi 6E is the second-best option at roughly 1.2 Gb/s (real-world throughput 300–600 Mb/s). Avoid Wi-Fi 5 and ethernet below Gigabit for large transfers — you will be waiting 6–10 hours. Disable sleep on both Macs via System Settings → Battery → prevent sleeping while charging, before you start.
Step 3: Fix the “Stuck on Preparing” bug
The most-reported Migration Assistant problem in 2025–2026 is the progress bar stalling at Preparing for 30–60 minutes with no movement. This happens almost exclusively when the source is a Time Machine backup (not a live Mac). The root cause is a corrupted snapshot reference in the APFS (Apple File System) backup container.
Fix: On the source Mac, open Terminal and run tmutil listlocalsnapshotdates /. Delete all local snapshots with tmutil deletelocalsnapshots [date] for each entry. Then restart both Macs and retry Migration Assistant using a direct cable connection rather than through Time Machine. This resolves the stuck-on-Preparing issue in the majority of cases we see in the workshop.
Step 4: Handle apps that break after migration
After landing on the M5, open System Settings → Privacy & Security and scroll to the bottom. If any software is waiting for approval to load a system extension (the modern replacement for kernel extensions), grant it. Apps in the following categories need ARM64-native replacements installed fresh: VPN clients (most major Indian VPNs now have Apple Silicon builds), USB hardware security dongles (eToken, Safenet), and some older antivirus software. MacBook repair and setup support from our team covers these reinstallation scenarios.
Step 5: The India context — iCloud speed and bank app compatibility
On slower Indian broadband connections (50–100 Mbps), iCloud Desktop & Documents can take 2–4 days to re-sync after migration. During this period, files show a cloud icon and may not open. To check sync progress: System Settings → Apple ID → iCloud → iCloud Drive → Show options. Bank desktop apps (if your bank has one) mostly have Intel x64 builds and work via Rosetta 2; browser-based net banking on Safari ARM64 works perfectly and is the recommended approach.
When to call a laptop repair service
When DIY ends
If Migration Assistant shows an error code (error 2, error 45) or the source Mac’s drive has failing sectors that cause the transfer to abort, stop and contact us. Attempting multiple retries on a failing source drive risks accelerating data loss. We can clone the source drive in the workshop and then migrate from the clone.
Typical repair cost in India
MacBook data migration service (in-workshop or doorstep): ₹1,500–₹3,000. Source drive cloning before migration when health is questionable: ₹2,000–₹4,000. Doorstep MacBook service in Hyderabad starts at ₹149.
A note from the LRW Engineer Team
The most common mistake we see with M5 migrations is skipping the source-Mac preparation step. Running First Aid and clearing local Time Machine snapshots before starting takes 20 minutes and prevents 80% of stuck-transfer scenarios. Do that first, connect via Thunderbolt cable, and the migration is usually smooth.