Migration Assistant is fine, but a clean install is cleaner.

Yes, use Migration Assistant over a direct Thunderbolt cable or Wi-Fi. It’s built into macOS, transfers everything—apps, settings, files—and handles the Intel-to-Apple Silicon transition automatically. Intel apps that don’t have native versions will run via Rosetta 2, which works fine for most cases.

That said, if you’re the type who hates digital clutter, consider a fresh start. Install macOS on the new Mac manually, then copy over only your Documents, Photos, Music, and other data files. Reinstall apps from scratch—many now have Apple Silicon native versions that run faster and use less battery. Migration Assistant brings over years of old preferences, caches, and Intel-only apps you might not need.

For most people,