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How to Transfer Files from PC to Mac

Five Methods:Using Windows Migration AssistantSharing Folders Through a Direct ConnectionUsing Portable Hard DrivesBurn CDs or DVDsSending Files Through Email

If you're getting a new computer and decide to switch from PC to Mac, or you have both types on your home network or at work, you may be wondering how to transfer files from the PC to the Mac. Follow this guide for several easy methods that will allow you to transfer your data.

Method 1 of 5: Using Windows Migration Assistant

1. 1
   Download Windows Migration Assistant on your Windows PC. This program is run on both the Windows computer and the Mac, and transfers files and settings to the Mac. During this process, it will create a new user on the Mac computer, and all information will be transferred to that new user.
   • Out of all the methods listed here, this is the only one that will transfer personal information such as bookmarks, calendar information, contacts, and preferences.
   • Macs come with the Assistant already installed.
   • The program can be downloaded directly from the Apple website. Once it is downloaded, run the program to install it. After installation, the Migration Assistant will automatically open.
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2. 2
   Disable other programs. To ensure that the transfer happens without interruption, disable any anti-virus and firewall software on the PC.
3. 3
   Know the administrator password. Depending on what you are transferring and where you may need the administrator information for both the PC and the mac.
4. 4
   Connect the computers. In order 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 with wireless, but this is not recommended due to the amount of data that may be transferred and the potential to get disconnected.
5. 5
   Run the Migration Assistant. Once you’ve opened the Assistant in Windows, click Continue to begin searching for the Mac. On the Mac, open the Migration Assistant in the Utilities folder. Open the Finder, then click Go then 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.
6. 6
   Shut down other programs. The Assistant on the Mac will ask your permission to shut down other running programs. It will not function properly if other programs are running.
7. 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 both your Mac and your PC’s screen. Once you have verified that they are showing the same code, click Continue on the PC assistant to move on.
8. 8
   Select the information you want to move. After your Mac has scanned your 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 start, and a window will show the progress.
9. 9
   Log in to your new account. Once the transfer is complete, you can log in to your newly created account and adjust your settings. You will be prompted to enter a new password when you log in to the new account for the first time.

Method 2 of 5: Sharing Folders Through a Direct Connection

1. 
   1
   Set the folders that you want to share. Browse for folders that you want to transfer to the Mac. When you have found one, right-click on it and select Properties from the menu. In the Properties window, click the Sharing tab.
2. 
   2
   Click Advanced Sharing to open the Advanced Sharing window. Check the “Share this folder” box. You can rename the folder to appear differently when it is opened on the Mac.
3. 3
   Attach the computers. Take a CAT6 Ethernet cable and plug one end into the Mac and the other into the PC. Make sure that you are plugging the cable into the Ethernet port.
4. 
   4
   Find your PC’s IP address. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog. Enter “cmd” into the field and press Enter. This will open the command prompt. Type “ipconfig” and press enter to display your PC’s network information. Look for the IP or IPv4 address; it will be 4 sets of digits separated by “.”. For example: 192.168.1.5
5. 
   5
   Open the server connection on the Mac. Open Finder, then click Go in the menu bar. Select Connect to Server. A dialog 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.
6. 
   6
   Enter your login information. You may need the user name and password for your PC in order to connect to it. The server will appear on the desktop and you can browse and copy over any files that you have shared.

Method 3 of 5: Using Portable Hard Drives

1. 1
   Format the drive. There are two major filesystem formats for external drives that both Mac and PC can use. NTFS is the native filesystem for Windows. FAT32 is a filesystem that works on all operating systems.
   • NTFS drives can be read by Macs but not written to. This means that data can be copied off of an NTFS drive onto a Mac, but data cannot be written on to it from a Mac. FAT32 supports reading and writing from both Mac and PC.
2. 2
   FAT32 has a 4GB file size limit. This means that if you are transferring larger files from the PC, you will need to use NTFS. This will make your drive read-only for Macs until you reformat it, but you can still use it to transfer files from the PC to the Mac.
3. 3
   Plug the drive into the PC. Once the drive is connected, you can copy files and folders onto it. Wait until the files are finished copying, then disconnect the drive.
4. 4
   Plug the drive into the Mac. Once the drive is connected, you can copy files and folders off of it. Wait until the files are finished copying, then disconnect the drive.

Method 4 of 5: Burn CDs or DVDs

1. 1
   Make sure that you have the proper hardware. In order to burn a CD or DVD you need a drive capable of burning. Most current drives have this capability. In addition to hardware, you will need to have the proper software. Windows Vista and later come with DVD burning support natively built-in to the OS. Windows XP can burn CD's but not DVDs; you will need third-party software to burn data DVDs in Windows XP.
2. 2
   Insert a blank disc. Autoplay should open, giving you the option to add files to the disc to be burnt. If Autoplay does not start, open Computer and then open the disc drive. You can drag and drop files here, and click the Burn button when you are ready.
   • CDs typically hold around 750MBs, while DVDs typically hold around 4.7GB.
3. 3
   Wait for the burn process to complete. Depending on the amount you are burning and the speed of your drive, this could take up to several minutes.
4. 4
   Insert the disc in your Mac. The disc will appear on the desktop, allowing you to open it and copy files to your computer.

1. 1
   Decide if the files are small enough. If you only have a few small files to transfer, using email will be the simplest option. Many email providers limit file sizes to 25MB or less.
2. 2
   Open your email on your PC. Compose a new email, with yourself as the recipient. Add files by attaching them to the email. When you are finished attaching files, send the email.
• Depending on how your email service operates, and how large the files are, it may take a few minutes for your email to arrive.
3. Ref:wikihow.com

Ref:wikihow.com