What is systemmigrationd?

systemmigrationd (shown as installandsetup.systemmigrationd) is the process behind Migration Assistant.

What is systemmigrationd?

systemmigrationd moves data from one Mac to another, or from a Time Machine backup to a new Mac. It powers Migration Assistant, the tool you use when setting up a new Mac to bring over your apps, files, settings, and accounts.

When does it run?

systemmigrationd runs when:

• You set up a new Mac and choose to move data from another Mac
• You use Migration Assistant (in Applications, then Utilities) after initial setup
• You restore from a Time Machine backup during setup
• You move data from a Windows PC to a Mac

What does it transfer?

Migration Assistant can move:

• User accounts and home folders
• Applications
• System settings and preferences
• Documents, photos, music, and other files
• Email accounts and messages
• Network settings

How does the transfer work?

Data can travel by:

• Direct cable (Thunderbolt, USB-C, or Ethernet)
• Wi-Fi (slower but handy)
• Time Machine backup (from an external drive or network backup)
• From another Mac on the same network

Does it use a lot of resources?

Yes, during a migration. It is moving what may be hundreds of gigabytes of data, which takes a lot of CPU and disk work. A full migration can take anywhere from minutes to hours depending on how much data there is and how fast the connection is.

Should you worry?

No. It only runs when you start Migration Assistant yourself. It is a standard macOS setup tool.

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