Mac apps have been around for decades. They've included the giants of the industry like Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop, the best of the best of indie software developers like Bungie and Omni Group, and of course Apple's own apps like iWork and iLife, and pro apps like Final Cut, Logic, and Aperture. Traditionally they were sold on floppy disks and later CDs and DVDs. Now we're in the age of downloads. Traditionally they were sold on a company by company basis. Now we're in the age of the Mac App Store. All that history, all that diversity, all that power can make Mac apps even more complicated to choose between. There aren't as many Mac apps as there are iOS apps, but there's just as much variety and maybe more. If you're new to the Mac, how do you figure out which OS X apps you need to download immediately? If you're a seasoned Mac pro but are looking for something specific for work or for play, for school or for fun, how do you know which app is the very best?
In short — you look here. Based on years of experience and countless tests and comparisons, these are the apps and games we consider must-haves and recommend you download now. These are the best apps for the Mac.
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Migration Assistant copies all of your files to your new Mac so that you don't have to copy your files manually.
- If your files are currently on a Windows PC, follow the PC migration steps instead.
- If your new Mac is using OS X Mountain Lion v10.8 or earlier, follow the Mountain Lion migration steps instead.
Check software, settings, and power
Mac Apps 2020
Jul 05, 2015. May 08, 2020.
- May 25, 2015.
- Update Office from the Mac App Store. If you downloaded Office from the Mac App Store, and have automatic updates turned on, your apps will update automatically. But you can also manually download the updates: Open the Mac App Store from your Dock or Finder.
- The 20 Mac games you can't miss from 2015. The Mac App Store, or other storefronts this year, consider this a cheat sheet: The 20 most intriguing Mac games from 2015. Give these a look, grab.
- Install all available Apple software updates on both Mac computers. Install any updates for your third-party apps as well.
- Make sure that your old Mac is using OS X Lion or later.
- Make sure that your old Mac has a computer name: Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Sharing and check the Computer Name field.
- Connect both computers to AC power.
Connect the computers to each other
- If both computers are using macOS Sierra or later, just make sure that they're near each other and have Wi-Fi turned on. If either is using OS X El Capitan or earlier, connect them to the same network using Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
- Or connect them using target disk mode and the appropriate cable or adapter. Then start up your old computer in target disk mode.
- Or connect your new Mac to a Time Machine backup of your old Mac.
2015 Mac Laptop
Use Migration Assistant
On your new Mac:
- Open Migration Assistant, which is in the Utilities folder of your Applications folder.
- Click Continue.
- When asked how you want to transfer your information, select the option to transfer from a Mac, Time Machine backup, or startup disk.
- Click Continue.
On your old Mac:
If you started your old Mac in target disk mode or are migrating from a Time Machine backup, skip these four steps.
In short — you look here. Based on years of experience and countless tests and comparisons, these are the apps and games we consider must-haves and recommend you download now. These are the best apps for the Mac.
We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.
Migration Assistant copies all of your files to your new Mac so that you don't have to copy your files manually.
- If your files are currently on a Windows PC, follow the PC migration steps instead.
- If your new Mac is using OS X Mountain Lion v10.8 or earlier, follow the Mountain Lion migration steps instead.
Check software, settings, and power
Mac Apps 2020
Jul 05, 2015. May 08, 2020.
- May 25, 2015.
- Update Office from the Mac App Store. If you downloaded Office from the Mac App Store, and have automatic updates turned on, your apps will update automatically. But you can also manually download the updates: Open the Mac App Store from your Dock or Finder.
- The 20 Mac games you can't miss from 2015. The Mac App Store, or other storefronts this year, consider this a cheat sheet: The 20 most intriguing Mac games from 2015. Give these a look, grab.
- Install all available Apple software updates on both Mac computers. Install any updates for your third-party apps as well.
- Make sure that your old Mac is using OS X Lion or later.
- Make sure that your old Mac has a computer name: Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Sharing and check the Computer Name field.
- Connect both computers to AC power.
Connect the computers to each other
- If both computers are using macOS Sierra or later, just make sure that they're near each other and have Wi-Fi turned on. If either is using OS X El Capitan or earlier, connect them to the same network using Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
- Or connect them using target disk mode and the appropriate cable or adapter. Then start up your old computer in target disk mode.
- Or connect your new Mac to a Time Machine backup of your old Mac.
2015 Mac Laptop
Use Migration Assistant
On your new Mac:
- Open Migration Assistant, which is in the Utilities folder of your Applications folder.
- Click Continue.
- When asked how you want to transfer your information, select the option to transfer from a Mac, Time Machine backup, or startup disk.
- Click Continue.
On your old Mac:
If you started your old Mac in target disk mode or are migrating from a Time Machine backup, skip these four steps.
Used Mac Pro 2015
- Open Migration Assistant.
- Click Continue.
- When asked how you want to transfer your information, select the option to transfer to another Mac.
- Click Continue.
On your new Mac:
- When asked to select a Mac, Time Machine backup, or other startup disk, click the appropriate icon.
- Click Continue. You might see a security code.
On your old Mac:
If you started your old Mac in target disk mode or are migrating from a Time Machine backup, skip these two steps.
- If you see a security code, make sure that it's the same code as on your new Mac.
- Click Continue.
On your new Mac:
- Choose the backup to transfer information from.
- Click Continue.
Continuing on your new Mac:
2015 Mac Monitor
- Select the information to transfer from the backup.
- Click Continue to start the transfer. If you have a lot of content, the transfer might take several hours to finish.
Best Mac Apps 2015
In the example above, John Appleseed is a macOS user account. If you transfer an account that has the same name as an account on your new Mac, you're asked to rename the old account or replace the one on your new Mac. If you rename, the old account appears as a separate user on your new Mac, with a separate home folder and login. If you replace, the old account overwrites the account on your new Mac, including everything in its home folder.
After Migration Assistant is done, log in to the migrated account on your new Mac to see its files. If you're not keeping your old Mac, learn what to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your old Mac.
