Set up Mac with iPhone or iPad
Mac Setup Assistant now offers a convenient way to quickly set up your Mac using a nearby iPhone or iPad. It transfers numerous settings for Wi-Fi, Appearance, Accessibility, and more, and uses your device's iCloud settings to automatically bring over files, photos, passwords, and other content stored in iCloud.
System requirements
A Mac using macOS Sequoia 15.4 or later that starts up to the Mac Setup Assistant.
A nearby iPhone using iOS 18.4 or later, or iPad using iPadOS 18.4 or later, that has already been set up.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on in settings on both devices.
Transfer data from your iPhone or iPad
When you first start up your new Mac, Setup Assistant asks for details such as your language and country or region. When it asks whether to transfer your data to this Mac, select “Set up with iPhone or iPad,” then click Continue.
When your Mac says that it is looking for nearby devices, unlock your iPhone or iPad and bring it near your Mac.
If your device is signed in to your Apple Account, it uses that account to help set up your Mac. Tap Continue to proceed. You may then be asked to authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID.
Your Mac shows a pattern. Hold your iPhone or iPad up to your Mac and position the pattern in the circle to authenticate.
Your Mac asks whether to customize any accessibility settings. Click Not Now to make no changes, or click an accessibility category to review the settings in that category before continuing.
Follow the onscreen instructions. When asked to create a Mac user account, you can keep or modify the names shown, which are based on the name used by your Apple Account. Type a unique password that you will use when logging in to your Mac, then click Continue.
If your device is signed in to your Apple Account, your Mac begins setting up that account on your Mac. Based on the account's iCloud settings on your device, your Mac will automatically retrieve the content stored in iCloud by Apple apps such as Photos, Messages, Notes, Calendar, Passwords, and Contacts.
When your device says that the transfer is complete, tap Done, then complete the remaining setup steps on your Mac.
If you need help
If your Mac doesn’t offer the option to set up with iPhone or iPad, make sure that it meets the system requirements.
If your Mac doesn’t find your iPhone or iPad when it’s looking for nearby devices, make sure that your Mac and device meet the system requirements, then lock your device and unlock it again.
If your device can’t use the circular pattern to authenticate, tap Authenticate Manually on that screen, then enter the code that appears on your Mac.
Learn more
Learn how to transfer information from another computer or Time Machine backup. You can do this from Setup Assistant instead of transferring from your iPhone or iPad, or do it afterward using Migration Assistant.
To share files and other content between your Mac and iPhone or iPad, you can also use the Finder, iCloud Drive, and a variety of Continuity features.
