Move LrC and PS from Mac mini 2018 Intel to Mac mini M4 2025

[adobenflor]

to switch from Mac mini 2018 (Intel) to Mac mini 2025 M4 do I need to reinstall LrC and PS? or I can install the system from a Time Machine backup file

thanks for the answers

[johnrellis]

I've used the builtin Mac migration tools many times over the years to move my entire user account and apps, and it's always worked smoothly (including from a 2019 Intel Macbook Pro to a 2023 M2 Macbook Pro).  Many others in the forums have reported similar experiences.

[ExUSA]

Yes, you MUST reinstall your apps. Do not migrate anyuthing except data files from your Intel Mac to an M4 machine. You want the Apple Silicon versions of your apps, not the Intel versions.

[johnrellis]

The Apple Migration Assistant (invoked by the Setup Assistant) will transfer apps correctly:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/102613 

Most apps, including Creative Cloud, are "universal binaries" built for both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs. For example:

$ file /Applications/Adobe\ Lightroom\ Classic/Adobe\ Lightroom\ Classic.app/Contents/MacOS/Adobe\ Lightroom\ Classic 
/Applications/Adobe Lightroom Classic/Adobe Lightroom Classic.app/Contents/MacOS/Adobe Lightroom Classic: Mach-O universal binary with 2 architectures: [x86_64:Mach-O 64-bit executable x86_64] [arm64]
/Applications/Adobe Lightroom Classic/Adobe Lightroom Classic.app/Contents/MacOS/Adobe Lightroom Classic (for architecture x86_64):	Mach-O 64-bit executable x86_64
/Applications/Adobe Lightroom Classic/Adobe Lightroom Classic.app/Contents/MacOS/Adobe Lightroom Classic (for architecture arm64):	Mach-O 64-bit executable arm64

If you have an older app for which the developers haven't provided an Apple Silicon version, it will most likely run well on the Apple Silicon Mac using Rosetta 2. Mac OS is flakey about automatically installing it -- sometimes it does, but if it doesn't, it's easy to install manually:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/102527

[ExUSA]

It is supposed to, but I'm a firm believer in clean installing apps on a computer. I see no reason to tempt fate by copying them.

[Bob Somrak]

@ExUSA 

I agree and install and transfer everything from scratch with a NEW computer to avoid leftover cobwebs.  Some people do not have the skill to do this successfully though.   This works ok for me as I run few apps, am aware of what needs to transferred manually and where to find most of the less obvious stuff, and am willing to accept the time and effort needed to do a clean install but it might be a BIG issue for someone with loads of apps and a time schedule.  I use migration on my iphones and ipads and it works well with no issue.  

[ExUSA]

iOS apps are generally not a problem unless they are very old and 32-bit. Adobe has improved their installers and using the CC App is a good idea anyway, just so everything is up to date.

Migration Assistant is amazing, I wish we had it back when I worked for Apple.