Note: Depending on the size of your external storage device, you may not be able to fit all your data onto the external drive at once. In this case, delete data from the external drive after it has been copied to your PC to clear space, and repeat the process as necessary.

Transfer Files Using a Cloud Service2

You can use a cloud service if you don’t have many large files like videos. This option works best if you have an internet connection with fast upload speeds. Online file synchronization services such as OneDrive, Dropbox, or even iCloud can sync your data from your Mac to your new PC.

  1. Make sure that the service is configured to sync the desired folders.
  2. Check that the syncing process is up to date.
  3. Then install the corresponding app on your new PC.
  4. Once you sign in to your account, sync all the files over to the PC.

Transfer Files Using a Local Network

If both your Mac and your PC are on the same local network, you can use a network transfer to copy data between the two systems.

Starting on your Mac:

  1. Go to System Preferences > Sharing and check the box for File Sharing.
  2. In the Shared Folders section, click the plus icon.
  3. Add the folders that you want to copy.
  4. Repeat this process to add as many folders as desired.
  5. Make note of your Mac’s network address, which starts with smb://.
  6. Click Options to verify that the checkbox next to your username is checked. This step enables network transfers via the SMB protocol.

And now from your Windows PC:

  1. Click the Start button, and type “Run.”
  2. Select the Run command to open the utility. In the text box, type two backslashes followed by your Mac’s network address.
    Example: For network address smb://192.168.1.100, enter \\192.168.1.100 (note the change to the backslashes).
  3. Hit Enter to attempt the connection.
  4. When you’re asked for a username and password, select More Choices > Use a Different Account.
  5. Enter your Mac account username and password and click OK. Your Mac username is the name of your Home folder in Finder.
  6. Once the shared folders window pops up, drag your data from the Mac to the PC.

Note: The transfer speed can vary depending on your network and the connection strength of each device. To help ensure superior performance, use wired Ethernet or the latest compatible Wi-Fi version. For Wi-Fi networks, position both PC and Mac devices close to the Wi-Fi router.

How to Transfer Microsoft Office Files from Mac to Windows PC

If you use Microsoft Office for Mac, all your documents, worksheets, and presentations are already compatible with Office for Windows. However, if you have files in Apple’s iWork format (Pages, Numbers, Keynote), you must convert those files to an Office-compatible format. You can convert files easily on your Mac or the web via iCloud.