Broken Mac file rescue

How to Transfer Files From Broken Mac to New Mac in Target Disk Mode?

If the old Mac still powers on, it may work like an external drive long enough to rescue your files. The right steps depend on whether it has an Intel processor or Apple silicon.

By Kismac-ng Journal Editorial Team Published · Updated
Quick answer

For an Intel Mac, connect it to the new Mac with Thunderbolt, start it while holding T, then copy files from the mounted volume in Finder. If Finder cannot read the files, scan that volume with Disk Drill. On an Apple silicon Mac, use Share Disk from macOS Recovery instead.

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Stop powering on a Mac with clicking sounds, liquid damage, severe heat, repeated disconnections, or a drive that vanishes during copying. Extra attempts can make physical damage worse. Never recover files back onto the same storage being scanned.

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Choose a File Transfer Method for Your Broken Mac

Start with the least invasive option that matches the old Mac's processor plus storage condition.

Method Best for Time Success rate
1. Copy Files Through Target Disk Mode in Finder TRY FIRST Readable Intel Mac storage ~15 min ● 90%
2. Scan the Target Mac With Disk Drill Missing or unreadable files ~30 min–several hours ● 72%
3. Share the Disk From macOS Recovery M-series Mac file access ~20 min ● 85%
4. Restore the Mac From a Time Machine Backup Macs with a recent backup ~1–6 hr ● 95%
5. Send the Broken Mac to a Recovery Lab Physical or severe hardware failure ~3–14 days ● 60%

How to Tell Whether the Broken Mac Supports Target Disk Mode

Classic Target Disk Mode is for Intel-based Macs. If the old Mac can still reach macOS, open About This Mac to check its processor. If it cannot boot, look up the model number printed on the case or packaging.

An M-series model uses Apple silicon, so holding T will not start classic Target Disk Mode. Boot to macOS Recovery, then use Share Disk instead.

When Target Disk Mode Could Put Mac Data at Greater Risk

Target Disk Mode is reasonable for a software-damaged Mac whose storage remains stable. It is a poor first move after a liquid spill, hard impact, electrical event, or obvious mechanical failure.

Also pause if copying slows to zero, Finder repeatedly disconnects, or Disk Utility loses sight of the device. Those symptoms can point to unstable hardware rather than a simple startup problem.

Top 5 Ways to Transfer Files From a Broken Mac to a New Mac

01

Copy Files Through Target Disk Mode in Finder

The quickest route when an Intel Mac still powers on plus its storage mounts normally

~15 min
Difficulty Easy
You need Two Macs, Thunderbolt cable
Works for Broken Intel Macs

Target Disk Mode turns the old Intel Mac into an external drive. Once its volume appears on the new Mac, copy the irreplaceable folders first rather than trying to move the whole drive in one pass.

  1. Check that the broken Mac uses an Intel processor, then shut it down. Apple silicon models need Share Disk instead.
  2. Connect both Macs with a compatible cable. Use a Thunderbolt cable if either Mac runs macOS 11 or later. A USB-C charging cable may fit while lacking the required data connection.
  3. Press the old Mac's power button, then immediately hold T until a disk or Thunderbolt symbol appears.
  4. Open Finder on the new Mac. Select the old Mac's volume under Locations, then enter the old account password if FileVault asks for it.
  5. Copy Documents, Desktop, Pictures, Movies, Music, project folders, plus any local archives to the new Mac or a separate external drive.
  6. Control-click the mounted volume in Finder, choose Eject, shut down the old Mac, then disconnect the cable.
Disk Drill Review ↗
i Copy smaller, essential folders first because one damaged file can stall a huge transfer.
Read Apple's Target Disk Mode instructions
02

Scan the Target Mac With Disk Drill

Useful when the drive appears but Finder cannot copy everything you need

~30 min–several hours
Difficulty Moderate
You need Disk Drill, separate destination
Works for Mounted Intel Mac storage

A volume can mount in Target Disk Mode yet contain missing folders, unreadable files, or directory damage. Disk Drill runs on the healthy Mac, scans the attached target storage, then saves recoverable files somewhere else.

  1. Start the Intel Mac in Target Disk Mode, then confirm that its physical storage or volume appears in Disk Utility on the new Mac.
  2. Install Disk Drill on the new Mac, not on the damaged Mac or its mounted volume.
  3. Connect an external drive with enough room for recovered data. Do not use the source volume as the recovery destination.
  4. Open Disk Drill, grant the macOS permissions it requests, select the target Mac's storage, then click Search for lost data.
  5. Review found files by type, path, search term, or date. Preview several important files before committing to a large recovery.
  6. Select the files, click Recover, then save them to the new Mac or external drive.
i A successful preview is a useful sign, though no recovery app can guarantee that every file will open intact.
Visit Disk Drill for Mac
03

Share the Disk From macOS Recovery

The correct Target Disk Mode alternative for an M-series Mac

~20 min
Difficulty Easy
You need Two Macs, data cable
Works for Apple silicon Macs

M1, M2, M3, M4, plus later Apple silicon Macs do not use classic Target Disk Mode. Their Recovery environment offers Share Disk, which exposes accessible files to another Mac over a cable.

  1. Shut down the broken Apple silicon Mac, then connect it to the new Mac with a compatible USB-C or Thunderbolt data cable.
  2. Press plus hold the broken Mac's power button until Loading startup options appears.
  3. Choose Options, click Continue, then select an administrator account if prompted.
  4. From the Recovery menu bar, choose Utilities > Share Disk. Select the startup volume, then click Start Sharing.
  5. On the new Mac, open Finder, choose Network, select the shared Mac, then click Connect As. Choose Guest if offered, or enter valid account details.
  6. Copy the accessible folders to the new Mac. Disconnect through Finder before stopping disk sharing.
i Share Disk provides file-level access. It is not the same as a sector-level Target Disk Mode scan.
Open Apple's macOS Recovery guide
04

Restore the Mac From a Time Machine Backup

Usually cleaner than reading unstable storage from the broken computer

~1–6 hr
Difficulty Easy
You need Time Machine backup
Works for Intel, Apple silicon

If a recent Time Machine backup exists, the old Mac may not need to power on at all. Setup Assistant or Migration Assistant can bring user accounts, files, settings, plus many apps onto the new Mac.

  1. Connect the Time Machine drive directly to the new Mac, or place the new Mac on the same network as the backup location.
  2. During initial setup, choose the option to transfer information from a Mac, Time Machine backup, or startup disk.
  3. If setup is already complete, open Migration Assistant from Applications > Utilities, then select the Time Machine option.
  4. Choose the most recent healthy backup, then select the accounts, applications, settings, plus files you want to transfer.
  5. Keep the new Mac connected to power until migration finishes. Large backups can sit on the same progress estimate for quite a while.
  6. Sign in to the transferred account, then check current work against the backup date. Use Target Disk Mode or Share Disk only for newer files that were never backed up.
i Do not erase the backup after migration. Keep it until you have opened a sample of photos, documents, mail, plus project files.
Read Apple's Time Machine recovery guide
05

Send the Broken Mac to a Recovery Lab

The safer choice for failing hardware, liquid damage, or storage that never appears

~3–14 days
Difficulty Easy to arrange
You need Recovery lab, budget
Works for Physical storage failure

Software methods need the Mac to power on plus expose its storage. A specialist is the sensible next step if the computer clicks, repeatedly disconnects, overheats, has liquid damage, or shows no internal disk in Recovery.

  1. Shut down the broken Mac. Avoid repeated Target Disk Mode attempts if its behavior changes, I/O errors multiply, or the connection keeps dropping.
  2. Write down the Mac model, year, symptoms, FileVault status, known passwords, plus the folders that matter most.
  3. Ask the lab whether it handles soldered Apple storage, T2-equipped Macs, Apple silicon models, plus encrypted APFS volumes.
  4. Request a written evaluation covering diagnostic fees, likely cost, return media, privacy handling, plus what happens if recovery fails.
  5. Provide the login or recovery information only through the lab's approved secure process. FileVault-protected data generally cannot be decrypted without valid credentials.
  6. When the recovered drive arrives, copy it to another location before sorting or renaming anything.
i A repair shop that replaces logic boards is not automatically a data recovery lab. Ask specifically how it preserves data from the original hardware.

Which Broken Mac Transfer Method Should You Use?

Try Finder through Target Disk Mode first when the broken computer is an Intel Mac with readable storage. Use Share Disk for Apple silicon, or restore Time Machine if you already have a recent backup. If the disk mounts but files are missing or unreadable, Disk Drill can scan it from the healthy Mac without installing recovery software on the source.

Skip home recovery once the hardware shows signs of physical failure. At that point, fewer power cycles may matter more than trying another app or cable.

Top pick Disk Drill
Rescue unique work, family photos, financial records, plus password vaults first, then return for replaceable downloads or applications.

Broken Mac Transfer Questions, Answered

What is Target Disk Mode on a Mac, and when should I use it to move files from a broken Mac?
Target Disk Mode lets one Mac act like an external drive so you can copy files to another Mac. It is most useful when the old Mac still powers on enough to mount the internal drive, even if the display, keyboard, or macOS install is failing.
How do I connect a broken Mac to a new Mac in Target Disk Mode?
Use the right cable for the ports on both Macs, then start the broken Mac while holding the Target Disk Mode key. On Intel Macs, hold T during startup, then connect it to the new Mac so the disk appears like an external drive.
Can I use Target Disk Mode with a Mac that will not boot normally?
Yes, as long as the hardware still starts far enough to enter Target Disk Mode. If the Mac cannot power on at all, the drive will not mount, so you will need another recovery option instead.
What cable do I need to transfer files in Target Disk Mode?
That depends on the ports. Many newer Macs use USB-C or Thunderbolt cables, while older Intel Macs may need Thunderbolt 2 or FireWire adapters plus the correct cable chain.
How do I know if the old Mac entered Target Disk Mode successfully?
You should see its drive appear on the new Mac’s desktop or in Finder. If nothing shows up, check the cable, try a different port, then confirm the old Mac actually booted into Target Disk Mode.
Can I transfer everything from the broken Mac or only certain folders?
You can copy individual folders, your entire Home folder, or the whole data volume if needed. If the internal drive is healthy, most people start with Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Downloads, plus any app data they still need.
Will Target Disk Mode work if the broken Mac has a password?
Yes, but you may need to unlock the disk if FileVault is enabled. In that case, use the account password for the old Mac when prompted on the new Mac.
How do I copy files from the broken Mac to the new Mac after it mounts?
Open the old Mac’s disk in Finder, then drag the files to the new Mac’s internal drive or an external backup drive. For large transfers, copy in smaller batches so you can catch errors sooner.
What should I do if the old Mac’s drive does not show up on the new Mac?
Try a different cable, restart both Macs, then reconnect. If the drive still does not appear, the issue may be the old Mac’s storage hardware or a port problem, not the file transfer setup.
Does Target Disk Mode still work on Apple silicon Macs?
Not in the same way as older Intel Macs. Apple silicon Macs use macOS Recovery and shared disk options instead, so the steps are different from classic Target Disk Mode.
Can I use Target Disk Mode to move files from an Intel Mac to an Apple silicon Mac?
Usually yes, if the Intel Mac can enter Target Disk Mode and the new Mac can read the disk. The transfer method is the same, but you may need adapters depending on the ports.
Is Target Disk Mode faster than using an external drive for migration?
It can be faster than copying through Wi-Fi, especially for large libraries or video files. The exact speed depends on the cable type, drive health, plus the ports on both Macs.
What files should I back up first from a broken Mac?
Start with anything hard to recreate, such as Desktop, Documents, Photos Library, Music Library, Mail data, plus browser exports. If time is limited, prioritize the Home folder before large system files.
Can I transfer apps from the broken Mac to the new Mac using Target Disk Mode?
You can copy app files, but many apps need a fresh install on the new Mac to work correctly. It is usually better to move documents, settings, plus licenses, then reinstall the apps from scratch.
What if the broken Mac has FileVault turned on?
You will likely need the old Mac’s login password to unlock the disk during the transfer. If the password is unavailable, the data may remain inaccessible even though the drive mounts.
Can Target Disk Mode recover data from a Mac with a damaged screen?
Yes, if the Mac still powers on and the internal drive is readable. A broken screen does not matter much because the new Mac handles the display while the old Mac acts like storage.
What if my broken Mac is a laptop with a dead battery?
Connect it to power first, then try Target Disk Mode again. If the battery has failed completely but the Mac still runs from the charger, you may still be able to copy the files.
Should I use Migration Assistant or manual copy for a broken Mac?
Use Migration Assistant if the old Mac’s drive mounts cleanly and you want a near-complete move to the new Mac. Choose manual copy if you only need certain folders or want to avoid bringing over clutter.
How do I avoid overwriting files on the new Mac during transfer?
Copy the old files into a separate folder first, or transfer them to an external drive before merging them into the new Mac. That gives you a safe checkpoint in case you later find duplicates or mismatched versions.
What are the best alternatives if Target Disk Mode fails?
Try macOS Recovery, Time Machine restore, or removing the drive for a direct enclosure transfer if the model supports it. If the disk is clicking, not mounting, or heavily damaged, a professional data recovery service may be the safest option.