Apple is now offering data migration services for free when customers purchase a new Mac or need to have a Mac replaced for repair reasons. Prior to this month, data migration was priced at $99.
TidBITS heard about the policy change from a reader and was able to confirm it with an Apple Store Operations Specialist.
Beginning April 2, there will be no cost for Data Migrations with the purchase of a new Mac or Data Transfers with a repair.
As 9to5Mac points out, data migration was included as a feature in Apple's One to One program, which was shut down in 2015. One to One allowed customers to pay $99 when purchasing a new Mac to get a year's worth of instruction and help. When Apple ended One to One, data migration was still available as a one-time $99 service.
Going forward, Apple store employees will be able to help new Mac buyers move information from their old machine to their new machine. Apple also offers do-it-yourself migration software in the form of the Migration Assistant offered when setting up a new Mac.
Top Rated Comments
A MacBook Pro without a functional keyboard is not very useful and it's too expense to use for a door stop. :-)
I am stuck with my MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Late 2013) until the butterfly keyboards get fixed.
Suggestion: There is nothing wrong with the old keyboards sold on older Macs. No charge for the problem solving suggestion.
Apple compared itself to BMW once when it concerned cost of their hardware, well now it’s in for repairs just as often. How ironic, it seems Apple has finally fulfilled the auto industry business model.