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New MacBook Air and Mac Studio Offer Easy Setup With a Nearby iPhone

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Apple today said it will be easier than ever to set up the new MacBook Air and Mac Studio models with a nearby iPhone or iPad.

MacBook Air Hello
Once the new MacBook Air or Mac Studio are updated to macOS Sequoia 15.4, which is set to be released in April, users will be able to simply bring their iPhone or iPad close to the Mac to quickly sign in to their Apple Account. This will simplify the process of getting the user's files, photos, messages, passwords, and more on to the new Mac.

An excerpt from Apple's press release for the new MacBook Air:

Next month, macOS Sequoia 15.4 will make it easier than ever to set up the new MacBook Air with iPhone. By simply bringing iPhone close to Mac, users can quickly and conveniently sign in to their Apple Account to get their files, photos, messages, passwords, and more on their new MacBook Air.

Apple's press release for the new Mac Studio has a nearly-identical paragraph.

We previously discovered that this feature might extend to at least some existing Mac models with the macOS Sequoia 15.4 update.

The nearby iPhone or iPad must be updated to iOS 18.4 or iPadOS 18.4 or newer. Those updates will also be released in April.

All of the software updates are currently in beta.

Related Roundups: Mac Studio, MacBook Air
Buyer's Guide: Mac Studio (Don't Buy), MacBook Air (Neutral)
Related Forums: Mac Studio, MacBook Air, macOS Sequoia

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Top Rated Comments

jz0309 Avatar
jz0309
18 months ago
I mean easier is better, but it is unclear how that would apply when you upgrade from an existing Mac.
For folks who get their first Mac or maybe don’t want to transfer from old to new this seems very helpful.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
surfzen21 Avatar
surfzen21
18 months ago

Does anybody actually use Windows any more?

The people who have used it for decades and are too stubborn to switch to Mac. Believe me, there’s a longtime Windows user in my family that tried out an iMac but came back to PC.

I don't think I'm particularly stubborn, I prefer my Macs for some things, Windows for others. People are so judgy here
I am OS fluid..

Sometimes I am a Mac.

Sometimes I am a PC and sometimes I am even a Linux 😲

I am tying this on a PC.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sw1tcher Avatar
sw1tcher
18 months ago

Once the new MacBook Air or Mac Studio are updated to macOS Sequoia 15.4, which is set to be released in April, users will be able to simply bring their iPhone or iPad close to the Mac to quickly sign in to their Apple Account.

The nearby iPhone or iPad must be updated to iOS 18.4 or iPadOS 18.4 or newer. Those updates will also be released in April.

Will be testing this out next Monday when I pick up my 15" MBA M4.

:cool:
Next Monday is April?
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Chungry Avatar
Chungry
18 months ago

The people who have used it for decades and are too stubborn to switch to Mac. Believe me, there’s a longtime Windows user in my family that tried out an iMac but came back to PC.
I don't think I'm particularly stubborn, I prefer my Macs for some things, Windows for others. People are so judgy here
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
awshucks Avatar
awshucks
18 months ago
Take that, Windows!
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Chungry Avatar
Chungry
18 months ago

My condolences.
Oh no! I feel so bad for myself over here, look at me with my paltry i9 with 192GB of RAM and a GeForce 5090. Oh the horror, I can play games and run any cad program without a compromise. Have mercy 🙏 on me, there's a Mac Studio sitting on top for everything else I could ever need 😆 the huge manatees!

Some people are so petty
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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