How do I migrate from an old computer to a new computer?
You can install BusyCal or BusyContacts on up to 5 personal Macs using the same registration code.
Depending on where you originally downloaded the app (Mac App Store or directly from our website), simply download it again on your new Mac. In most cases, there's no need to re-add your accounts manually — BusyCal syncs your account list (iCloud, Google, Exchange, Fastmail, Fruux, etc.) between Macs using iCloud, so the same accounts should appear on the new Mac under BusyCal > Settings > Accounts shortly after launch. Select each listed account and click Use Account, then sign in again to re-authenticate. Your calendars, events, and contacts will then sync down automatically.
For privacy reasons, BusyCal does not sync account credentials (passwords, tokens, app-specific passwords) between Macs — those stay only in the local Mac's Keychain. That's why each account needs to be re-authenticated once on the new Mac.
Account sync across Macs is controlled by BusyCal > Settings > Advanced > Sync Accounts (on by default; iCloud Drive must be enabled in System Settings). If you previously turned this off, accounts won't auto-appear on the new Mac and you'll need to add them again manually — the calendar data will still sync down once you sign in.
BusyCal also supports syncing your preferences, tags, and smart filters / calendar sets across Macs automatically—as long as you're signed in with the same iCloud account. See Does BusyCal sync Settings between multiple devices? for the full list.
BusyCal - Manual Migration
Re-adding your accounts won't however sync some items, such "On My Mac" calendars. If you care about those, you can perform a manual backup and restore.
If you're migrating for BusyCal v2025.3.1 and above, BusyCal cares about this folder:
~/Library/Group Containers/N4RA379GBW.com.busymac.busycal3
On versions of BusyCal 2025.2.2 and below, the data is stored here instead:
~/Library/Containers/com.busymac.busycal3/Data/Library/Application Support/BusyCal
and this file
~/Library/Containers/com.busymac.busycal3/Data/Library/Preferences/com.busymac.busycal3.plist
You can copy them manually from one computer to another, although you must launch BusyCal once on the new computer to set up the container.
On old computer:
In the Finder, select Go > Go to Folder, and paste the following exactly as-is and hit return (You will not find this folder otherwise - they're incorrectly displayed as only "BusyCal" if you look for them manually on macOS 11 onwards such as Monterey, Ventura etc):
~/Library/Containers/com.busymac.busycal3/Data/Library/Application Support
Grab the BusyCal folder
~/Library/Containers/com.busymac.busycal3/Data/Library/Preferences/
Grab the com.busymac.busycal3.plist file
On new computer, launch and set up BusyCal, then quit.
In the Finder, select Go > Go to Folder, and paste the following:
~/Library/Containers/com.busymac.busycal3/Data/Library/Application Support
Copy over the BusyCal folder from your old computer to this location
~/Library/Containers/com.busymac.busycal3/Data/Library/Preferences/
Copy the com.busymac.busycal3.plist file to this location
Start BusyCal. You will need to re-enter your account passwords, but all other preferences should be copied over.
BusyContacts - Manual Migration
In order to perform a manual restore of BusyContacts from an old computer to a new one, follow these instructions.
BusyContacts cares about this folder:
~/Library/Containers/com.busymac.busycontacts/Data/Library/Application Support/BusyContacts
and this file
~/Library/Containers/com.busymac.busycontacts/Data/Library/Preferences/com.busymac.busycontacts.plist
You can copy them manually from one computer to another, although you must launch BusyContacts once on the new computer to set up the container.
On old computer:
In the Finder, select Go > Go to Folder, and paste the following:
~/Library/Containers/com.busymac.busycontacts/Data/Library/Application Support
Grab the BusyContacts folder
~/Library/Containers/com.busymac.busycontacts/Data/Library/Preferences/
Grab the com.busymac.busycontacts.plist file
On new computer, launch and set up BusyContacts, then quit.
In the Finder, select Go > Go to Folder, and paste the following:
~/Library/Containers/com.busymac.busycontacts/Data/Library/Application Support
Copy over the BusyContacts folder from your old computer to this location
~/Library/Containers/com.busymac.busycontacts/Data/Library/Preferences/
Copy the com.busymac.busycontacts.plist file to this location
Start BusyContacts. You will need to re-enter your account passwords, but all other preferences should be copied over.