Transfer Files to New Computer with Windows 11

Raza Ali Kazmi Data Management, Windows

Older versions of Windows came with a Windows Easy Transfer utility that made it easy to transfer files and Windows settings from an old computer to a new one. Unfortunately, that’s not the case with Windows 10 and Windows 11.

The Windows Easy Transfer tool has long been discontinued and is no longer supported on Windows 11. There are alternative ways though — some of those are directly endorsed by Microsoft.
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Method 1: Using Laplink PC Mover Express (Free Edition)

Since Windows 10, Microsoft has partnered with a third-party company Laplink. Laplink released a free express edition of their PCmover software which allows Windows users to automatically transfer files from an old PC to the new PC. If you want to transfer only files to a new computer with Windows 11, the free express edition is sufficient. However, if you wish to transfer installed applications, application settings or Windows settings, you may want to upgrade to the professional edition.


Features:

  • Simple Wizard-based interface: PCmover guides you through a simple and easy to understand wizard-based interface.
  • One-click Undo button: If you’re not satisfied with the transfer process, there is a way to go back and undo the transfer process. Simply click the Undo transfer process option in the welcome page on the PCmover app installed on your new PC. Any transferred files, Windows settings, migrated programs and program-specific settings will be reverted.
  • High-speed Ethernet file transfer: Transferring files from a wireless Wi-Fi connection could take longer than using an Ethernet cable. Laplink PCmover provides three options to transfer your stuff: wireless or wired network transfer, transfer through a Laplink network cable or a Laplink USB cable.
  • You can transfer from an older operating system to a new operating system on a new PC (only on the paid Professional edition).


Prerequisites:

  • An Internet connection is required on both the old and the new PC.
  • The new PC must have the same or newer version of Internet Explorer installed.
  • The same versions of PCmover must be installed on both old and new PCs.
  • Administrative privileges are required.
  • It is highly recommended that you disable the Antivirus/ Security software and Firewall on both of your PCs.

 

Steps to be performed on both the PCs (Old & New):

  1. Open up the Laplink website and download & install Laplink PCmover on both the old and the new computer. Make sure that both of these computers have the same version of PCmover installed. If either of these versions is newer or older, it may not work or the transfer may be incomplete.
  2. Open Laplink PCmover on both of your PCs.
  3. A wizard-based interface will open. In the Welcome page, select PC to PC Transfer.
  4. Click on Next.

 

Steps to be performed on the Old PC:

  1. In the next step, select the network connection you want to use for the transfer.
    • Wi-Fi or Wired Network: Choose this option if you want to transfer your files over a Wi-Fi connection or over the Local Area Network (LAN). Please note that both the computers must be connected to the same Wi-Fi or LAN connection to use this option.
    • Laplink Ethernet Cable: Choose Laplink Ethernet Cable if you’ve already purchased a Laplink ethernet cable.
    • Laplink USB Cable: Choose Laplink USB Cable to transfer data over a USB cable.
  2. Click on Next.
  3. Now specify whether this is your new computer or old computer and then click on Next.
  4. Optional: If you wish to be notified by email about the transfer process completion, fill-up your name, email address and then click on Next. This step is optional. You can leave it if you don’t wish to be notified.
  5. PCmover will attempt to connect the old PC with your new PC. Once connected, the name of both the PCs will be displayed in the new page of the wizard.
  6. Click on the Analyze PC button.
  7. Once the PC has been analyzed, a new page comes up and prompts what to transfer. There are four options: 1) Standard (Recommended) 2) User Accounts, Files and Settings (No Applications) 3) Files Only Transfer 4) Let me choose.
  8. Choose the Files Only Transfer option.
  9. Click on Next.
  10. Once you’ve made your choice, a Transfer Summary page will be displayed. It displays a summary of all items that have been selected to transfer (for example, Applications, Documents, Pictures, Videos, Music, Other Files, User Accounts, Advanced).
  11. Review it and click on Next.

 

Method 2: Cloud Transfer
The easiest way to transfer files from one PC to another is using the cloud. Most of the popular cloud services offer a free plan. You can backup files on your cloud account until the free quota is exhausted.

  • Amazon Drive: 5 GB
  • Dropbox: 2 GB
  • Google Drive: 15 GB
  • IceDrive: 10 GB
  • MediaFire: 10 GB
  • Mega: 20 GB
  • OneDrive: 5 GB
  • Sync: 5 GB
  • iCloud: 5 GB
  • pCloud: 10 GB

 

Limitations:

The free quota offered by these services is often not sufficient to store all files on your computer. A computer user may have hundreds of GBs of data stored on their PC. As such, the free plan may run out of storage just after storing a few GBs of data.

 

Steps:

Upload some data from your old PC to one of the above cloud storage platforms and download it on your new PC. After the files are downloaded, delete the files from the cloud server to free up space and repeat the same process until all of your data is transferred.

To avoid the inconvenience of downloading and deleting files multiple times, consider upgrading to a paid plan with a better storage capacity.

 

Method 3: Use the Disk Cloning Software

A Disk Cloning software replicates everything stored on your hard disk/ SSD to your new computer byte-to-byte. It moves everything including your operating system, OS specific settings, documents and files, installed applications, and application settings. In other words, it sets up your new PC with the exact same configurations as the old PC.

 

Prerequisites:

  • Your new PC’s SSD/ HDD must not have existing partitions before you proceed with the cloning. Delete existing partitions, if any.
    Warning: This may cause data losses. Be sure to backup your data.

 

Steps to be performed on the Old PC:

  1. Externally connect the SSD/ HDD of your new Windows 11 PC to your old PC. You may use a Hard Disk Casing or a DVD Caddy. In the case of a DVD Caddy, you may need the help of a local technician. Hard Disk Casing is easy to set up with a USB cable.
  2. Download Acronis Macrium Reflect (Free Edition) on your old PC.
  3. Click the Download Free button under the Reflect 8 Free category.
  4. After downloading, launch the setup.
  5. Click Yes in the UAC prompt.
  6. Follow the installer wizard.
  7. Open the software after successful installation.
  8. Select the disks you want to clone (for example, drive C:\, D:\, E:\, etc.)
  9. Click the Create a Backup option.
  10. Click on Select a disk to clone to.
  11. Select your new PC’s SSD/ HDD.
  12. Click on Next.
  13. Click on Next in the optional Schedule page.
  14. A summary will be displayed. Click on Finish.
  15. In the new prompt, click on OK > Continue.

 

Steps to be performed on New PC:

Once your disk has been successfully cloned, you can connect the SSD/ HDD to your new PC internally.