{"id":38662,"date":"2025-12-26T00:31:14","date_gmt":"2025-12-26T00:31:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gpnewswire.com\/news\/how-to-migrate-to-a-new-windows-pc\/"},"modified":"2025-12-26T00:31:14","modified_gmt":"2025-12-26T00:31:14","slug":"how-to-migrate-to-a-new-windows-pc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gpnewswire.com\/news\/how-to-migrate-to-a-new-windows-pc\/","title":{"rendered":"How to migrate to a new Windows PC"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<div class=\"grid grid--cols-10@md grid--cols-8@lg article-column\">\n<div class=\"col-12 col-10@md col-6@lg col-start-3@lg\">\n<div class=\"article-column__content\">\n<section class=\"wp-block-bigbite-multi-title\">\n<div class=\"container\"><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>It\u2019s great to get a new computer, but it\u2019s not so great to realize that all your stuff is on the old one.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019re in luck, though. It\u2019s easier than ever to transfer your data from an old PC to a new one. We\u2019ve covered multiple ways you can do it, below.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">In this article:<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerworld.com\/article\/1638368\/how-to-migrate-to-a-new-windows-pc.html#before-begin\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Before you begin<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerworld.com\/article\/1638368\/how-to-migrate-to-a-new-windows-pc.html#windows-backup\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Use Windows Backup to transfer files and settings to a new PC<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerworld.com\/article\/1638368\/how-to-migrate-to-a-new-windows-pc.html#onedrive\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Transfer files with OneDrive<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerworld.com\/article\/1638368\/how-to-migrate-to-a-new-windows-pc.html#file-history\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Transfer files via a File History backup<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerworld.com\/article\/1638368\/how-to-migrate-to-a-new-windows-pc.html#external-drive\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Transfer files via an external drive<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerworld.com\/article\/1638368\/how-to-migrate-to-a-new-windows-pc.html#usb-data-transfer-cable\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Transfer files with a USB data-transfer cable<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerworld.com\/article\/1638368\/how-to-migrate-to-a-new-windows-pc.html#wifi-lan\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Transfer files locally over Wi-Fi or LAN<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerworld.com\/article\/1638368\/how-to-migrate-to-a-new-windows-pc.html#file-transfer-software\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Transfer files, settings, and more via file-transfer software<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerworld.com\/article\/1638368\/how-to-migrate-to-a-new-windows-pc.html#install-apps\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Install and set up apps on your new PC<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerworld.com\/article\/1638368\/how-to-migrate-to-a-new-windows-pc.html#bookmarks\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Transfer browser bookmarks to your new PC<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerworld.com\/article\/1638368\/how-to-migrate-to-a-new-windows-pc.html#after-migrate\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">What to do after migrating your files and apps to the new PC<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Before you begin<\/h2>\n<p>You\u2019re probably eager to get started with your migration, but first, here are two tips that may help smooth the migration process.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Migration tip #1: Clean up your files<\/h3>\n<p>Before transferring all your data to your new PC, consider going through all your files, folders, and emails and weeding out the cruft. There\u2019s a good chance you\u2019ve got some ancient files and emails you no longer need. Cleaning out your old data will make transferring your data to a new PC go more quickly, and in the future you won\u2019t have to sift through old clutter to find the files you need.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Migration tip #2: OneDrive can help with migrations<\/h3>\n<p>If you store your files in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerworld.com\/article\/1717094\/microsoft-onedrive-cheat-sheet-backup-sync-share-files.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Microsoft OneDrive<\/a>, you\u2019ll find it exceptionally easy to migrate them to a new PC. OneDrive stores files locally on a Windows PC or Mac and also in the cloud. So if you use OneDrive on your existing PC, you\u2019ll only need to sign into OneDrive on your new PC to transfer them over. OneDrive won\u2019t transfer settings or applications, so you can use other ways to transfer those, as detailed below.<\/p>\n<p>Even if you don\u2019t use OneDrive now, consider moving to it before you migrate. If you have a Windows 10 or 11 PC, OneDrive is most likely already installed on it. If not, you can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/microsoft-365\/onedrive\/download\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">download it from Microsoft<\/a>. You\u2019ll get the added benefits of having your PC constantly back up its files to the cloud so you can easily restore them or transfer them to a new PC.<\/p>\n<p>To move files and folders stored on your PC into OneDrive, simply drag and drop them into your OneDrive storage in File Explorer (on a Windows PC) or Finder (on a Mac).<\/p>\n<p>In this article, we\u2019ll cover ways to migrate with and without OneDrive, so either way, we\u2019ve got you covered.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\n<div class=\"overflow-table-wrapper\">\n<table class=\"has-fixed-layout\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Migration technique<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Pros<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Cons<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>What you need<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerworld.com\/article\/1638368\/how-to-migrate-to-a-new-windows-pc.html#windows-backup-pctopc\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Windows Backup: <br \/>PC-to-PC transfer<\/a><\/td>\n<td>Extremely simple way to transfer files and settings; doesn\u2019t require OneDrive<\/td>\n<td>Doesn\u2019t transfer all settings<\/td>\n<td>Wi-Fi network; personal Microsoft account<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerworld.com\/article\/1638368\/how-to-migrate-to-a-new-windows-pc.html#windows-backup-restore\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Windows Backup: <br \/>backup and restore<\/a><\/td>\n<td>Fast and easy to restore files, settings and credentials from backup<\/td>\n<td>Doesn\u2019t transfer locally stored files<\/td>\n<td>Internet connection for each computer; personal Microsoft account and OneDrive<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerworld.com\/article\/1638368\/how-to-migrate-to-a-new-windows-pc.html#onedrive\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">OneDrive<\/a><\/td>\n<td>Simplest way to transfer files from Windows or macOS<\/td>\n<td>Doesn\u2019t transfer settings; can be time-consuming if you don\u2019t already use OneDrive<\/td>\n<td>Internet connection; Microsoft account (personal, work, or school)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerworld.com\/article\/1638368\/how-to-migrate-to-a-new-windows-pc.html#file-history\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">File History backup<\/a><\/td>\n<td>Flexible way to transfer files; doesn\u2019t require OneDrive<\/td>\n<td>Doesn\u2019t transfer settings; can be confusing to set up<\/td>\n<td>External hard drive or USB drive<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerworld.com\/article\/1638368\/how-to-migrate-to-a-new-windows-pc.html#external-drive\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Direct transfer with a removable drive<\/a><\/td>\n<td>Flexible way to transfer files; doesn\u2019t require OneDrive<\/td>\n<td>Doesn\u2019t transfer settings; requires an external drive; is more time-consuming than a File History backup<\/td>\n<td>External hard drive or USB drive<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerworld.com\/article\/1638368\/how-to-migrate-to-a-new-windows-pc.html#usb-data-transfer-cable\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Transfer with a USB data-transfer cable<\/a><\/td>\n<td>Simple solution for transferring files; doesn\u2019t require OneDrive<\/td>\n<td>Doesn\u2019t transfer settings; you need to shop carefully to find the best cables<\/td>\n<td>A specialized USB cable designed to transfer data<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerworld.com\/article\/1638368\/how-to-migrate-to-a-new-windows-pc.html#wifi-lan\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Transfer locally over Wi-Fi or LAN<\/a><\/td>\n<td>Simple solution for transferring files; doesn\u2019t require OneDrive<\/td>\n<td>Doesn\u2019t transfer settings; getting it to work can be difficult and flaky<\/td>\n<td>Wi-Fi or LAN connection<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerworld.com\/article\/1638368\/how-to-migrate-to-a-new-windows-pc.html#file-transfer-software\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Transfer via third-party file-transfer software<\/a><\/td>\n<td>Can transfer applications and settings in addition to files; doesn\u2019t require OneDrive<\/td>\n<td>Software can be costly<\/td>\n<td>Special software for transferring files<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<h2>Use Windows Backup to transfer files and settings to a new PC<\/h2>\n<p>The simplest and fastest way to transfer files and settings from an old Windows 10 or 11 PC to a new one is to use Windows Backup. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerworld.com\/article\/1637803\/windows-11-october-2023-update.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Introduced<\/a> to Windows 11 in 2023 and later to Windows 10, Windows Backup is primarily <a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerworld.com\/article\/2094661\/new-windows-11-backup-and-recovery-paradigm.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">a backup-and-restore tool<\/a> \u2014 that is, you use it to back up your PC to the cloud (specifically OneDrive), and you can restore files, settings, and preferences from that backup should your hard drive fail, if you accidentally delete files permanently, or for any other reason. You can also use it to \u201crestore\u201d your current PC\u2019s files, settings, and preferences on a new PC.<\/p>\n<p>It still does all those things, but a recently added <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pcworld.com\/article\/2855325\/microsoft-explains-how-the-new-windows-pc-to-pc-migration-tool-works.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">PC-to-PC transfer feature<\/a> lets you \u00a0migrate files and settings to a new PC over a Wi-Fi network.<\/p>\n<div class=\"extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/b2b-contenthub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/migrate-windows-pc-01-windows-backup-main.jpg?quality=50&amp;strip=all\" alt=\"the initial screen of windows backup with choice to back up this pc or transfer information to a new pc\" class=\"wp-image-4111284\" width=\"610\" height=\"794\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\n<p>Windows Backup\u2019s main screen, where you choose whether to back up your PC or initiate a PC-to-PC transfer.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"imageCredit\">Preston Gralla \/ Foundry<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Note that Windows Backup is meant to be used with personal Microsoft accounts; it doesn\u2019t work with work or school accounts. Your old PC can have either Windows 10 or Windows 11 installed, but your new PC must run Windows 11 24H2 or later.<\/p>\n<p>You can use Windows Backup to transfer your files, settings, personalizations such as wallpaper and themes, and, depending on which method you use, your passwords and credentials.<\/p>\n<p>Applications on your old PC won\u2019t be transferred. You\u2019ll have to install them after your new PC is set up. But Windows Backup\u2019s \u201crestore from backup\u201d method does remember the apps you had installed on your old PC, and it puts placeholders for them on the new PC. This means you won\u2019t have to hunt them down individually, and many can be installed with a single click.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Backup and restore vs. PC-to-PC transfer<\/h3>\n<p>The main difference between using Windows Backup as a backup-and-restore tool and using its PC-to-PC transfer feature is that PC-to-PC migration requires your old PC and new PC to be on the same Wi-Fi network. Files are copied directly from the old PC to the new one. In a backup-and-restore operation, your new PC and old PC can be anywhere with an internet connection. When files and settings are transferred from your old computer, they are first copied to the cloud and from there are copied to your new PC.<\/p>\n<p>Another difference is that the backup-and-restore method can save account information and passwords, while the PC-to-PC transfer method can\u2019t. On the other hand, the backup-and-restore method relies exclusively on OneDrive, while the PC-to-PC method can transfer local files.<\/p>\n<p>Which method should you use for migrating to a new PC? If you\u2019re already using Windows Backup to back up your old PC, use the backup-and-restore method \u2014 it\u2019ll save you time. In fact, if you\u2019ve already set up backups for your Microsoft account in Windows Backup, you\u2019ll be steered toward the restore method when you set up Windows on your new PC.<\/p>\n<p>Otherwise, use the PC-to-PC method. However, after you do that, consider using Windows Backup to regularly back up your PC. That way, should anything go wrong with your new PC, you can always restore it. And it\u2019ll be easier to migrate the next time you move to a new PC.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">PC-to-PC transfer in Windows Backup<\/h3>\n<p>When you migrate files directly between your old PC and new PC, your wallpaper, themes, and many personalization settings will be transferred, but saved passwords, sign-in credentials, and drives encrypted with BitLocker can\u2019t be transferred. If you want files from those encrypted drives to transfer, first decrypt them with BitLocker.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s how to do a PC-to-PC transfer:<\/p>\n<p>1. On both PCs, sign into your Microsoft account. Make sure both PCs are plugged into power outlets, are on the same Wi-Fi network, and have the latest Windows 10 or Windows 11 updates.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>2. Open the Windows Backup app on the PC you\u2019ll transfer files and settings <em>from<\/em>. Select <em>Transfer information to a new PC<\/em> and click <em>Next<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>3. On the screen that appears, you\u2019ll see the old PC\u2019s name. Enter it into a screen that pops up on the new PC after you\u2019ve begun its setup and click Next.<\/p>\n<div class=\"extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/b2b-contenthub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/migrate-windows-pc-02-pc-to-pc-transfer.jpg?quality=50&amp;strip=all\" alt=\"screen showing name of old pc for pairing with new pc\" class=\"wp-image-4111287\" width=\"610\" height=\"794\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\n<p>Here\u2019s the name of an old PC whose files and settings will migrated to a new PC.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"imageCredit\">Preston Gralla \/ Foundry<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>4. A screen pops up on the new PC. Enter the old PC\u2019s name here and click <em>Nex<\/em>t. The new PC displays a one-time code.<\/p>\n<p>5. Enter that one-time code into the screen that appears on your old PC. That pairs the PCs.<\/p>\n<p>6. Once they\u2019re paired, a list of folders you can transfer appears on your old PC. The list includes Documents, Pictures, Desktop, Music, and Videos, as well as files and folders on your hard disk that aren\u2019t on OneDrive. Make your selection and click <em>Start Transfer<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>7. The files in the folders you selected, along with your settings and preferences, now transfer from your old PC to your new one. You\u2019ll get a summary of everything that\u2019s been transferred. When the transfer is done, your new PC will continue its setup routine.<\/p>\n<p>8. On the new PC, sign into OneDrive if you use it, and your OneDrive files and folders will be automatically transferred to it. You\u2019ll have to install your apps onto the new PC, as well as input your passwords and sign-in data.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Restore a backup from Windows Backup<\/h3>\n<p>If you\u2019re already using Windows Backup to back up your files, settings, and preferences on your old PC, getting them onto your new PC couldn\u2019t be easier. All you need to do is sign into your Microsoft account on your new PC when installing it, and it will transfer the existing backup to your new PC, as detailed in step 7 below.<\/p>\n<p>If you haven\u2019t yet set up a backup routine on Windows Backup, here\u2019s how to make a backup.<\/p>\n<p>1. Make sure you\u2019re signed into your Microsoft account on your old PC, then launch Windows Backup.<\/p>\n<p>2. Click <em>Back up this PC<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>3. You\u2019ll see a screen that lets you specify the folders, apps, settings, and credentials you want to save.<\/p>\n<div class=\"extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/b2b-contenthub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/migrate-windows-pc-03-windows-backup-select-backup-items.jpg?quality=50&amp;strip=all\" alt=\"windows backup screen where you choose folders apps settings credentials to back up\" class=\"wp-image-4111286\" width=\"610\" height=\"794\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\n<p>Here\u2019s the first step in creating a backup to migrate to your new PC.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"imageCredit\">Preston Gralla \/ Foundry<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>4. Click <em>Folders<\/em>. A list of folders whose files you can back up appears on your old PC. The list is a short one: Documents, Pictures, Desktop, Music and Videos. When you select them, they will be synced to OneDrive. If you want all your OneDrive files to be transferred to your new PC during this process, move them all to folders you create within your OneDrive Documents folder.<\/p>\n<p>5. Back on the main screen, click the down arrows next to <em>Apps<\/em>, <em>Settings<\/em>, and <em>Credentials<\/em>. Choose what you want to back up. This includes installed app info, accessibility settings, accounts and passwords, themes and other personalizations, language preferences, and other Windows settings.<\/p>\n<p>6. When you\u2019re done, select <em>Continue<\/em>, and your PC will back up everything you\u2019ve selected to the cloud.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/b2b-contenthub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/migrate-windows-pc-04-windows-backup-backup-in-progress.jpg?quality=50&amp;strip=all\" alt=\"windows backup screen that says backing up your pc\" class=\"wp-image-4111285\" width=\"610\" height=\"794\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\n<p>Windows Backup transferring files and settings to the cloud, which will then be transferred to your new PC.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"imageCredit\">Preston Gralla \/ Foundry<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>7. During the setup process on your new PC, sign into your Microsoft account (the same one you use on your old PC). Windows will recognize that you have a backup and ask you if you want that backup to be transferred to your new PC. You\u2019ll be shown all your backups from all your devices. Select the one you want to use and click <em>Restore from this PC<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>8. Your backed up files, settings, and preferences will be restored on your new device. The Start menu on your new PC will have placeholders for all the apps you included in the backup, but the apps are not actually installed. You\u2019ll need to click each app\u2019s placeholder individually. If it\u2019s available in the Microsoft Store, it\u2019ll be installed right away; otherwise, you\u2019ll be directed to the web to download and install it. \u00a0<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Transfer files with OneDrive<\/h2>\n<p>If all your files and folders are stored in OneDrive, you can choose a quick-and-dirty way to transfer them all to your new PC: simply sign into OneDrive on your new PC, making sure to use the same Microsoft account during setup. After that, sit back and let OneDrive do its magic. You\u2019ll have to install your apps and sign into them, and change any settings manually, but you\u2019ll need to do that with most other ways of migrating to your new PC anyway.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Transfer files via a File History backup<\/h2>\n<p>Windows 10 and 11 include an old-school backup utility called <a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerworld.com\/article\/1621193\/how-to-use-file-history-windows-10-windows-11.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">File History<\/a> that you can use to restore files (but not settings or apps) from an old PC to a new one. To use it, you\u2019ll need an external drive. It can be any kind of drive, including a USB drive.<\/p>\n<p>With the external drive attached to your PC, type\u00a0<strong>file history<\/strong>\u00a0into the Windows search bar and click\u00a0<em>File History<\/em>. That launches File History in Control Panel. You\u2019ll see any external drives attached to your PC. Select the drive you want to use and click\u00a0<em>Turn on<\/em>. Your files will be copied to the drive.<\/p>\n<div class=\"extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/b2b-contenthub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/migrate-windows-pc-05-file-history.png\" alt=\"file history screen in windows control panel\" class=\"wp-image-4111283\" width=\"784\" height=\"634\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\n<p>Using File History from Control Panel in Windows 11.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"imageCredit\">Preston Gralla \/ Foundry<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>To exclude folders from the backup, select\u00a0<em>Exclude folders<\/em> from the left navigation menu, click\u00a0<em>Add<\/em>, and choose the folders you want to exclude.<\/p>\n<p>To copy the backed-up files to your new PC, plug the drive into it, repeat the above steps, and click\u00a0<em>Restore personal files<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>For more detailed instructions, see \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerworld.com\/article\/1621193\/how-to-use-file-history-windows-10-windows-11.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">How to use File History in Windows 10 and 11<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Transfer files via an external drive<\/h2>\n<p>To migrate files and folders to your new PC, you can dispense with using any special software at all, and instead connect an external hard drive, SD card, or thumb drive to your old PC, copy your files to it, then eject that device from the old computer, plug it into the new PC and copy the files to that new PC. The trick here (besides having enough storage capacity on your transfer drive) is to have your files and folders organized well enough so you get them all.<\/p>\n<p>We recommend that you use the same folder organization on your new PC as on your old computer, at least to start.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> If you are transferring files from a Mac to a PC, the external hard drive must be formatted as MS-DOS, not NTFS or APFS. SD cards and thumb drives use the same FAT32 format on both macOS and Windows, so if your files fit on those storage devices, that\u2019s often easier than using a hard drive.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\n<div class=\"overflow-table-wrapper\">\n<table class=\"has-fixed-layout\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>A note about transferring email<\/strong>\n<p>If you use a cloud-based mail service such as Gmail or the Outlook web app, you don\u2019t need to transfer your mail files. However, if you use client-based email software (like the desktop version of Outlook), you\u2019ve got some work ahead of you.<\/p>\n<p>Direct file transfer will not move your locally stored email files to the new PC, and copying them to a new PC often doesn\u2019t work because of how they are tied to the email application\u2019s OS settings. We recommend you make sure all your emails are stored in your email server so they can just sync to the email client on your new PC. The Microsoft Outlook client supports several servers, not just Microsoft\u2019s Exchange and Microsoft 365 typically used in business.<\/p>\n<p>IT retention policies may limit how far back emails are stored on the server, so you may have local emails you can\u2019t transfer that way. In that case, Microsoft Outlook does let you import the local .PST files to a Windows PC from the Outlook app on another Windows PC or Mac; Microsoft has provided\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/support.microsoft.com\/en-us\/office\/export-or-backup-email-contacts-and-calendar-to-an-outlook-pst-file-14252b52-3075-4e9b-be4e-ff9ef1068f91\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">export instructions<\/a>\u00a0and separate\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/support.microsoft.com\/en-us\/office\/import-email-contacts-and-calendar-from-an-outlook-pst-file-431a8e9a-f99f-4d5f-ae48-ded54b3440ac?ui=en-us&amp;rs=en-us&amp;ad=us\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">import instructions<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Different client versions of Outlook have different maximum size limits for .PST files that can be transferred from one computer to another. So if you\u2019re planning to move .PST files,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/learn.microsoft.com\/en-us\/previous-versions\/troubleshoot\/outlook\/file-size-limits-of-pst-and-ost-files-are-larger\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">read this Microsoft article<\/a>\u00a0to find out those limits and get advice on ways you might be able to reduce the size of .PST files before trying to transfer them.<\/p>\n<p>Local contacts and calendar entries likewise are very difficult to directly transfer from one computer to another, and it is best to make sure they are stored on a server, such as Exchange, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace\/Gmail\/Google Calendar, or iCloud, so they will sync to your contacts and calendar apps on your new PC. Your contacts and calendar apps may have an export feature that you can try. (You can often export individual contacts as a VCF file, for example.) These days, few contacts and calendar apps are\u00a0<em>not<\/em>\u00a0server-based, so chances are very high your contacts and calendar entries are stored somewhere they can be synced.<\/p><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Transfer files with a USB data-transfer cable<\/h2>\n<p>One of the simplest ways to move files from your old PC to a new one is to use a USB data-transfer cable. You can\u2019t use just any USB cable; it needs to be one specially designed to transfer data. When you plug the cables in, they often automatically install the drivers they need. They also come with file-transfer software that tends to be bare-bones but does the trick.<\/p>\n<p>You can easily find the cables online. If you\u2019re transferring files between two PCs that have USB-C ports, check out this\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pcworld.com\/article\/395115\/the-best-usb-c-cables-for-charging-and-transferring-data.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">PCWorld article with recommendations for the best ones<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Transfer files locally over Wi-Fi or LAN<\/h2>\n<p>If you\u2019d like, you can move your files from your old PC to your new PC via Wi-Fi or a LAN. To do it, the PC with your files and the PC to which you want to transfer them need to be on the same Wi-Fi or Ethernet network.<\/p>\n<p>To do it, you need to turn on network discovery and\u00a0file sharing\u00a0on both the PCs. In Windows 11, select\u00a0<em>Settings &gt; Network &amp; Internet &gt; Advanced network settings &gt; Advanced sharing settings<\/em>, and turn on the toggles for\u00a0<em>Network Discovery<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0<em>File and printer sharing<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>In Windows 10, select\u00a0<em>Settings &gt; Network &amp; Internet &gt; Network and Sharing Center<\/em>. That will launch the Control Panel. In Control Panel, select\u00a0<em>Change advanced sharing settings<\/em>\u00a0from the right side of the screen. On the screen that appears, in the Network Discovery section, select\u00a0<em>Turn on network discovery<\/em>, and in the File and Printer sharing section, select\u00a0<em>Turn on file and printer sharing<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>You can now drag and drop files and folders from your old PC to your new one using Windows Explorer. Click\u00a0<em>Network<\/em>\u00a0at the bottom of the left-hand pane in File Explorer, find the new PC to which you want to transfer files and folders, and copy them to it.<\/p>\n<p>Note that transferring files this way can be flaky \u2014 you may have problems with your PCs showing up on the network. Setting it up takes only a few minutes, though, and if it doesn\u2019t work you can always use another method in this story to transfer the files. (For troubleshooting help, you may want to use the advice in PCWorld\u2019s article \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pcworld.com\/article\/2191054\/windows-11-how-to-set-up-a-network.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Windows 11: How to set up a local network<\/a>.\u201d)<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Transfer files, settings, and more via file-transfer software<\/h2>\n<p>If you want more hand-holding in your file transfer, you can buy and use a utility like Laplink\u2019s $60\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/web.laplink.com\/product\/pcmover-professional\/#tabs2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">PCmover Professional<\/a>, which has been around for decades. It works over your network (either Wi-Fi or Ethernet) or via Laplink\u2019s Ethernet or USB cables (these cost extra). It lets you choose which files and folders to transfer, and will transfer your settings, bookmarks, and applications too. You can migrate from old Windows versions to later Windows versions, as well as between the same versions. (One exception: you cannot migrate from Windows XP to Windows XP.)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> You need administrator privileges in Windows to use all of PCmover\u2019s capabilities.<\/p>\n<p>Before you transfer any applications via a utility like PCmover, sign out of or deactivate any apps on your old computer. Most software these days is tied to an online account that limits the number of active installations or has digital rights management to prevent piracy via copying. You don\u2019t want the transfer to be seen as a piracy attempt or as an additional installation that counts against any limit you may have.<\/p>\n<p>Another option is EhlerTech\u2019s\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/ehlertech.com\/usmtgui\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">USMTGUI<\/a>, a graphical front end to Microsoft\u2019s command-line\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/docs.microsoft.com\/en-us\/windows\/deployment\/usmt\/usmt-topics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">User State Migration Tool<\/a>. USMTGUI (like USMT) transfers only settings and associated data like emails, not applications. The home version pricing starts at $10, and the corporate license pricing starts at $300.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Install and set up apps on your new PC<\/h2>\n<p>Regardless of the transfer method you use, you almost certainly will have apps to reinstall, depending on what IT did for you in preparing your new computer. (PCmover Professional will transfer most apps; its documentation describes its limitations.)<\/p>\n<p>On your new PC, re-download the apps you need and sign in as required. You\u2019ll find some apps on the Microsoft Store, while others you\u2019ll need to download from the software vendor\u2019s website. As noted earlier, if you restore from a backup in Windows Backup, you\u2019ll find placeholders for your apps that can speed up this process.<\/p>\n<p>In most cases, you\u2019ll need to set up your applications\u2019 preferences on the new computer, so set aside the time to do that.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Transfer browser bookmarks to your new PC<\/h2>\n<p>You also will want to transfer your bookmarks from your old computer\u2019s browser to your new computer\u2019s browser. There are three methods: direct syncing between the same browser and exporting a browser\u2019s bookmark files to import into a different browser. The first method keeps the browsers in sync, whereas the second method is a manual approach for when you are moving to a new computer (or browser) and won\u2019t use the old computer (or browser) anymore.<\/p>\n<p>Chrome, Firefox, and Edge all sync bookmarks across all your devices if they are all signed into the same account. Just enable syncing in each browser on each device you use. To be clear, you can sync only to the same browser, such as from Chrome to Chrome.<\/p>\n<p>For situations where your browser is not signed into the same account as your old computer, the major browsers all have a facility to export and import bookmarks via files:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Google Chrome:<\/strong>\u00a0To export bookmarks, click the vertical three-dot icon at the top right of your browser window, then select\u00a0<em>Bookmarks and lists &gt; Bookmark Manager<\/em>\u00a0from the menu that appears. Click the three-dot icon to the right of the search bar and select\u00a0<em>Export bookmarks<\/em>. To import bookmarks, follow the same procedure but choose\u00a0<em>Import bookmarks<\/em>\u00a0instead of\u00a0<em>Export Bookmarks<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Mozilla Firefox:<\/strong>\u00a0To export bookmarks, click the\u00a0<em>Menu<\/em>\u00a0button (three horizontal lines) on the top right of the screen, then select\u00a0<em>Bookmarks<\/em>\u00a0and click\u00a0<em>Manage bookmarks<\/em>\u00a0at the bottom of the screen. Select\u00a0<em>Import and Backup<\/em>\u00a0from the top of the screen that appears and choose\u00a0<em>Export Bookmarks to HTML<\/em>. To import bookmarks, follow the same procedure but choose\u00a0<em>Import Bookmarks from HTML<\/em>\u00a0instead of\u00a0<em>Export Bookmarks to HTML<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Microsoft Edge:<\/strong>\u00a0Click the\u00a0<em>Favorites<\/em>\u00a0button (the star icon), then click the three-button icon at the top of the panel that appears and choose\u00a0<em>Export favorites<\/em>. To import bookmarks, follow the same procedure but choose\u00a0<em>Import favorites<\/em>\u00a0instead of\u00a0<em>Export favorites<\/em>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What to do after migrating your files and apps to the new PC<\/h2>\n<p>When everything is transferred, be sure to take these steps to protect your data:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Sign out of all your accounts on the old computer.<\/strong>\u00a0This includes Microsoft, Google, browser sync, passwords, financial information, cloud storage accounts, and others. You don\u2019t want the next owner to be able to use your accounts, especially any that may connect to credit and debit cards or bank accounts.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Consider wiping\/reformatting the old computer<\/strong>, but check with IT first if it\u2019s a business computer, in case they need to keep it as is for some period of time for regulatory or HR policy reasons. If your own computer and you\u2019re feeling particularly paranoid, you can remove the old hard disk and physically destroy it.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Back up your new PC.<\/strong>\u00a0Don\u2019t forget to establish a regular backup routine on your new Windows computer, whether it\u2019s through\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerworld.com\/article\/1621193\/how-to-use-file-history-windows-10-windows-11.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">File History<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerworld.com\/article\/1619804\/how-to-make-image-backup-windows-10-windows-11.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">image backup software<\/a>, or the new\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerworld.com\/article\/2094661\/new-windows-11-backup-and-recovery-paradigm.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Windows Backup facility in Windows 11<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>This article was originally published in November 2020 and most recently updated in December 2025.<\/em><\/p>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Further reading:<\/strong><\/h4>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerworld.com\/article\/1711950\/how-to-switch-from-android-to-iphone.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">How to switch from Android to iPhone<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerworld.com\/article\/1712023\/how-to-switch-from-iphone-to-android-ultimate-guide.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">How to switch from iPhone to Android<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerworld.com\/article\/1711698\/android-file-transfer-how-to-move-data-between-your-phone-and-computer.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">How to move data between your Android phone and a computer<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerworld.com\/article\/1717513\/8-essential-android-to-ios-file-transfer-tips.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">How to move files between an iPhone and Android phone<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It\u2019s great to get a new computer, but it\u2019s not so great to realize that all your stuff is on the old one. You\u2019re in luck, though. It\u2019s easier than ever to transfer your data from an old PC to a new one. We\u2019ve covered multiple ways you can do it, below. In this article: [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":38663,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[42],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-38662","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tech"],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-10-25 14:47:00","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gpnewswire.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38662","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gpnewswire.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gpnewswire.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gpnewswire.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gpnewswire.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38662"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gpnewswire.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38662\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gpnewswire.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/38663"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gpnewswire.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38662"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gpnewswire.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38662"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gpnewswire.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38662"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}