How to Transfer Windows 10 to Another Computer | Complete Guide?

Windows 10 is the most widely used Windows operating system in history, while support for Windows will officially cease on October 14, 2025. However, this doesn't mean you can no longer use Windows 10 after that date. Are you looking to use Windows 10 on a different computer without having to download the ISO file and going through a complicated installation process? If so, read this blog from tools to learn how to easily and quickly transfer Windows 10 to another computer.

How to Transfer Windows 10 to Another Computer

This is a real scenario of moving Windows 10 to a new PC. Many computer users tend to purchase a new one to enjoy improved performance as their old computer slows down over time.

However, most of them still prefer to use the old OS on the new PC to keep the system, data, and programs exactly the same as the old one, so that they needn't reinstall Windows - a time-consuming process. But can you move Windows 10 to another computer?

Can you move Windows 10 to another computer

The answer is yes, you can transfer Windows 11/10/8/7 to another computer. You have the option to perform a universal restore or clone the Windows 10 to another computer. It's important to note that cloning Windows to a different PC might lead to boot problems if the new computer has incompatible hardware. Hence, it's advisable to opt for a universal restore.

Universal Restore can help you transfer your OS to a computer with different hardware without any incompatibility issues. All you need to do is create a Windows 10 system image backup on an external drive, and then restore the image backup on your new computer. The section below will show you how to move Windows 10 from one PC to another.

#2 How to Transfer Windows 10 from One PC to Another

As mentioned earlier, a universal restore is the ideal method to transfer Windows to another computer, ensuring that your new PC has the same configuration as the old one. For this purpose, you'll need to find universal restore software, as Windows Backup & Restore doesn't offer this functionality. Enter Todo Backup, a well-known solution in the backup and recovery field, to assist you with this task.

Todo Backup Home is a Windows backup software equipped with powerful universal restore functions. It enables you to create scheduled backups and automatically back up files, systems, disks, partitions, computer applications, and more. Furthermore, it allows you to save your backups in multiple locations, including local drives, NAS, Security Zone, and Cloud. It also offers the capability to easily and swiftly clone a hard drive and image a disk.

Translation: Tool backup software can cater to your diverse needs, whether you're looking to create a backup or clone a disk. Make sure to download it to your computer and start using it today. Below is a guide on how to transfer your Windows 11/10/8/7 from one computer to another, which consists of two parts.

Part 1. Create a system image on an external drive

Step 1. Launch Todo Backup on your computer, and click Create Backup on the home screen. Then, hit the big question mark to select backup contents.

Step 2. To back up your Windows operating system, click "OS" to start the backup task.

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Step 3. Your Windows operating system information and all system-related files and partitions will be automatically selected, so you don't need to make any manual selections here. Next, you'll need to choose where to save the system image backup by clicking the highlighted area.

Step 4. The backup location can be another local drive on your computer, an external hard drive, network, cloud, or NAS. Generally, we recommend using an external physical drive or cloud to store system backup files.

Step 5. If interested, you can access customization settings like enabling an automatic backup schedule for daily, weekly, monthly, or event-based backups, as well as creating differential and incremental backups by clicking on the Options button. Once ready, hit "Backup Now" to commence the Windows system backup process. When complete, the finished backup task will be displayed on the left side in a card format.

Part 2. Restore the system backup to another computer

* To perform system recovery on a non-bootable machine, try to boot the computer through the Todo Backup emergency disk.

Step 1. Launch Todo Backup, and click "Browse to Recover".

Click on "Browse to Recover".

Step 2. Navigate to your backup destination, and choose the system backup file you need. (The backup file created by Todo Backup tool is a .pbd file.)

Step 3. Select the recovery disk. Make sure that the partition style of the source disk and the recovery disk are the same.

Step 4. You can customize the disk layout as per your need. Click "Proceed" to start system backup restore.

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Bonus Tip: Transfer Windows 10 License to New Computer

Once you've completed the Windows transfer process, you'll still need a Windows license or activation key to activate your Windows. Unlike a Windows product key, a Windows license is typically tied to your PC's hardware and linked to your Microsoft account. When your computer is connected to the internet and you sign in to your Microsoft account, your PC will activate. Here's how to transfer your Windows 10 license to a new PC:

Step 1. Sign in to your account at microsoft.com, and go to My Microsoft Account under your user account.

Step 2. Click View All Devices to see the devices associated with your account.

Step 3. Scroll down and select the computer you wish to deactivate.

< strong >< strong >Step 4. Tap Info and Support > Remove this Device > I'm ready to remove this device, and then click Remove.

Step 5. Search for "activation" in the Windows search bar, select Activation settings, and open it.

Step 6. Click Troubleshoot, and then click I changed the hardware on this device recently if you see a message that says Windows was unable to activate.

Step 7. Select the new computer you're using, click This is the device I'm using right now, and then activate. Wait a moment; you'll see the message Windows is activated.

If you need detailed information on transferring a Windows license, you can refer to the following article for assistance:

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How to Transfer Windows 11/10 License to Another PC

This article will guide you on how to transfer your Windows 11/10 license to another computer using reliable and practical methods. Read more >>

To conclude

This article outlines how to transfer Windows 10 to another computer by performing a universal restore. A universal restore enables you to move the Windows operating system to a different computer without encountering compatibility issues. To do this, you'll need to create a system image on an external device and subsequently restore that image on the new computer.

Since Windows doesn't have a built-in tool for this, you'll need a universal restore program to transfer Windows 10 from one PC to another. tools Todo Backup is a comprehensive backup and recovery solution suitable for all computer users. It enables you to execute a universal restore effortlessly and safeguard your data effectively. Download and give it a try!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Transferring Windows 10 to Another Computer

1. Do I need to purchase Windows 10 again for a new computer?

You don't have to repurchase Windows for a new computer because you can transfer your Windows 10 to another computer by performing a universal restore or cloning your Windows 10 to another computer.

2. Can I install Windows 10 on a hard drive and transfer it to another computer?

You can install Windows 10 on a hard drive and use it on another computer. For instance, you can clone Windows 10 straight to another PC or create a system image on a hard drive and restore the image backup on a new computer.

3. Can I reuse my Windows 10 product key on a new computer?

It depends. If you purchased the product key separately and it's a retail key, you can reuse the Windows key, as this type of license is transferable. In this situation, you can use your Windows key on another/new computer.

4. Are all Windows 10 licenses transferrable?

It depends. Most Windows 10 licenses can be transferred to another PC, whereas Windows 10 OEM licenses are tied to the original hardware and are generally not transferable.