How to Move Files to an External Hard Drive Without Copying – 2 Alternative Methods

Transferring your files to an external hard drive is a great way to keep your important data safe from computer crashes, hard drive failures, or viruses. It also allows you to carry your files around with you and access them whenever you need them. After you transfer your files to an external hard drive, you can delete the original copies to free up space on your computer for more files.

Copying and pasting is the most straightforward method that most people use. However, according to user feedback, this method can create unnecessary duplicates on your computer and occasionally results in data loss. Therefore, people are seeking more efficient alternatives. In this article, we will explore three alternative methods that allow you to seamlessly move files to an external hard drive without copying.

3 Ways to Move Files to an External Hard Drive Without Copying

Before discussing these three alternatives, let's take a look at a chart comparing their likely effects and difficulty of implementation.

Method 1: Easily and Automatically Backup Your Files to an External Hard Drive with Free Software

If you want to transfer files or other data quickly and easily from your computer to an external hard drive, the Todo Backup Free tool is an excellent choice. It's a comprehensive backup and recovery program that lets you back up files, disks, partitions, and systems to any location, including external hard drives, USB devices, NAS, cloud services, and more.

It supports various file types, allowing you to freely move and transfer photos, videos, Word documents, PowerPoint presentations, Excel spreadsheets, and other file formats to an external hard drive, so you don't have to worry about losing your files.

Todo Backup features scheduled backups, which means you can set up an automatic backup plan, and the software will save your designated files to a destination folder at fixed intervals.

Another great thing about Todo Backup is its differential backup and incremental backup options. With these advanced features, you can save even more storage space for other data.

Download the tool now and follow the steps to transfer your important files to an external hard drive.

Step 1. Tap “Select Backup” to start the backup process.

Step 2. There are four backup types to choose from: Files, Disk, System, and Mail. Click on Files.

Step 3: Your local and network files appear on the left. Expand the folders and select the files you want to back up.

Step 4. Choose where you want to save your backup, following the on-screen instructions.

Click “Options,” set a password protection under “Backup Options,” schedule the backup for a certain time under “Backup Schedule,” or set it to trigger with specific events. There are many other customizable options available during the backup process.

You can save the backup to a local disk, the tool's online service, or a NAS.

Step 6. Todo Backup lets customers back up data to third-party cloud storage services as well as the company's own cloud storage service.

If you want to back up to a third-party cloud service, choose “Local Disk,” then scroll down and add “Cloud Device,” add an account, and log in.

You can also save the backup to the tool's cloud storage service. Click "Tool Cloud," then sign up for and log in to your tool account.

Step 7. Click “Back Up Now” to start the backup process. When it's done, it will appear as a card in the left sidebar. You can right-click on it to manage the backup job.

Further Reading: Clone External Hard Drive to Another External Hard Drive

Method 2: Move the File to an External Hard Drive with File History

If you don't want to use third-party software, you can opt for using Windows' built-in File History feature. This is specifically designed to back up Windows files to an external hard drive or network location. File History also includes an automatic backup feature that you can set to transfer your files to the external hard drive daily, weekly, monthly, or on another schedule you prefer.

File History defaults to backing up all files in the Windows Libraries, including Desktop, Contacts, Documents, Downloads, Favorites, Links, Music, OneDrive, Pictures, Saved Games, Searches, and Videos. As such, you'll have to select specific files and an external hard drive for backup.

Here's how to transfer your files using File History to an external hard drive. The process involves several steps, so make sure you complete each one correctly.

Step 1. Open Control Panel > System and Security > File History.

Step 2: Click “Select Disk” on the left sidebar and set your external hard drive as the backup destination, then click “OK”.

Click on Advanced settings to specify how often you want to save file versions, by the minute, hour, or day.

Finally, click “Open”. File History will automatically back up your files to the external hard drive according to the schedule you set.

Method 3: Move Files to an External Hard Drive with Backup and Restore

< a href="/backup-recovery/how-to-use-backup-and-restore-windows-7.html" > Backup and Restore< /a> is another built-in Windows backup utility that can save your files to an external hard drive. This tool is mainly used for creating system images, but it also comes with file backup options. If you want to transfer specific files or folders to an external hard drive, this tool will help you do that. However, the process involves several steps and isn't beginner-friendly.

Connect the external hard drive to your Windows computer, then use Backup and Restore to move your files onto it.

Step 1: Click the Start menu, and type backup in the search box. Select “Backup and Restore” from the search results; or open the Control Panel and find “Backup and Restore.”

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Step 2: Tap “Set Up Backup,” and wait for the pop-up to finish the process.

Step 3: Choose an external drive as the target disk.

Step 4: When prompted to choose the folders to back up, select Let me choose and click on the Next button.

Step 5: Choose the specific folders or files you want to back up, then click “Next.”

Step 6. While reviewing your backup settings, you can click "Change schedule" to customize the backup plan as needed.

Change Backup Schedule

Step 7. Click “OK” to start your first backup. After the initial backup, your computer will automatically back up your files to the external hard drive per your scheduled frequency.

Final Words

Finding a simple and efficient file transfer solution can greatly streamline the process and save time. This section will introduce three different methods to move files to an external hard drive without copying them, including using Todo Backup, File History, and Backup and Restore tools.

All three of these methods automatically back up your files to an external hard drive while keeping the original files intact. Our top pick for its ease of use and straightforward interface is Todo Backup. Download it and give it a try – you won't be disappointed.

Frequently Asked Questions on How to Move Files to an External Hard Drive Without Copying Them

Here are some common questions on this topic, which you may refer to if you have similar concerns.

1. How do I permanently move files to an external hard drive? 2. Can I transfer all my data from my old computer to a new one using an external hard drive? 3. How do I backup my operating system and applications to an external hard drive? 4. Is it safe to store important documents on an external hard drive for long-term use? 5. How can I optimize the transfer speed when copying large files to an external hard drive? 6. What factors should I consider when choosing an external hard drive for file backups? 7. Can I connect multiple external hard drives to my computer simultaneously? 8. How do I format an external hard drive to work with both Windows and macOS? 9. Are there any risks of data loss during file transfer to an external hard drive? 10. How frequently should I perform backups on my external hard drive to ensure data safety?

To permanently move files to an external hard drive, use the Cut and Paste method. Select the files you want to move, right-click, and choose “Cut.” Navigate to your external hard drive, right-click, and select “Paste.” This will move the files to the external hard drive without creating additional copies on your computer. To avoid losing or damaging data, make sure all transfers are complete before disconnecting the external hard drive.

2. How can I transfer a large number of files in one go?

To transfer many files at once, you can use a file transfer program or create a compressed folder. To compress files, highlight all the files you want to send, right-click, select "Send To," and then choose "Compressed (zipped) folder." This will create a single file that's easier to transfer. Alternatively, you can use file transfer software like FileZilla or SyncBack to send multiple files and folders over a network or USB connection. These tools streamline the process, save time, and ensure efficient bulk transfers.

What is the simplest way to transfer files?

Using a USB flash drive or an external hard drive is the simplest way to transfer files. First, connect the USB device to your computer, then open File Explorer and locate the files you need to transfer. Next, simply drag and drop the files you want to use into the USB drive. Once the transfer is complete, safely eject the USB device, and you can now insert it into another computer to access your transferred files. This method is straightforward and user-friendly, requiring no additional software or complicated steps.