How to Move Windows 11 to Another Drive Without Losing Data

With Microsoft ending support for Windows 10 in 2025, the adoption rate of Windows 11 is on the rise. If your Windows 11 is installed on a smaller HDD or SSD, you might want to move it to a larger drive for better performance. However, doing so could lead to data loss in your Windows 11 installation. Don't worry! This article will walk you through how to migrate Windows 11 to another drive without losing data. Let's dive into the detailed steps!

Is there any way to move Windows to another drive?

When your current C drive is out of space, you may want to move Windows to a larger disk, either HDD or SSD, for better and more stable PC performance. Besides, moving Windows 11/10 to another drive can help you create a system backup that allows easy restoration when the system crashes. Can I move my Windows install to another drive?

How can I move the Windows 11 operating system from one disk to another without moving all the data? Source: /r/windows on Reddit Author: u/lololy87

Yes, you can copy your Windows installation to an SSD or HDD, and there are three different ways to do it: clone Windows 11/10 to another drive, perform a clean install of Windows on the new drive, or execute a universal restore.

However, if you're wondering how to move Windows to another drive without losing data, cloning is the best and most efficient way. This is because cloning allows you to transfer everything – including your data and the OS – from one drive to another without losing data or reinstalling Windows. All you need is a reliable disk cloning tool, and to buy an USB-to-SATA cable to connect the drives to your computer when cloning.

Best Free Disk Cloning Software for Windows

As mentioned above, the best way to move Windows to another drive is by means of a disk cloning process, rather than performing a general restore or a clean install. Unfortunately, Windows does not come with a built-in cloning setup to clone a hard disk. In this case, a dedicated disk cloning tool like Disk Copy can be of assistance.

"Disk Clone" is an efficient and reliable disk cloning software that helps you migrate your Windows operating system to another drive without reinstallation or data loss. It enables you to clone HDDs or SSDs from various manufacturers on your Windows 11/10/8/7 computer and easily transfer data from HDD to SSD to boost your computer's performance. Here are some key features of this OS migration tool:

A cloning tool can easily clone your hard drive, upgrade your disk, migrate Windows 11 to a new SSD, or move Windows 11 to another computer. It meets your different needs for disk cloning. Download this practical system cloning software for free on your PC to help you transfer Windows 11 to another drive.

If you can't move your operating system to another drive, see the following article for help.

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Unable to Migrate Operating System to Another Drive

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How can I move Windows to another drive without losing data?

After downloading a hard drive cloning software on your computer, you can use it to clone Windows 11 to a new hard drive or another drive:

Boot from a disk cloning tool to perform a smooth disk copy or cloning process.

1. Download, install, and run the Disk Copy utility on your computer.
Click on Disk Mode, select the source disk that you want to copy or clone, and then click Next to proceed.

2. Select the target disk where you want to clone/copy the old hard drive, then click "Next" to proceed. If prompted, confirm that you want to erase the data on the target disk.

3. Check and edit the disk layout. You can choose to "Fit to disk automatically", "Copy from source disk", or "Edit disk layout". It is recommended to use "Fit to disk automatically".

- Select the "Copy source" option to copy cloning the partition layout of the source disk to the target disk. - With the "Edit Disk Layout" option, you can manually adjust the partition size or move partitions on the target disk. - If your target disk is an SSD drive, remember to check the "Target is SSD" option.

Click Continue to start the disk cloning or disk duplication process.

Expert Tip: How to Boot Windows 11 from a New Hard Drive

After migrating the OS, you need to replace the old hard drive with the new one on your Windows PC. If you're using a desktop, you can place the cloned disk side by side with the old one. But if it's a laptop, you'll have to open the back cover and install the new SSD. Then, you need to enter BIOS settings and set the cloned disk as the first boot drive. Here's how:

Step 1. Restart your computer and hold down the BIOS key to enter the BIOS setup screen. The key varies by manufacturer, but it's usually F2, F12, Delete, or Esc.

Step 2: Use the arrow keys to navigate to the 'Boot' section.

Step 3: Look for the "Boot Order" or "Boot Priority" option and select it.

Step 4: Use the arrow keys to move the cloned hard drive to the top of the boot order list.

Step 5: Save your changes and exit the BIOS setup screen. Restart your computer, and it should boot from the new hard drive.

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In summary,

Migrating Windows to another drive or a larger HDD/SSD can significantly boost your computer's performance. If you don't know how to do it, this article will detail how to move Windows 11 to another drive without losing data. There are several ways to install/move Windows to another SSD/HDD, but cloning is the best way to move files to another drive or migrate Windows to another disk.

A hard drive cloning tool is a user-friendly cloning program that helps you migrate your operating system to another drive with ease and speed. It allows you to clone HDD to SSD in three simple steps without reinstalling the OS or losing data. Download this free disk cloning software and explore its practical features!

Frequently Asked Questions About Moving Windows 11 to Another Drive Without Losing Data

1. Will I lose all my data if I replace HDD with SSD?

Normally, if you just swap out an HDD for an SSD, you'll lose your files. But if you clone the HDD to the SSD, you won't lose anything.

2. How can I replace my SSD without losing data?

Cloning is the best and easiest way to replace an SSD without losing data, as it helps you clone SSD to SSD without reinstalling Windows and losing data. Besides, the disk layout on the target SSD will be the same as the old one.

3. How to migrate an operating system from one SSD to another?

There are three ways to move Windows from one SSD to another: perform a universal restore, create a system image backup on an external drive and restore it to the SSD, do a clean install, or clone the OS to another drive.

How to Transfer Everything from One Hard Drive to Another in Windows 11?

Here are the step-by-step instructions to转移所有内容从Windows 11电脑的一个磁盘到另一个磁盘: 1. **Backup important data**: Before starting, make sure to backup all your crucial personal files and data to avoid accidental loss. 2. **Acquire the target hard drive**: Buy or prepare a new hard drive (HDD or SSD) with sufficient storage for the content you want to transfer. 3. **Connect the new hard drive**: Attach the new hard drive to your Windows 11 computer using a SATA, USB, or Thunderbolt cable. If using an external drive, ensure it's plugged in securely and powered. 4. **Initialize the new hard drive**: Launch Disk Management (search for it in the taskbar). In the right pane, locate the freshly connected drive, which might display as "Unallocated." Right-click it, select "Initialize Disk," then choose the partition style (MBR or GPT) as prompted. 5. **Create a new partition**: Right-click the freshly initialized disk space and pick "New Simple Volume." Follow the wizard's prompts to create a new partition. Assign a drive letter and select a file system (e.g., NTFS). 6. **Copy files**: Use File Explorer to drag and drop the files and folders you want to transfer from their corresponding locations on the old hard drive to the equivalent spots on the new hard drive. This could take a while depending on the file sizes and quantity. 7. **Move user folders**: You might have to move individual user folders from "C:\Users" to the new hard drive. In "Control Panel," open "User Accounts," choose "Change account settings," then select the user you want to move. Under the "Location" tab, redirect the personal folders (like Documents, Pictures, etc.) to the new hard drive location. 8. **System migration**: If you want to迁移整个 operating system, use third-party software like tools Todo Backup or AOMEI Backupper. They usually have a "Disk Clone" feature that safely迁移 the full system to the new hard drive. 9. **Restart and verify**: After finishing these steps, restart your PC. In the BIOS/UEFI settings, confirm the new hard drive is set as the boot device. Then, verify that all files have migrated successfully and the system runs smoothly. 10. **Erase old hard drive data**: Once you're certain everything works fine, securely wipe all data from the old hard drive to prevent data泄露. Bear in mind that these steps might differ slightly based on your specific computer setup, so familiarize yourself with your system before proceeding.

• Download and install a disk cloning tool, then activate it. • In disk mode, select the old hard drive as the source disk, then click "Next". • Choose the new hard drive as the target disk. • (Optional) Adjust the disk layout. • Click "Start" to begin cloning the disk.