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How to Transfer Documents from One PC to Another in Windows 10 in Three Different Ways

How can you quickly and safely transfer files between two computers without losing any data? Here are several methods to easily move files from one computer to another: using a USB/external hard drive, OneDrive, or a PC data transfer tool. 1. Using a USB/External Hard Drive: - First, connect the USB or external hard drive to the source computer (the one sending the files). - Copy the documents you want to transfer onto the USB or hard drive. - Disconnect the USB or hard drive and attach it to the target computer (the one receiving the files). - On the target computer, copy and paste the files to the desired location. 2. Using OneDrive (or other cloud storage services): - Sign in to your OneDrive account on the source computer and upload the files you wish to transfer. - Once the upload is complete, log in to the same OneDrive account on the target computer. - Download and save the required files to the target computer. 3. Using a PC Data Transfer Tool: - There are various third-party , such as AOMEI Backupper, Windows Easy Transfer, etc., that facilitate file transfer. - Install and run the tool on the source computer, and follow the prompts to select the files and settings you want to transfer. - The tool will create a package containing all selected files, which you can then transfer to the target computer via the network, USB, or external hard drive. - On the target computer, run the same software, import the data package, and restore the files. Ensure stable connections throughout the process to prevent data loss. It's also advisable to back up important files before transferring them.

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How to transfer files from one computer to another in 3 ways
How to move the "My Documents" folder on Windows 10 from one computer to another

Whether you're upgrading your PC to Windows 10 or moving from an old computer to a new one, or simply sharing files and work between computers on a regular basis, you'll need to transfer files between them.

Here, we will introduce the most common methods to transfer files from one computer to another via USB/external hard drive, OneDrive, or using a PC transfer software.

Also, we will show you the easiest and fastest way to transfer your “My Documents” or “Documents” folder from one computer to another with a step-by-step guide.

How to Transfer Documents from PC to Windows 10 PC Using Three Quick Methods [Back to Table of Contents](#1)

While there are multiple ways to transfer documents and files from one computer to another, here we explain three of the most common and practical methods. Let's dive in.

1. Transfer files from one computer to another via USB/External hard drive

If you have a USB flash drive or external hard drive handy, you can manually copy and paste the files from one computer to another. This manual process may take some time if the files you're transferring are large.

Buying a USB flash drive or external hard disk might cost anywhere from tens to hundreds of dollars. If you don't have one, or your USB drive isn't large enough, you can use the method described in the next section, OneDrive, to transfer documents from one PC to another.

If you plan on using a USB flash drive or external hard drive to back up your files and transfer them between computers, see that article instead.

Step 1: Connect the USB flash drive/external hard drive to the source computer.

Step 2. Once the USB drive is recognized, copy the target files to it. (Address the issue of USB device not recognized by Windows, if any.)

Step 3. Safely eject the USB flash drive, and then plug it into the target computer to transfer the data.

Transfer files from PC to PC using an external device

How to transfer documents from one PC to another Windows 10 PC using OneDrive

To transfer documents and files from one PC running Windows 10/8/7 to another, you can use the cloud storage service OneDrive for recovery. OneDrive lets you save and share files and photos with friends and family and access them from anywhere on any device.

If you have a Microsoft account, you get 5 GB of free storage. And if you need more than that for your files, affordable options with more storage are available: 100 GB costs around $2 per month, and 1 TB costs around $7 per month, with a subscription to Office 365 Personal thrown in.

 Tip: OneDrive can't help you transfer apps and settings from one computer to another. If you need to move programs from one computer to another, try this method instead.

Step 1: Find the file you want to transfer to another PC, right-click on it, and select the “Share” tab on the toolbar. In the pop-up window, choose “OneDrive.”

Step 2. Once OneDrive opens, click the “Add” button to upload your files to your OneDrive cloud account.

Transfer documents from PC to PC using OneDrive

Step 3. Once the sync is complete, open the OneDrive app on your other computer. Right-click a document or file, then select “Download.” This will transfer the file from one computer to the other.

How to Transfer Files from One Computer to Another Using a Free PC Data Transfer Tool

Even without an external drive or OneDrive enabled, you can still transfer files from PC to PC quickly and securely with a free PC-to-PC file transfer tool.

Todo PCTrans Free provides a comprehensive solution for computer data transfer.

Data transfer from computer to computer: Move files, user accounts, and installed programs from one computer to another over a network.
Computer transfer without the internet: If no network is available, create backup files of your programs and restore them to another PC using a USB or external storage device.
App migration on the same local disk: Move applications from one local drive to another, or even to an external storage device, to free up space, such as transferring programs from C drive to D drive.
Data rescue: Recover data from a failed hard drive if your computer encounters startup issues.

Download this simple PC file transfer software to copy documents and files from one PC to another over WiFi for free.

Step 1: Launch Todo PCTrans on both computers and choose the "PC to PC" mode to proceed.

Step 2. Make sure you have selected the correct transfer direction.

"New" - Transfer data from the old computer to the current new one.

"Old Version" - Transfer data from the current old computer to a new one remotely.

Step 3. Enter the target computer's password or verification code to connect the two computers over the network. Make sure you've selected the correct transfer direction, then click “Connect” to proceed.

The verification code is located in the upper-right corner of the main “PC to PC” screen on the controlling computer.

Transfer Files from PC to PC - Step 2

Step 4: Next, click on “Files” to select the files you want to transfer. Choose specific files as per your need. In addition, you can tap on the “Edit” icon to customize the storage path for the transferred data.

Transfer Files from PC to PC - Step 1

Click “Send” to begin transferring the files from your computer to the other one. Depending on the size of the file, this may take some time, so be patient.

Please see: How to Efficiently Transfer Your “My Documents” Folder from One Computer to Another

The "My Documents" or "Documents" folder is a special system folder designed to store personal, non-shared documents. It may also contain application data and settings. You can typically find the "Documents" folder at the following path: C:\Users\UserName\Documents.

Over time, these folders can become filled with important files. So how do you quickly transfer the “Documents” or default folders like “Downloads” and “Pictures” from your old computer to your new one?

The tool Todo PCTrans does just that, letting you move your entire “Documents” folder from one computer to another with a single click.

Step 1: Run Todo PCTrans on both the old and new computers. Click Computer to Computer Transfer on the main interface to proceed.

Step 2: Choose the right direction for your transfer.

"New": Transfer data from your old computer to your current new one.

"Old computer": Transfer data from your current old computer to a remote computer.

Transfer files from an old PC to a new one - Step 1

Step 3. Enter the password or authentication code of the target computer to connect both computers to the same local network. Choose the correct transfer direction and click "Connect" to proceed.

The code is located in the upper-right corner of the “PC to PC” main screen on the controlling computer. Turn on the connection verification switch.

Step 2: Transfer files from one PC to another

Transfer files from one PC to another - Step 2

Step 4: In the “Files” section, select the individual file you want to move.

Step 5: Tap on “Transfer” to start the transfer process. Wait for it to finish. The time it takes will depend on the size of your files.

Transfer files from computer to computer - Step 4

[Read more: My Documents folder is missing from Windows 10, how to get it back]

Abstract

Whether you're transferring a Word, Excel, PDF, or any other document, or moving your “My Documents” folder from one PC to another, Todo PCTrans offers the easiest way to do it.

Upgrade your PC seamlessly with a one-stop solution for data and app migration. Move programs to your new PC without reinstalling; transfer user accounts and settings without resetting; and shift unlimited files.