Backup User Profile in Windows 10 or Transfer to New PC [Complete Guide]

Question 1: "Can I backup the User Profile folder in Windows 10 to an external hard drive?"

Question 2: "I want to transfer my User Profile from my current Windows 10 Pro computer to the new computer. How do I transfer it?"

On this page, you'll get a complete guide to backup User Profile, transfer to another new PC or another user account with reliable solutions. If you have the same need, follow the respective method and get started here now:

PAGE CONTENT:

1. What Is User Profile
2. How to Back Up User Profile in Windows 10 - 3 Ways
3. How to Transfer User Profile from Windows 10 to Another PC
4. How to Copy User Profile in Windows 10 to Another User Account

Overview - What Is User Profile

What is the User Profile? According to Microsoft Windows System, "User profiles store settings for your desktop and other information related to your user account.

You can create a different profile on each computer you use, or you can select a roaming profile that is the same on every computer you use."

What is in the User Profile folder? It contains:

Your personal data
Information for system needs
Desktop, downloads, documents, etc., general data,
System restrictions, App data, and applications, etc.

As you can see that these data are important for most Windows users. Creating a backup of the User Profile data is indeed important.

But how to do so? Follow the respective guide as shown below, you'll fully back up the User Profile successfully.

Part 1. How to Backup User Profile in Windows 10 - 3 Ways

In this part, you'll get 3 methods for User Profile backup in Windows 10/8/7:

#1. Use Windows Backup Software - Easy

#2. Use Windows Backup Utility - Medium

#3. Use Windows Advanced System Properties - Medium

Tip

Note that all the three provided methods work to back up the Windows User Profile folder.

But if you prefer an easy one, take Windows backup software for a try.

Method 1. Backup User Profile in Windows 10 via Windows Backup Software

Applies to: All levels of Windows users, especially for beginners.

Turning to reliable Windows backup software is the easiest way to backup Windows User Profile. Here we'd like to recommend you to try Qiling Backup.

Free Download

It offers two options in backing up Windows User Profiles in Windows 10/8/7. Let's see:

#1. Backup Windows System with User Profile in Windows 10

Qiling Backup with its Windows System backup feature can create a full backup of User Profile data and Windows system. It's a wise choice that you back up OS with User Profile to an external storage device:

Step 1. Launch Qiling Backup and click "System backup". You're going to image the entire operating system and keep it on an external hard drive.

Step 2. The software detects your current operating system automatically. This way ensures that all the critical Windows system files have been selected. And all you need to do is to choose a backup location that is available.

To backup Windows OS to an external hard drive, you must ensure that the drive has been correctly connected to your computer in advance. Click the "Browse" button in the "Destination" area so you can choose this external hard drive as a backup location.

Step 3. Once the backup location is confirmed, you can set an automatic backup schedule by turning on "Schedule" and encrypt your backup by clicking the "Backup options" as well.

Click "Proceed" and the software will start immediately to backup the operating system to an external hard drive right away.

#2. Backup User Profile Data in Windows 10 (Documents & Desktop, etc.)

If you only need to back up some visible User Profile data like User folders, files, etc., on desktop, File Backup mode in Qiling Backup can help.

Step 1. Run Qiling Backup and choose "File backup" on the main window.

Step 2. On the "File Backup" window, you can choose almost every type of files from many directories via the "User Defined" mode.

But it's faster using the "File Type" mode when you only back up some specific file types such as documents, pictures, videos, music, and so on. So, use the proper way to choose the target files you want to backup.

Then add the plan name or text description to the file backup and then choose a backup location.

To backup files to an external hard drive, click "Browse..." in the "Destination" area.

Expand the "Computer" and choose the external hard drive you've correctly connected to the computer. Click "OK".

Also, if you're interested in getting more backup features, go and find them by clicking "Schedule", "Image-reserve strategy" and "Backup options".

Step 3. After settings were all made, click "Proceed".

#3. Restore User Profile Backup

When you lost user data or documents on your computer desktop or in the User folder, you can immediately restore them from the file backup image:

Launch Qiling Backup > Click "Browe to Recover" > Select the backup image of User Profile and a target location > Click "Recovery".

Method 2. Backup Windows 10 User Profile using Windows Backup Utility

Applies to: Experienced Windows users, more complex than using Qiling Backup.

Windows Backup and Restore is also called Backup and Restore (Windows 7) which allows to manually create a backup of the Windows system and User Profile.

With it, you can create a full copy of all the User Profile files and data in Windows 10.

#1. Steps to Backup Windows 10 User Profile

Step 1. Connect an external hard drive or USB to your PC to save the backup image of the User Profile.

Step 2. Click on "Start" and click "Control Panel" then choose "Backup and Restore (Windows 7)".

Step 3. Click "Set up backup" on this screen.

Step 4. Select the external device or a local drive as the target location to save the backup image and click "Next" to continue.

Step 5. On the next screen, select "Let me choose" and click "Next".

Step 6. Select the specific user library or all of the created Users Profiles that you need to transfer.

To back up the User Profile only, uncheck the option "Include a System Image" and click "Next".

Step 7. Next, it will give you a summary of this backup operation. If no issues, click "Save settings and run backup".

Wait for the process to complete.

#2. Restore User Profile in Windows 10:

Step 1. Connect the external hard drive with your User Profile backup to Windows 10.

Step 2. Open Control Panel, then click "Backup and Restore (Windows 7)".

Step 3. Click "Select another backup to restore files from", select the backup that contains User Profile, and click "Next".

Step 4. Click "Browse for folders" and select the User Profile folder. Click "Next".

Step 5. Check "In the original location" and click "Restore".

Method 3. Backup and Copy User Profile in Windows 10

Step 1. Right-click on This PC, select "Properties" and click "Advanced system settings".

Step 2. Click "Settings" in the User Profiles section.

Step 3. Select the Default Profile and click "Copy To".

Step 4. Click "Browse" to save the User Profile folder to another location - an external disk.

Part 2. Transfer User Profile in Windows 10 to Another PC

Applies to: Transfer or migrate User Profile in Windows 10 to another computer, for all levels of users.

If you are looking for a straightforward way to transfer or migrate your User Profile data from Windows 10 to another computer, you have two ways here:

Create a system OS Image with User Profile and Transfer It to New PC

Qiling Backup can transfer the Windows OS with User Profile to a new PC in Windows 10/8/7. To do so, you need to:

Backup and save the system image to an empty external hard drive or USB.
Then follow the listed link here for a guide: Transfer System Image to Another Computer.

Part 3. Copy User Profile in Windows 10 to Another User

Apples to: Copy and migrate User Profile data from one user to another user within one PC.

This part mainly tells how to copy a User Profile in Windows 10 to another user. In this part, you will learn how to do so on your own. It's easy and free. Let's see:

Step 1. Restart PC and login into the User Account in which you want to migrate User Profile.

Step 2. Connect an external hard drive with huge free space to your PC and open Windows File Explorer.

Step 3. Go and copy your User Profile data in this path: This PC/Local Disk (C:)/User/UserName/.

Copy everything under your User folder to the external hard drive.

Step 4. Click the Windows icon, and click the user icon.

Step 5. Select the other User Account that you want to copy the User Profile to, log in.

Step 6. Copy and paste the User Profile data to the new user folder: This PC/Local Disk (C:)/User/NewUserName/.

Now, you can restart your PC to save all the changes. After computer startup, you can use User Profile in your new User account on the same computer now.

Conclusion

This page offers 3 complete guides to show you how to back up User Profile, transfer it to a new PC or to a new user account in Windows 10.

Free Download

To backup User Profile in Windows 10, let Qiling Backup help. It's easy and effective.
To transfer User Profile to a new PC, Qiling PCTrans with its PC to PC mode is reliable.
To copy User Profile to a new User Account, you can do it on your own by manually copying and pasting.

User Profile data is indeed important. Take your steps and follow this guide to protect your User Profile right now.