How to Transfer Files from PC to Laptop in 9 Ways
This page contains 9 ways to assist you in transferring files from PC to laptop or vice versa. Using the easiest way, we recommend you use the PC transfer software to finish data moving in 3 steps. Except for the third-party software, you can get 8 solutions to effectively move files to your new computer now. All Provided solutions can be applied to transfer files on all Windows PCs and laptops in Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/Vista and XP.
How Can I Transfer Files Between Laptop and PC Wirelessly
Question 1: How do you connect a laptop to a desktop PC? What is the fastest file transfer tool?
Question 2: Is there a way that I can connect the laptop to PC via wifi and share files between two devices?
Question 3: Is there special software that will make the whole thing easier for file sharing from PC to laptop?
When it comes to transferring files between a computer and a laptop, many people have questions about this issue. If you are the one and having one of the following questions, read on and find solutions on this page.
Part 1. Transfer Files from PC to Laptop Using Software - [Free & Fast]
Part 2. Sharing Files between PC and Laptop with Windows Built-in Tools - [4 Tools]
Part 3. Transfer Files from PC to Laptop via Transfer Cable or External Storage Device - [2 Ways]
Part 4. Transfer Data from Laptop to PC via Cloud or Email - [2 Ways]
Part 1. Transfer Files from PC to Laptop Using Software - [Free & Fast]
Pros: Applicable for all levels of users, easy and practical, 100% secure
Cons: Payment required, cost a few bucks (Charge for advanced features: rescue data, find product key, etc.)
Difficulty: ☆
There are many file transfer software and tools available online for you to try. To save your time, we'll only present you with one outstanding software that works efficiently in file transferring.
Transfer Files from PC to Laptop via Free PC Transfer Software
If you are going to transfer files from desktop to laptop once, using wifi, professional PC transfer software - Qiling Disk Master Free can help.
It is free to transfer folders, files (including music, documents, videos, photos, etc), and programs along with settings from PC to PC in Windows 11/10/8/7 over the internet or by creating an image file with simple clicks.
Here are the steps of the PC to PC file transfer process via network:
Step 1. Install and open Qiling Disk Master on both your PC and laptop. Select "File sync" to transfer files, applications, and user account from PC to your laptop directly.
Connect the PC to the laptop by entering either the laptop's account password or its verification code. You can go to the "PC to PC" mainscreen and turn on the button behind "Connection Verification".
Step 3. Now, choose "Files" to select files to transfer. By default, PCTrans will transfer and save data to the same location on the target computer. But you can click the "Edit" icon to customize the storage path as you need.
Step 4. Now, click "Proceed" to start to transfer files from PC to laptop at a fast speed.
For offline file transfer between PCs with Qiling Disk Master, follow this video for help:
If you need to transfer programs and apps into a new drive in one PC, please refer to Transfer installed programs, apps to a new hard drive.
[One-for-All Guide] Transfer Files from PC to PC in 2022
Part 2. Sharing Files between PC and Laptop with Windows Built-in Tools [4 Ways]
Pros: Free
Cons: Complex for new or inexperienced computer users
Difficulty: ☆☆☆☆☆
Microsoft added file sharing feature in all Windows systems. As a result, any Windows user can transfer files on their PCs via Network shared drive, network shared link, home group, and nearby sharing.
Let's check the detailed steps for sharing files between PCs and laptops with Windows built-in sharing tools.
# 1. Share Files between PC to Laptop via Network Link
Step 1. Map a network drive on the source computer:
1. Right-click on This PC/Computer and select "Map network drive".
2. In the Drive box, click the drive letter you want to use.
Note: The drive should be big enough for saving the files and folders that you want to share.
3. In the Folder box, type \\server\share, where you can type the IP address of the drive to be mapped. Click "Finish" to cotinue.
For example, if the IP address is 192.168.6.xxx, you can type \\192.168.6.xxx.
Step 2. Save files and folders to the mapped drive.
Step 3. One the target PC, open File Explorer and type the IP address of the mapped network drive, e.g: 192.168.6.xxx
Step 4. Hit Enter and access the shared files. You can copy and save the files to your local PC.
# 2. Create Network Shared Link and Sharing Files between Two PCs
Step 1. Open Network & Sharing Center and change advanced sharing settings on the source PC
1. Right-click the Windows icon, click Search and type: network and sharing center, click to open it.
2. Click "Change advanced sharing settings", check the boxes below and save changes:
- Turn on network discovery
- Turn on file and printer sharing
- Turn on sharing so anyone with network access can read and write files in the public folders
- Turn off password protected sharing
Step 2. Create a shared link for the files that you want to share
1. On the source computer, open drives in File Explorer and select files that you want to share.
2. On Windows File Explorer, go to the Share tab at the top pane, click "Share" and select "Specific people...".
3. Click the expand button and choose "Everyone" as the share mode, click "Add" to confirm.
4. Click "Everyone", and specify the access privilege as "Read/Write" under the Permission Level. And click "Share" to confirm.
5. Right-click the shared folder path and select "Copy Link" as shown below:
6. Send the shared link to the target PC via Email or other ways.
Step 3. Share and copy files to target PC via the network drive
1. Open File Explorer on the target computer and click "Network".
2. Find the source computer name and double-click to open it, access the shared files. There, you can view, copy and save these files to a local drive on your target PC.
# 3. Transfer Files to New PC via Home Group
Note: This feature is only available for Windows 11/10 users before 1803 version and Windows 8/7, etc users.
Step 1. On the source computer, type and search for a homegroup in the Search box. Click to open it.
Step 2. Choose "Create a homegroup" > "Next", and follow the instructions.
Step 3. Select files and folders that you want to share and switch the Permissions buttons to "Shared", and click "Next".
Note: Remember the password shown on-screen.
Step 4. Go to the target computer and open HomeGroup: Control Panel > All Control Panel Items > HomeGroup.
Step 5. Join the existing Homegroup and enter the password you got earlier and click "Finish".
Step 6. There, you can access the shared files on the new PC and save them to a local drive.
# 4. File Sharing between Windows 11/10 PC and Laptop via Nearby Sharing
Note: This method is only available for Windows 11/10 1803 and newer versions of Windows users.
Step 1. Enable nearby sharing on both computers: Go to Settings > System > Shared experiences > Nearby sharing. Turn on it.
Step 2. Under "Nearby sharing," select "Everyone nearby".
Everyone nearby — Your PC will be able to share and receive content from all nearby devices, including those you don't own.
Save files I receive to — Your PC will receive content to the target path on your drive.
By default, transfers will be stored in the Downloads folder, but you can specify another folder or another drive very easily. Under "Nearby sharing," using "Save files I receive to" option, click the "Change" button. Select a location to save transfers.
Step 3. Start file sharing between the two laptops.
Open "File Explorer". Right-click the file you want to share. Click the "Share" option. Select the device from the list.
Part 3. Transfer Files from PC to Laptop via Transfer Cable or External Storage Device
Pros: Simple & easy, applicable by all users
Cons: Cost a few and even a hundred bucks for purchasing a new external hard drive or a transfer cable
Difficulty: ☆☆
Many users prefer a manual solution to transfer files between computers. To do so, you have two options to move files between PC and laptops - using a USB transfer cable or an external hard drive.
# 1. Transfer Files between PC and Laptop via USB 3.0 Transfer Cable
Note: To transfer files from PC to PC via USB transfer cable also requires you use software to help complete the process.
- For Windows 8.1/8/7/ users, you can use Windows Easy Transfer with a USB transfer cable to execute the task.
- For Windows 10 users, you may use a third-party transfer cable with embedded software to complete the job.
Here are the steps:
Step 1. Start both PC and laptop and connect two computers via the Transfer USB cable.
Step 2. Run the transfer software like Windows Easy Transfer on both computers.
Step 3. On the source computer, on transfer software, select the transfer method and select files you'd like to move to the target computer.
Confirm the operation and wait for the process to complete.
# 2. Use External Hard Drive to Copy and Transfer Files
To do so, you need to prepare an empty external hard drive first. Then follow the steps here to copy and transfer files from your old computer to the new laptop:
Step 1. Connect your external hard drive to the source computer.
Step 2. Select files you'd like to transfer and copy them to the external hard drive.
Step 3. Unplug the external hard drive and connect it to the target laptop. Open the drive and copy files to the new laptop.
Part 4. Transfer Data from Laptop to PC via Cloud and Email
Pros: Available and easy
Cons: Payment required, cost a few bucks
Difficulty: ☆
# 1. File Transfer between PC and Laptop with Cloud Storage
Cloud services like OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, etc. all supported file sharing between two different devices. All you need is to install a Cloud service application on the target new computer, sign in with your cloud account, and redownload the files.
Here we'll take OneDrive as an example for you to follow:
Step 1. Upload files from the source computer to OneDrive.
Open OneDrive > Sign in with your OneDrive account > Click "Add" or "upload" to add the file to your OneDrive cloud account.
Step 2. Download wanted files to the target PC.
On the other laptop, open the "OneDrive" app, sign in with your account and right-click on the uploaded files, and select "Download".
Wait patiently till the downloading process finishes.
# 2. Transfer Files to New PC via Email
Almost all Email service applications support file sharing via attachment. Email users can effortlessly transfer files to different users on two computers. Outlook, Windows Mail, Gmail, Mozilla Thunderbird, Hotmail, etc. can all do the job.
Step 1. Open your email application on the source computer, sign in with your email accounts.
Step 2. Go to Index, input the email addresses - From: your email address on the source PC, To: email address on the target PC.
Step 3. Click the Attachment icon, select the files that you want to share on your current PC. Click "Send" to start sending files to the target PC.
Step 4. On the target PC, open any email application and sign in. Go to Inbox, check, and download the received attachment files.
Conclusion
This page includes 9 ways to assist you in transferring files from PC to laptop or vice versa.
- For an easy and effective solution, transfer software like Qiling Disk Master is your best shot.
- For a free method, using a network shared drive or link will be better.
- As for a manual way, using an external hard drive to copy and move files to the new computer will be the right choice for you.
- For Cloud and Email users, using these two ways to transfer files from PC to laptop.
If you have more questions in file transfer, migrate installed programs or move games to another drive, use the Search option on the Qiling website (https://www.idiskhome.com) or go to the PC-Transfer page for finding more answers.
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