How Do I Transfer Everything from My Old Computer to My New Computer? Full Guide Is Here!
"I have a Lenovo Yoga running Windows 10 and recently bought a newer model as a replacement. I want to know how do I transfer everything from my old computer to my new computer? Ideally, it would look and operate the same as my old computer. Any suggestions?" - A user from the Microsoft forum
How to transfer files from one computer to another Windows 10 or Windows 11 has become an increasing need for most computer users. It's great to get a new computer, but you may have trouble figuring out how to copy all the data, applications, and settings to the new computer. Now, don't fret anymore!
In this how-to guide, we provide you with the most effective ways to transfer files from PC to PC on Windows 10 or Windows 11. Just follow our instructions to complete the PC migration and enjoy your new computer!
| Workable Solutions | Step-by-step Troubleshooting |
|---|---|
| 1. Use PC data transfer software | Free download PC data transfer software to transfer everything from old computer to new computer...Full steps |
| 2. Use external storage devices | Manually copy files from your old computer to your new computer with an external hard drive/USB drive...Full steps |
| 3. Use cloud storage tools | Cloud storage tools make it easy to migrate to a new PC. You can use OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox...Full steps |
| 4. Use a USB transfer cable | Use a USB-to-USB bridging cable or USB networking cable to transfer files from PC to PC...Full steps |
| 5. More file transfer methods | Use a backup and restore tool, create a shared folder, or try Windows Nearby Sharing to transfer files...Full steps |
1. Transfer Everything from Old Computer to New Computer with PC Data Transfer Software (Free)
The simplest and most effective way to transfer everything from an old computer to a new computer on Windows 10 or Windows 11 is by applying a PC migration tool.
Qiling Disk Master Free can fully transfer all your programs, files, user accounts, and settings from an old computer to a new PC or laptop with simple clicks. You can use this PC data transfer software to move files from one computer to another with or without a network in Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP.
Some stunning features of Qiling PC file transfer program:
- Transfer installed programs from one computer to another without re-installing
- Move software from C drive to D drive to speed up Windows 10 or Windows 11
- Share files between two laptops or PCs quickly using WiFi
- Free cleanup functions for system and large files cleanup
Free download Qiling Disk Master to finish Windows 10/11 transfer to new PC. We will show you how to transfer files from one computer to another with or without an internet connection.
How to Transfer Everything from Old Computer to New Computer with Network
Step 1. Launch Qiling Disk Master on both old and new computers. Click the "File sync" on the main screen to continue.
Step 2. Connect the two PCs on the same LAN by entering the password or verification code of the target PC. Choose the right transmission direction and click "Connect" to continue.
The verification code is on the right top of the "PC to PC" main screen on the target computer. Turn on button behind Connection Verification.
Step 3. Go to "Files" section, select the individual files you need to move.
Step 4. And, click the "Proceed" button to begin the data migration. Wait for the transferring finishes. The time of the process varies based on the size of the files.
How to Transfer Files from Old PC to New PC Windows 10/11 Without Internet
Step 1. Create a backup file to transfer
- Launch Qiling Disk Master on the source PC. Click "Backup & Restore" and click "File backup" to go on.
- Choose Data Backup. Name the backup file, and set the external USB drive as the backup location.
- Click the "Files" section to choose files. Then, click "Proceed" to wait for the process to complete.
When the creating process has completed, click "OK" to confirm. Safely eject the USB drive and connect it to the target PC. Move to recover the backup of files to the new PC using USB.
Step 2. Restore and transfer backup files to PC without network
- Connect the external USB drive with the file created from the source PC to the target PC. Launch PCTrans, click "Backup & Restore".
- Click "Browse for recovery" to find the image file in your USB drive. Then, choose the correct backup file and click "OK" to continue.
- Choose specific files and click "Restore".
Watch video instructions on how to transfer everything from your old computer to the new computer with Qiling Windows 10/11 PC data transfer program.
File Sharing Between Windows 7 and Windows 10 | 6 Ways
This page includes 6 methods for file sharing solutions between Windows 7 and Windows 10 with or without a network.
2. Transfer Files to New Computer with an External Storage Media by Manual Copy
You can use an external storage device such as a USB drive, SD card, or external hard drive to help you move all your wanted files to a new PC by copy-and-paste. Using this way, you don't need any software, internet access, or services.
But manual copying is not suitable for migrating applications and settings from one computer to another. If you want to transfer all data to a new PC, applying Qiling PCTrans is the best way.
Step 1. Connect your external devices to the old PC. If both computers have USB 3.0 ports, you'd better use these ports. When you have a lot of data to move, speed becomes important!
Step 2. Copy wanted files to the drive. Then connect the drive to the new PC and copy files to the new PC.
If you don't have a or don't want to purchase an external hard drive to move files from an old computer to a new computer, move to the next part to transfer Windows 10/11 files with cloud storage tools.
3. How to Transfer Files from Old Computer to New Computer Windows 10/11 with Cloud Storage (OneDrive/Google Drive)
By using a cloud drive like Microsoft OneDrive, Dropbox, and Google Drive, you can quickly transfer files from PC to PC or Mac. There is no device limitation if you choose to migrate to a new PC using a cloud storage tool. You can view and edit your files from the OneDrive app on other devices, including Androids and iPhones. You can also use any computer to go to the OneDrive website and sign in to access your files.
However, cloud drive tools won't allow you to upload and sync programs on PCs. Besides, once your files are deleted from the local devices, files stored in the cloud are also lost. Go to check how to recover permanently deleted files from OneDrive Windows 10.
Follow the steps below to finish Windows 10/11 file transfer to a new PC with OneDrive.
Step 1. Upload files to OneDrive. Open OneDrive. When the app opens, just click "Add" to add the file to your OneDrive cloud account. The file will upload to your OneDrive account.
Step 2. Download wanted files. On the other laptop, open the "OneDrive" app, right-click on the file, and select "Download".
If you're worried about hard drive space, you can browse your OneDrive files in File Explorer without downloading them to your PC.
4. How to Transfer Files from PC to PC via a USB Transfer Cable
A USB data transfer cable is a great way to move data from one computer to another. The PC data transfer cable has a small electronic circuit in the middle allowing the two PCs to talk to each other.
It's faster than using external devices since the copy and paste are happening simultaneously from computer to computer. You don't need to worry about disk space. When using external drives, you are basically transferring between three drives. Cables reduce that to two drives.
How to transfer files to new computer on Windows 10/11 with a USB cable:
Step 1. Start both computers. Attach the USB cable to both of the computers.
Step 2. Click the Windows "Start" button, type "windows easy transfer" in the Search field, and press "Enter." Follow the prompts of the Easy Transfer wizard to share files.
Ethernet Cable:
Step 1. Insert one end of the Ethernet cable into the PC and the other end into the new PC.
Step 2. Open Control Panel.
- Press Windows + R, and input Control Panel, and press Enter.
- Choose Network and Internet > Click Network Sharing Center > Select Change advanced sharing center > Click Turn on file and printer sharing > Click Save changes
Step 3. Right-click file and choose Share. And choose Specific people > Everyone > Share > Done
Different transfer cables have different ways to use them, If you encounter any problems, please consult after-sales of the specific transfer cable.
5. Transfer Files to New Computer Using a Backup and Restore Tool
Another way you can try to transfer files from old computer to new computer is using a backup and restore tool. Qiling Backup supports file backup, disk/partition backup, and system backup. You can use this tool to back up all files on your old PC, then restore them to your new PC in simple steps.
Step 1. To begin the backup process, click the File backup button.
Step 2. Lists of both local and network files are shown on the left-hand side of the screen. Expanding the directory so that you can choose the files to back up.
Step 3. Follow the guidance on the screen and choose the place where you want to store the back up.
Step 4. Make sure that the backup is encrypted and set the backup schedule by clicking Options in Backup Options. There are many other customizable options that you can look into.
You can also choose to start the backup at a certain time in Backup Scheme by clicking Options.
Step 5. You can store the backup file either on your computer, in Qiling's cloud service, or on a network-attached storage device (NAS).
Step 6. Qiling Backup enables customers store backup copies of their files on a third-party cloud drive or on the company's own cloud storage.
If you want to back up your data on a third-party cloud drive, select Local Drive and scroll down to add Cloud Device. Then fill in your account information.
Step 7. Click on Proceed to start a backup. When the backup process is done, it will display as a card on the left-hand side of the screen. A click will let you see more about how to handle the backup job in more depth.
Then, connect the external device to your new PC. Run Qiling Backup on it and restore files from the external device. If you want to save time and energy, the former six methods will help.
6. Create a Shared Folder to Transfer Files from PC to PC
In Windows 10 or Windows 11, you can share files on your computer with other users over the network. Using the File Sharing feature is the method you can use. You can share files with virtually any device, including Mac, Android, and Linux devices.
In the same LAN, you can directly use large files locally. The files can be used by multiple people at the same time. It's very convenient for business users.
Use these steps to share files on your local network using the express settings:
Step 1. Find the file you want to share. Right-click or press it, and select "Give access to" > "Specific people".
Step 2. Select a user or group to add. Click "Add". Add the username you want to share. If you are open to all users, you need to add "Everyone" to this user. Adjust the privilege level as needed.
Step 3. Click the "Share" button to enable network discovery and sharing in the dialog. Then, press "Win+R", Enter "\\IP address". Then, you'll see all the shares of the IP address.
If you don't know your IP address, press "Win+R", type cmd, then input "ipconfig". Press "Enter" and you'll see your IP address. If you select multiple files at once, you can share them all in the same way. It works for folders, too.
If you want to share files over the network without needing a password, use these steps to disable password protection for file sharing on Windows 10/11:
Step 1. Go to "Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center". On the left pane, click the "Change advanced sharing settings" link.
Step 2. Expand the All Networks tab. Under the "Password protected sharing" section, select the "Turn off password protected sharing" option. Click "Save changes".
7. Try Windows Nearby Sharing to Transfer Files to New PC Windows 10
You can also use the Windows Nearby Sharing option instead of HomeGroup to transfer files from PC to PC on Windows 10. HomeGroup has been removed from Windows 10 (Version 1803). However, even though it has been removed, you can still share printers and files by using Nearby Sharing in Windows 10. It uses Bluetooth to transfer files between PCs in close proximity.
Nearby Sharing works with all apps that have a sharing option including Microsoft Edge, File Explorer, and the Photos app, so you no longer have to rely on third-party file-sharing platforms like DropBox. You can easily share a file with anyone in the room without entering any passwords or pairing devices.
Note: Make sure that your Windows 10 is version 1803 or later because this feature is only available in versions after 1803.
Now, follow the details below to transfer files from old PC to a new one:
Step 1. Enable nearby sharing. 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.
- My devices only — Your PC will share and receive content only with devices using the Microsoft account.
- Under "Nearby sharing," click "Save files I receive to", and click the "Change" button. Select a location to save files.
Step 3. Start file sharing between the two computers. Open "File Explorer". Right-click the file you want to share. Click the "Share" option. Select the device from the list.
When you've completed the steps, the other PC will receive a notification to accept or decline the transfer. Accept it and start the transferring process.
What's the Best Way to Transfer Everything from Old Computer to New Computer on Windows 10/11
In this article, we conclude seven solutions in all to help you transfer files to a new PC. Among these 7 methods, only the first one - Qiling Disk Master can transfer all your files, apps, and settings from your old computer to the new computer on Windows 11/10/8/7. The rest can only transfer files, basically cannot migrate applications and user settings.
Free download Qiling PC data transfer software to migrate to your new PC quickly and completely.
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