How to Transfer Everything to New Laptop Safely (4 Ways)

When you ask how to transfer everything to new laptop, you typically want to transfer files, applications, and accounts. If that's what you're aiming for, you've landed in the right spot!

The need to migrate data from old to new laptop

You've got a new laptop, but there's a hitch – tons of files on your old PC and a puny USB flash drive. Wondering how to transfer data from old laptop to new laptop efficiently? No worries, it's not too tricky. The method depends on your operating system and the number of files. Here are six straightforward ways:

1. Utilize a SATA slot: This is the fastest way to transfer files. However, if you need to copy a system disk, you’d better copy the boot drive first to the new drive and then use it as storage.
2. Try disk migration software: It enables you to transfer everything—operating system, settings, installed programs, personal data, and more. This way, you can seamlessly use the new computer without the need for reinstallation and file transfer hassles.
3. Sync files using a cloud drive: For convenience, the best method to transfer files between computers is over the network, and you can effortlessly access them on the new PC by signing in with the same account. Microsoft OneDrive, Google Drive, and Dropbox stand out as the most popular cloud drives, offering scalable space.
4. Check out Windows Easy Transfer: It's a file transfer software designed to move various types of data, including files, photos, music, emails, settings, and other personal files.

How to transfer data one laptop to another

Whether you're moving all your computer data or just personal files and settings, try the below methods.

Method 1. Use external hard drive via SATA slot

Typically, single file transfer can be executed by simply copy-paste operation. However, if you want to migrate tons of files from one laptop to another, this could be laborious and time-consuming.

If manual file copying isn't your thing, see if your new laptop has a SATA slot. If it does, connect the old computer's hard drive directly to the new one. After installation, you'll find it in Windows Explorer, and you're good to go with accessing any files you need. For more info, check out how to install a second hard drive in Windows 10.

Method 2. Use professional disk migration software

To answer ‘How do I transfer files from one laptop to another completely and effortlessly’? For comprehensive transfer, including the operating system, programs, and data, to choose the top-tier disk migration tool- AOMEI Backupper Professional. Use its Disk Clone or Partition Clone feature to seamlessly move your OS, installed programs, personal data, and more. It has reliable and wonderful features:

▶ 3 clone modes: you can migrate data from one drive to another via System Clone or Disk Clone. Partition Clone is also supported.
▶ Intelligent clone: Under the default situation, it will only clone the used sectors. So it allows you to clone a larger HDD to a smaller SSD easily.
▶ Live clone: It allows the clone task to work in the background, so the cloning process won't interrupt running programs in the Windows Server and you can work normally while cloning.
▶ SSD alignment: This feature will accelerate the reading and writing speed of SSD.
▶ Different operating systems: It supports all Windows PCs, and for Server users, try AOMEI Backupper Server.

Here is the stepwise guide to migrate everything to another:

Before you start, please make some preparations:

1. Download AOMEI Backupper Professional on the old laptop via the below link.
2.  Remove the hard drive from the new computer and connect it to the old one via SATA cable.
3. Check the disk capacities and types (MBR or GPT) in disk management for both.

AOMEI Backupper

Easiest Windows clone software for personal use.

Download Demo
Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7

Step 1. Launch the software on the old computer after the installation. Click Clone -> Disk Clone.

Step 2. Then select the source disk you want to copy and hit Next, and browse to choose your new HDD/SSD as the destination drive and choose Next.

Step 3. If your destination disk is SSD, tick SSD Alignment to improve the SSD disk performance. Then, click Start Clone to transfer everything from old PC to new PC.

◗ Copy without resizing partitions: It will not resize the partition size.
◗ Add unused space to all partitions: It will reallocate the unallocated space to each partition of the target disk, appropriate for the disk size.
◗ Manually adjust partition size: It allows you to extend unallocated space to any partition on the destination disk you want.
◗ Convert the destination disk from MBR to GPT: It appears when you clone GPT disk to MBR, and will convert MBR to GPT, finally acts like cloning GPT disk to GPT disk.

✍Note: Boot from Cloned Hard Drive 
Then insert your new hard drive into your new PC. Then start your computer and continuously press a specific key (usually F2, F8, F12, Del) to enter BIOS Setup -> Boot, then set the cloned disk as first boot device in BIOS to boot from the cloned drive. 

◗ Tips on dissimilar hardware restore:
>> If you're moving from an old computer to a new one with different hardware, like a new CPU and motherboard, consider the backup and restore method. This involves compressing all your disk files into an image file, which you can then restore onto the new hard drive or SSD. Just a heads up, if the hardware is different, make sure to check the "Universal Restore" feature before hitting that Start Restore button.

Method 3. Sync file with cloud drive

Cloud drives like Microsoft OneDrive, Google Drive, and Dropbox make syncing files across different devices a breeze. Here's how it generally works, using OneDrive as an example:

#1: Sync files with the desktop app. If you're on Windows 10, OneDrive comes built-in. Sign in, drag and drop your files into the OneDrive folder, and it'll sync automatically.

#2: Upload files from the webpage. For a more hands-on approach, visit the OneDrive website, sign in, and click Upload > Files or Folders. Select your files and hit Open to sync them.

Method 4. Windows Easy Transfer

If you have a large number of data and settings, try built-in file transfer software, here is how you can do it:

Note: Windows Easy Transfer doesn't transfer installed programs and the OS on the old computer. Also, it's not an option for Windows 8.1 and 10. For those on Windows 7 or earlier dealing with lots of data, here's a guide:

Step 1. Open Windows Easy Transfer by typing it in or going to Start -> Transfer your files.

Step 2. Choose how to transfer items: USB Easy Transfer Cable,  A Network, An External hard disk or USB flash drive. Here choose an External hard disk or USB flash drive.

Step 3. Select This is my old computer.

Step 4. The program detects transferable data; customize if needed and hit Next.

Step 5. Set a password for backup or leave it blank, click Save, and choose a destination. The file will be named Windows Easy Transfer - Items from old computers (with a .MIG suffix).

Step 6. Unplug the external hard drive from the old computer, plug it into the new one, and follow steps 1-4 again. Choose This is my new computer in step 3 and click Transfer to start.

Sum it up

This article outlines 4 ways to transfer everything to another laptop, covering not just personal files but also the operating system and installed programs. Pick the method based on the files you want to move. The most straightforward approach is migrating the entire disk to avoid reinstallations.

Additionally, AOMEI Backupper lets you sync files between locations, offering options like basic sync, real-time file sync, mirror sync, and two-way sync. These features often come with scheduling options (daily, weekly, monthly) for long-term data protection.

For added convenience, if you create an AOMEI account, you can back up files to AOMEI Cloud, which provides 1TB of free storage for the first 15 days after signing up. Give it a try!

FQA

1. Which files should you transfer?

Before you switch to your new laptop, check out your old one's File Explorer to see where and how your files are organized. Make sure to move files from your Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Music, and Videos folders to the new laptop. Don't forget to check your Downloads folder for anything important.

Some applications might store files in different folders. If you know which ones, open those folders and move your personalized files. If you're unsure, keep your old laptop handy for a few days until you're sure you've moved everything you need.

Contacts, emails, and web browser bookmarks are typically saved online, so they usually transfer to your new laptop when you sign in.

2. What should you do after the transfer?

To safeguard your data, it's crucial to wipe your old PC thoroughly before getting rid of it, even after transferring your files to the new computer.

Backup for your new laptop is essential for file retrieval if the original is lost or corrupted. With a cloud backup solution like Dropbox Backup, it's as simple as uploading your files to your Dropbox account, and automatic backups will occur at regular intervals, providing easy protection for your files!