How to Transfer Files from PC to Hard Drive Faster in Windows 11/10/8/7

Is There A Faster Way to Transfer Data to An External Drive?

“Once a week I backup all my Libraries to an external SSD (from my internal SSD). I simply use copy/paste from File Explorer (I'm using Windows 10 Pro). The transfer rate varies from 50Mb/s to 140Mb/s and seems to take a long time (10-20 mins). 40Gb of data. Is there a speedier way to do this. Also, if my internal drive was M2, would this make any difference.”

Are you like the user in the above case and want to find a faster way to help you transfer data from one hard drive to another in Windows 10? In our daily life, there are different situations where we want to transfer files to another disk. Such as upgrading disks, replacing old disks, sharing files with others, etc. We all know that the most direct and easiest way is to copy and paste. But if you need to transfer a lot of files, this method can be time-consuming. So, many users will ask if there is any faster and easier way to transfer files. The answer is yes, and you can read on to find out.

Fastest Way to Transfer Files Between Hard Drives – FREE

Syncing files is the fastest way to transfer files between two external hard drives or from a PC to a hard drive. Here we recommend the best free file synchronization software - AOMEI Backupper Standard to help you transfer files from PC to hard drive. It can help you transfer files or folders to different locations, whatever email, digital photos, MP3, videos etc, and if there are any changes happen, the file sync software will sync changes from source directory to destination directory easily and quickly.

It works fine on Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/XP/Vista and provides you with 4 different kinds of sync modes:  “Basic Sync”, “Mirror Sync”, “Real-Time Sync” and “Two-Way Sync” (The last three modes are available in Professional version). Click here to learn the differences between Syncs. It’s highly recommended by millions of users due to its friendly interface, comprehensive features and outstanding performance. You can take a look at its prominent advantages here:

✿ It enables you automatically sync files and folders on regular basis with the Schedule settings. You can choose to sync files Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Event triggers, USB plug in. The last two options are available only in AOMEI Backupper Professional or higher editions.
✿ It allows you to sync folders or files to wherever you want, like local disk, external hard drive, network share or NAS, USB flash drive, CD/DVD, even clouds, etc.
✿ It offers various sync options, including email notification, image compression, and sync priority, etc.

Besides, this software not only provides you with sync function, but also includes functions such as cloning and backup. If you are still looking for a way of how to transfer data from one hard drive to another in Windows 10, including OS, custom settings, installed programs, personal data, etc, you can use “Disk Clone” feature in AOMEI Backupper.

Step-by-step Guide to Transfer Files from PC to External Hard Drive via File Sync Software

After knowing some basic functions of the software, you can follow the detailed graphic tutorial below to learn how to transfer files from PC to hard drive faster with AOMEI Backupper. Before you begin, click the download button below to install it securely on your computer. If you are a server user, then AOMEI Backupper Server edition is suitable for you.

1. Launch the free sync software for Windows 10, click Sync and select Basic Sync.

2. You can edit the task name if needed. Then click Add Folder to select the folder you want to sync. You are able to select multiple folders as source folders in one sync task.

3. Then you can select the external hard drive as the destination location to transfer the files.

4. Click Schedule to run automatic sync if necessary. Review your settings and click Start Sync.

The entire operation can be done in just four steps, which is also the fastest way to transfer files between two external hard drives.

★ How to backup files to AOMEI Cloud

As cloud storage is becoming more and more popular, AOMEI offers users its own cloud - AOMEI Cloud. After you sign up for an AOMEI account, you can use 1TB storage for free within 15 days. You can backup all your important stuff to AOMEI Cloud, like documents, pictures and favorite music, etc.

Possible Solutions to Increase Transfer Speed of Hard Drive

With the above tutorial, you can quickly transfer files from your PC to your hard drive. Of course there are other factors that may affect your transfer speed. In this part, I will give you several ways to increase the transfer speed of hard drive.

#1. Format the Hard Drive from FAT32 Partition to NTFS

The file system of an external hard drive can significantly affect file transfer speed. Comparing FAT32 to NTFS, it seems that storage devices with NTFS work faster and more efficiently in terms of file copying and file transfer. If the file system of your hard drive is not NTFS, you can change it by following the steps below.

◑ Note: Formatting the hard drive may result in data loss. If you have important data on your device, please back up the important data first.

1. Connect your hard drive to a Windows 10 PC. Right-click Start button and choose Disk Management to open it.
2. Right-click the external hard drive and choose Format in the menu.

3. Choose the File system to NTFS and check the Perform a quick format box. Then click OK to execute it.

#2. Change Default Hardware Settings for Better Performance

In addition to changing the file system that can help increase transfer speed of hard drive, you can also try modifying the default hardware settings on your Windows computer.

1. Connect your external hard drive to your PC. Open Windows File Explorer, locate and right-click on your external hard drive, choose Properties.
2. On the Hardware tab, click Properties, and choose Change Settings on the General tab.
3. Click the Policies tab, choose Better performance, and click OK to confirm all the changes.

#3. Clean Up Temporary or Junk Files on the Hard Drive

You can clear and delete useless junk or temporary files on your hard drive that can slow down file transfers. When the computer is used for a long time, many useless junk files will occupy the hard drive space. You can follow the steps below to perform a disk cleanup to increase the transfer speed of hard drive.

1. Connect your hard drive to your PC. Go to This PC, right-click on your drive, and select Properties.
2. Click on the General tab and select Disk Cleanup.

3. Select the files you want to remove and hit OK. Make sure to include the temporary files on the list.

FAQs about How to Transfer Files from PC to Hard Drive Faster

Q1: Can I speed up file transfers without upgrading hardware?

A1: Yes, by compressing files, using better cables, or using specialized software like AOMEI Backupper, you can improve transfer speeds without needing to upgrade your hardware.

Q2: How can I transfer large files quickly from my PC to an external hard drive?

A2: Using USB 3.0 or higher, SSD drives, or dedicated software designed for fast file transfers are the best ways to quickly move large files. Additionally, compressing files before transferring can also save time.

Q3: Does using a cloud storage service help with faster file transfers?

A3: Cloud storage can be a convenient option, but it depends on your internet speed. Transferring files to a cloud service can often take longer due to bandwidth limitations, especially for large files.

Summary

After reading this article, I believe you already know how to transfer files from PC to hard drive faster. AOMEI Backupper Standard not only helps you transfer files between PC and hard drive but also helps you transfer files from one PC to another or between all network locations. If the data or files are changed on the source location, they will be changed on the target location automatically based on the schedule you set.

The other great features of this software are also worth checking out, such as System Backup, Disk Backup and Create a bootable media. If you want to protect unlimited computers within your company, you may pick AOMEI Backupper Technician.