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How to Migrate Windows 11 to a New Computer | 2 Scenarios

Have you installed Windows 11 on your old PC? After buying a new PC, you may want to migrate Windows 11 from the old computer to the new one instead of doing clean install again. How to achieve it? Find two easy solutions below.

Lily

By Lily Updated on October 30, 2024

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Table of Contents

If you have installed Windows 11 on your PC successfully, you may want to transfer Windows 11 to a new computer in the following situations:

  • Your new computer is preloaded with Windows 10 and you want to change it to Windows 11.
  • You bought a bare machine (or bare metal) that has no intervening operating system, and you want to move existing Windows 11 to your new device instead of doing a clean install.

Then, how to move Windows 11 to a new PC? What issues should you pay attention to before system migration? Please read on.

👉 Before transferring Windows to a new computer
👉 Best Windows migration tool for Windows 11/10/8/7
👉 Solution 1: move OS to a new computer with same hardware🔥
👉 Solution 2: migrate OS to a new PC with different hardware🔥
👉 Bonus: 3 Ways to install Windows 11 on your PC

Before transferring Windows to a new computer

When it comes to system migration, there are two issues you should be aware of:

▶ Windows license

Windows 11 licenses aren’t cheap, so it would be great if you can transfer the old Windows license to the new computer. Whether your old license is transferrable depends on how you got it.

  • If your old device is using a retail copy, the product key can be transferred as long as the prior configuration is properly deactivated.
  • If your old license is an OEM license, then it is tied to the first PC and you can’t transfer it to another device. However, if you upgraded from Windows 11 Home to Windows 11 Pro through the Microsoft Store, you can move the license to a new computer since the product key is transformed into a digital license connected to your Microsoft account.

▶ Computer hardware

Dissimilar hardware like different motherboard, CPU or RAM may cause boot errors after system migration. To ensure a secure boot after transferring Windows 11 to a new computer, you could either choose a new PC with same hardware as the old PC or use a powerful migration tool to solve the hardware incompatibility issue for you.

Best Windows migration tool for Windows 11/10/8/7

Speaking of powerful Windows migration tool, AOMEI Backupper Professional deserves a try. The highlights of AOMEI Backupper are as follows:

★ Easy-to-use clone functions

It offers the System Clone function to help you migrate OS from HDD to another HDD, SATA SSD, or M.2 SSD, etc. You can also use the Disk Clone function to transfer everything from one hard drive to another.

★ Full backup and restore solutions

It is embedded with the System/Disk/Partition/File Backup & Restore features, allowing you to backup different kinds of data and restore it whenever needed. Besides, the Universal Restore feature can deal with hardware incompatibility issues perfectly and ensure a secure boot after moving OS to a new computer.

★ Bootable media creation

It enables you to make a bootable USB/CD/DVD or export an ISO file with the Create Bootable Media feature. You can boot a corrupted computer or bare metal easily from the bootable media.

Download and install AOMEI Backupper on your PC now!

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Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7

How to migrate Windows 11 to a new computer step by step

In this part, I’ll show you how to transfer Windows 11 to a new computer using AOMEI Backupper in two different ways. You may choose one way based on your situation.

Solution 1: move OS to a new computer with same hardware

If the new computer has same hardware as the old computer, you can make use of the “System Clone” feature.

Step 1. Remove the hard drive from your new computer and connect it to your old computer. You may need a SATA-to-USB adapter or encloser.

Step 2. Load AOMEI Backupper on the old PC. Then, click Clone from the left panel and select System Clone.

Choose System Clone

Step 3. The system-related partitions are selected by default. Select the newly connected hard drive as the destination location to save the cloned data.

Choose Destination Partition

Note: If the new hard drive contains data, you’ll be prompted to make a backup first, because the destination disk will be overwritten after cloning.

Step 4. If the new hard drive is an SSD, check SSD Alignment to optimize SSD performance. Confirm the operation and click Start Clone to begin.

System Clone Preview

Step 5. After the clone process is finished, install the cloned hard drive in your new computer. The new device should boot successfully.

Solution 2: migrate OS to a new PC with different hardware

If the new PC has different hardware from the old PC, the “Universal Restore” feature comes to help. Before you start, do the following preparations on your old computer:

◑ Create a bootable disk with AOMEI Backupper.
◑ Create a system image and save it to a location that can be easily accessed by the new computer. It is recommended to save the system image on an external hard drive or network location.

Now follow the steps below to migrate Windows 11 to dissimilar hardware:

Step 1. Plug the bootable disk into your new computer and boot from it. If you have saved the system image on an external device, connect it as well.

Step 2. AOMEI Backupper loads up automatically. Click Restore > Select Image File to locate the system image file you’ve created.

Select Image File

Step 3. On the Image Information page, select Restore this system backup and tick Restore system to other location in the bottom.

Restore to Other Location

Step 4. Select the new computer hard drive as the destination path and click Next. 

Select Destination

Step 5. Review the operation to be executed. Then, tick Universal Restore to ensure a bootable system and click Start Restore to proceed.

Universal Restore

Bonus: 3 Ways to install Windows 11 on your PC

Microsoft launched its new operating system – Windows 11 on October 5, 2021. To install Windows 11 on your PC, there are three ways offered:

1. Windows Update in Settings (recommended)
If you’re upgrading from Windows 10, you could wait until you're notified the upgrade is ready for your device. According to a blog post from Microsoft, all eligible devices are expected to be offered the free upgrade to Windows 11 by mid-2022.
2. Windows 11 Installation Assistant
If you don’t want to wait, the best option for installing Windows 11 on your current device is to use the Installation Assistant.
3. Windows 11 Installation Media
To reinstall or clean install Windows 11 on a new or used PC, you can download the media creation tool to make a bootable USB or DVD. 

You can find the Installation Assistant and media creation tool on the Windows 11 software download page. Before you begin, make sure your device meets the minimum system requirements for Windows 11.

To sum up

That’s all about how to migrate Windows 11 to a new computer. The powerful OS migration tool – AOMEI Backupper can help you transfer Windows and ensure a secure boot whether the new device has same hardware or not. If you want to migrate Server 2019/2016/2012 to a new server, you can turn to AOMEI Backupper Server. Don’t hesitate to give it a shot!

FAQs about Windows 11 migration to new computer

1. Can I transfer my Windows 11 license to a new computer?
 
It depends on the type of Windows 11 license. Retail licenses can be transferred to a new device as long as the old one is deactivated. However, OEM licenses (pre-installed by the manufacturer) are tied to the original hardware and cannot be transferred.
2. How can I move my files and applications to a new computer running Windows 11?
 

If you use AOMEI Backupper to move Windows 11 to a new PC, files and applications on the old system drive will be moved as well. For files on a different drive, learn how to transfer files to a new computer here.

3. Do I need to reinstall drivers when migrating to a new computer?
 
Yes, you may need to reinstall or update drivers, especially for hardware that differs from your old system. Windows 11 should automatically detect and install most drivers, but you may need to manually install some from the manufacturer’s website.
4. Can I use the same Microsoft account on the new computer?
 
Yes, you can sign into your new computer with the same Microsoft account. This will sync your settings, such as themes, browser data, and other preferences, across devices.
5. What if I encounter issues after migration?
 
If you run into problems such as driver issues or activation errors, you can use Windows 11’s troubleshooting tools, reinstall drivers from the manufacturer, or contact Microsoft support for help.
Lily
Lily · Editor
Lily Green joined AOMEI in 2018 and has since become a professional in the areas of data protection and data transfer. She is committed to helping users protect their precious computer data and troubleshoot Windows system errors. She consistently stays vigilant about the latest trends in technology, guaranteeing that the given information aligned with the ongoing advancements in the field.

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