You are getting a new computer. Great!
Now, how do you transfer files and and programs to the new computer?
This tutorial will show you how to copy everything to new computer quickly, easily, and with no technical skills needed.
We will cover how to transfer all files, applications, profiles, accounts, email, settings, documents, pictures, bookmarks, favorites, Office, accounting – and everything else that makes it YOUR computer.
And the best part: this can all be done automatically, with just a few clicks. No data lost, no need to reinstall applications, no need to reconfigure your accounts and settings. Turns out that transfer to a new laptop or new desktop can be a smooth, simple process, which requires no technical skills – anyone can do it.
This works for:
In addition to the automatic option, we’ll also cover a few ways to do the transfer manually. Manual transfer is free, although it does require time, effort, and some technical knowledge.
Of course, if you prefer to just have everything transferred automatically, click this button:
Or, if you prefer a manual option (more complicated):
Transfer files to new computer using OneDrive
Move files to new PC using USB drive
Copy files from one computer to another using network
The most recommended software to transfer everything to new Windows 11 computer is Zinstall WinWin, which you can get here.
It simply does the job for you – and performs a hassle-free copy of your programs, accounts, profiles, emails, all files and everything else, to you new computer.
Here is how:
That’s all there is to it!
Once the transfer is done, you will have all of your stuff on the new computer, just like it was on the old one. Of course, the transfer does not overwrite anything that is already on the new computer, so it will still have the new Windows that came with it, so you can enjoy the new stuff without sacrificing the old.
It’s a new computer, that feels just like home.
As you can see, this kind of transfer requires no technical skills, and as long as you know how to download a file – you can do it. You also don’t need to even remember where all of your files are, how your apps are configured, what were your passwords or where you’ve downloaded which program. Instead of setting aside a couple of days to get your new computer ready, and inevitably losing things in the process, you can have everything done for you, with nothing lost and no time wasted.
Now that we know the best way to transfer software and data from one computer to another, let’s also review the manual options to do it, for good measure. You don’t need to do those if you go with the Zinstall approach above, of course – these are just alternatives that can be done without a transfer tool.
OneDrive is a Microsoft tool that syncs files between your computer and Cloud storage. It is preinstalled on most Windows 11 (and Windows 10) computers. A “side effect” of this is that you can use OneDrive to upload files on your old computer, and download them on the new one. This won’t transfer all of your files, and certainly won’t transfer programs, accounts or settings, but it is more than nothing and can cover small-scale file copy requirements.
One other caveat OneDrive (or any other Cloud transfer from one computer to another) is speed. By its nature, OneDrive will need to upload your files to Cloud, and then to download them back from the Cloud on the new laptop or new desktop. Depending on the amount of files you have, and your upload speed, this can take quite a long time.
As you can see, it is not as easy as an automatic transfer to new computer , but with some work, you can get files copied over. With that said, it won’t be all files, and won’t copy apps or accounts – for that, you’ll need the WinWin transfer, or extra manual work reconfiguring everything manually.
Probably the most popular option for “old school” file transfer from one computer to another is using a USB drive. You can copy files from one computer to another using a thumb drive, and for larger amounts – you can use an external hard drive to move files to a new PC.
The advantages of using a USB drive compared to Cloud or network are:
The downside is that you need the actual USB drive. On the other hand, they are relatively inexpensive, and many people already have them.
It’s a simple process at first glance. However, note that you have to first find where the files are (in a wide variety of possible locations), and then to place them into the right locations on the new computer. In other words, actual copy is easy, it’s knowing what to copy and to where that is harder.
Same as with other manual approaches, this only transfers data files – not programs, accounts, emails, settings, profiles and all the other things that make the computer feel like YOUR computer.
By the way, there is a variation of the automatic transfer approach that utilizes a USB drive. So if you already have a USB drive, and want to use it “properly”, this may be a good option to check out:
How to transfer from one computer to another using a USB drive
Another way to transfer from one computer to another using local network. This is probably the most complex of the manual options covered here, and requires some technical skills to set up.
The idea is to set up communication directly from one computer to another, so that you can transfer directly from computer to computer. Unlike OneDrive, you won’t need to go via Cloud, which solves the speed issue and eliminates the need to pay for Cloud storage. And unlike USB drive, you don’t need extra physical devices for this to work. So it’s more complex to set up, but cheapest of the manual options.
Note that if you prefer an automatic transfer, that exists, too – see automatic transfer from one computer to another via network.
Of course, as with other manual options, this does not actually transfers everything to your new computer – only user files, and only those that you specifically select. To transfer everything, you would need an automatic transfer software – such as the one below:
