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You can move Windows to a larger M.2 SSD without reinstalling your apps and files by cloning the entire system disk, including its boot and recovery partitions. Then boot with the new SSD installed by itself, verify that Windows is using it, and expand C: if the clone did not already do so. Keep the old SSD unchanged until those checks pass.
Cloning overwrites the destination drive, so back up important files first and confirm which disk is the source and which is the target. Also check that the new SSD matches your computer’s M.2 socket: M.2 describes the module’s shape, not whether it uses NVMe or SATA.
Before you begin
- Back up irreplaceable files to a separate drive or cloud service, then open a few files from the backup to check it. A clone is a migration, not an independent backup.
- Save your BitLocker or device-encryption recovery key. A drive or boot-configuration change can trigger a recovery prompt. If your cloning software recommends it, suspend protection temporarily; do not assume encryption always has to be disabled.
- Check SSD compatibility. Verify the module’s length (often, but not always, 2280), whether the slot supports NVMe/PCIe or M.2 SATA, the keying, and any laptop thickness or single-/double-sided-drive limits. Check your computer or motherboard manual and the SSD maker’s compatibility information. Some systems also disable a SATA port or expansion slot when an M.2 socket is used.
- Plan how to connect the new SSD. Two internal M.2 slots are convenient. If there is only one, use an enclosure that matches the drive protocol—an NVMe enclosure does not automatically support M.2 SATA—or create an image on external storage and restore it after replacing the drive. A desktop PCIe-to-M.2 adapter is another option, but boot support depends on the motherboard and firmware. USB can be useful for the cloning connection; install the replacement internally for the intended boot setup.
- Check the target capacity. It must fit the partitions and data you intend to copy. Some tools can shrink or resize partitions; a sector-by-sector copy may require the destination to be at least as large as the source. A partition’s size is not the same as the amount of used space: a mostly empty 1 TB partition may still need resizing before it fits a smaller target.
- Keep the old SSD as a fallback. Do not erase it until Windows has booted independently from the new drive and you have checked the files and applications that matter.
Clone, image, or reinstall?
Cloning copies selected partitions directly to a replacement disk and is usually the simplest migration when the existing Windows installation is healthy and you want to retain its apps, settings, and files. It also copies problems and unwanted data on those partitions; it is not a malware cleanup.
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Disk imaging saves a backup file that you later restore to the new SSD. It is useful when you want to keep a reusable backup or cannot connect both drives at once, but requires storage for the image and a restore process. A clean installation is preferable when Windows is badly corrupted or infected, or when moving the installation to substantially different hardware. If the source SSD is failing, prioritize copying critical files or making a recovery-focused image rather than repeatedly stressing it with ordinary clone attempts.
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- 10Gbps NVMe Enclosure: With the latest USB 3.2 Gen2, this M.2 enclosure can achieve a data transfer rate of 10Gbps. Backward compatible with USB 3.1 and USB 3.0. Note: 10G speeds need to be matched with a USB C 3.2 GEN2 data cable
- Tool-free SSD Enclosure: Tool-free NVMe SSD enclosure for quick and easy installation. Plug and play, no drivers required. The buckle design of the M.2 SSD enclosure can ensure stable and fast transfer
- Broad Compatibility: The UGREEN M.2 NVMe SSD enclosure is specially designed to support NMVe protocol M/B&M keys and for 2230/ 2242/ 2260/2280 size SSDs up to 8TB. The M.2 NVMe enclosure is applicable for Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Android, IOS systems.(Does not support SATA NGFF SSD or mSATA SSD)
- Security & Stability: USB C NVMe enclosure adopts advanced RTL9210 chip with short-circuit, over-current and multi-protection to ensure the safety of your SSD and valuable data, and supports UASP/ Trim with high transfer speed
- Compact & Portable: This ultra-slim aluminium external NVMe enclosure with extra silicone case is portable yet durable, and much easier to carry with this M.2 to USB adapter, making it ideal for travelling
Windows’ Disk Management can initialize disks and manage volumes, but it is not a normal full-system disk-cloning workflow. For a direct migration, use a reputable cloning utility or an eligible SSD-manufacturer migration tool. Check OEM tools’ brand and edition restrictions on the manufacturer’s official support page.
1. Identify the existing Windows disk
- Right-click Start and choose Disk Management, or press Windows + R, type
diskmgmt.msc, and press Enter. - Find the physical disk containing C:. Compare its disk number, capacity, model where shown, and partition layout. Do not identify a disk by a drive letter alone.
- Note the small system partitions as well as C:. A typical UEFI/GPT Windows disk may have an EFI System Partition, a Microsoft Reserved partition, the Windows partition, and a Recovery partition. Older BIOS/MBR layouts may instead use a System Reserved partition. Manufacturer recovery partitions may also be present.
- Check whether the disk uses GPT or MBR. Modern UEFI systems commonly use GPT, while older legacy-BIOS installations may use MBR. For a straightforward clone, preserve the source layout rather than casually converting it.
Do not delete or format partitions just because they have no drive letter. The small EFI/System Reserved partition contains boot files, and a Recovery partition may provide Windows recovery or manufacturer recovery features.
Rank #2
- Flip-Open Tool-Free Design: Open the cover, insert your NVMe SSD, lock it in place, and close—no screws or tools required. Fast and simple for upgrades, cloning, troubleshooting, and portable tech work.
- Cooler 10Gbps Performance: The aluminum enclosure presses the thermal pad directly against your SSD for better heat transfer and more stable 10Gbps speeds than slide-in enclosures. Ideal for long transfers and heavy workloads.
- NVMe Only for Maximum Speed: Supports M.2 NVMe SSDs in sizes 2230, 2242, 2260, and 2280 up to at least 8TB. Not compatible with M.2 SATA SSDs.
- USB C Plug-and-Play: Connect with USB C for up to 10Gbps using USB 3.2 Gen 2. No drivers or external power needed. Works with laptops, desktops, gaming handhelds, and USB C devices.
- Portable and Durable Aluminum Build: Reinforced ABS frame with an aluminum alloy top keeps your SSD protected and cool. Slim, lightweight, and perfect for creators, gamers, and anyone needing fast portable storage.
2. Connect the destination SSD
Use a second internal slot if available, or connect the new SSD with a compatible enclosure or adapter. If the cloning tool can prepare the target, you generally do not need to initialize it in Disk Management first. If Windows asks you to initialize a new disk, do not proceed until you are certain it is the new target and that it has no data you need. For a modern UEFI setup, GPT is the usual partition style; MBR remains relevant to legacy BIOS systems.
Keep the destination’s model and advertised capacity handy. The cloning tool may show disk numbers that are easy to confuse, and the target’s existing partitions and data will normally be erased.
Rank #3
- ENCLOSURE ONLY, SSD NOT INCLUDED: This is the case you put your own M.2 SSD into, not a drive with storage inside. 100% tool-free, so the SSD installs and comes out in seconds with no screwdriver.
- FITS M.2 NVMe AND SATA: Works with both M.2 PCIe NVMe and M.2 SATA SSDs in 2242, 2260 and 2280 lengths. Bare drives only, no room for a drive with a pre-installed heatsink. It does NOT take 2.5in SATA drives or mSATA.
- 10GBPS USB 3.2 TYPE-C: Up to 10Gbps, and up to 1000MB/s in real transfers. Backward compatible with USB 3.1 and USB 3.0 at their own speed limits. Bus powered, no drivers and no external power supply.
- SLIM ALUMINUM BUILD: Ultra-slim aluminum case with an ABS frame, with a thermal pad to move heat off the drive. Light enough to live in a laptop bag, solid enough to survive it.
- IN THE BOX: Enclosure, 8in Type-C to Type-C cable and user manual. Works with Windows 7 or later, macOS 10.5 or later and Linux. Register on the manufacturer's website for extended warranty service.
3. Clone the entire disk
The example below uses Macrium Reflect. Its current product generation and edition may use different labels from older Reflect documentation, so treat the control names as examples and follow the equivalent options in your installed version. Consult the current Macrium cloning information and its Reflect 8 cloning guide for version-specific details.
- Open the cloning utility and locate the physical disk containing the Windows installation. Confirm its model, capacity, and partition layout before choosing it as the source.
- Choose the equivalent of Clone this disk on the source. Select the new M.2 SSD as the destination (often labeled Select a disk to clone to). Stop if the target model or capacity is not the one you expected.
- Review the overwrite warning. A clone typically removes the destination’s existing partitions and data. Selecting the wrong target can destroy data; copy anything valuable off the target before starting.
- Copy the complete Windows layout. Include the EFI System or System Reserved partition, Microsoft Reserved partition if present, Windows/C:, and Recovery partition. Include manufacturer recovery partitions if you want to retain their recovery features. Copying only C: can leave the new SSD without the boot files needed to start Windows.
- Set the destination partition sizes. If the software offers target-layout controls such as Cloned Partition Properties or Maximum size, select the cloned Windows partition and allocate the extra space there, leaving room for other partitions you intend to keep. Macrium’s documented workflow describes resizing a cloned partition. If you leave C: at its old size, the remaining capacity may appear as unallocated space instead.
- Review the operation summary. Check the source and destination models, each selected partition, the target layout, and any options that delete existing partitions. Make sure the new SSD—not the old one—is the destination.
- Start the clone. Keep a laptop on AC power and do not interrupt the process or run heavy disk workloads while it is copying. USB connection speed and drive temperature can affect how long it takes, so there is no dependable universal time estimate.
Macrium’s older documentation remains useful for the concepts of copying all boot partitions and changing target sizes, but its interface and licensing can change. See its cloning instructions and system-partition notes alongside the guidance for your current release.
Rank #4
- Applicable SSD: This M.2 SSD Enclosure is for NVMe PCIE & SATA M-Key / B+M connectors M.2 SSD. Applicable to sizes 2242 / 2260 / 2280 solid state drivers. This SATA/ NVMe Enclosure does not support M.2 PCIe AHCI SSDs, M.2 PCIe devices such as WiFi and capture cards, mSATA SSDs, and non-M.2 form factor SSDs. Note: NVMe and SATA SSD are not included in M.2 SSD Enclosure
- Type C interface: M.2 SSD Enclosure Both side can be inserted; M.2 NVME recommends USB-C Gen 2 10Gbps or Thunderbolt 3 for extreme speed performance. One HD movie transfer only takes 2 seconds; Backward compatible with USB 3.1 Gen1 and USB 3.0 up to 5Gbps
- Aluminum Alloy Shell: SSK M.2 enclosure adopts aluminum alloy shell, slim design, excellent heat dissipation, be portable and easy to carry. Package includes 2 x Thermal Pad，both USB Type-C and USB 3.0 (Type-A) cables, and a Screw Driver
- Blue Indicator: Blue Indicator shows NVMe enclosure transfer status, easy and clear; As with all SSDs, new media must be formatted before use. SSD file system must be supported on host operating system to be accessible
- Improved RTL9210B Chip: Adopts high performance controller IC Chipset, Complies with UASP and Trim which can effectively improve SSD enclosure speed and exteend the longevity of SSD. M.2 enclosure Compatible Multi OS, Windows 7/ 8/ 8.1/ 10/ Linux/ MAC. Plug-and-play, no additional drivers required. Bus powered, does not need an external power supply
4. Install the new SSD and boot from it
- When the clone reports completion, shut Windows down fully. Disconnect power before opening a computer, follow its service instructions, and take appropriate electrostatic precautions.
- For the first boot, remove the old SSD if practical, or disconnect/disable it temporarily. This makes the test unambiguous and prevents firmware from booting from the old disk’s boot files.
- Install the new SSD internally in the intended M.2 slot. Power on. If Windows does not start, enter the computer’s UEFI/BIOS setup using the manufacturer’s key and choose the new SSD’s Windows Boot Manager entry.
- Keep the firmware boot mode consistent with the cloned disk’s layout. Do not change unrelated settings or mark a GPT partition “Active”: the active flag is for legacy MBR/BIOS boot, not the normal fix for a UEFI/GPT boot problem.
If the source used legacy BIOS/MBR and you specifically want to convert to UEFI/GPT, treat that as a separate migration decision. Back up first and follow Microsoft’s MBR2GPT guidance; after conversion, firmware must be configured for UEFI. Do not convert only the destination without accounting for the boot mode. Microsoft also documents suspending BitLocker protection for its MBR2GPT conversion path.
5. Verify the new Windows installation
- Open Disk Management again and confirm that C: and the system/boot partitions are on the new SSD. Check the disk model and capacity rather than relying on the disk number alone.
- Check Settings → System → Storage to see whether Windows recognizes the expected capacity. The usable figure will be lower than the manufacturer’s advertised number because drive makers use decimal capacity units while Windows reports capacity differently.
- Restart Windows, test important files and applications, and check sleep/wake if it matters to your setup. Activation and application behavior can vary with licensing and hardware checks; a clone cannot guarantee that every application or OEM utility will need no follow-up.
- Check encryption status. If protection was suspended for the migration, resume it once the system is stable. If you see a BitLocker recovery prompt, use the legitimate recovery key you saved; do not erase partitions or repeatedly alter firmware settings in response.
6. Expand C: if extra space is still unallocated
If C: did not grow during cloning, open Disk Management, right-click C:, and choose Extend Volume if the unallocated space is directly to its right. Windows can generally extend a volume only into suitable contiguous unallocated space immediately after it.
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If a Recovery or other partition sits between C: and the unallocated space, Extend Volume may be unavailable or may not offer the space you expect. Do not delete the intervening recovery partition casually: doing so can remove recovery functionality. Safer options are to repeat the clone with a better target layout or use a reputable partition utility to move or resize partitions after making a full backup. Microsoft’s Disk Management guide covers initialization, partition management, and extending volumes.
7. Reconnect and repurpose the old SSD only after testing
Once the new SSD has booted by itself and you have checked the files and software you care about, shut down and reconnect the old drive if you want to recover remaining files or reuse it. Boot again and confirm which disk is running Windows before deleting anything. Then, in Disk Management, identify the old disk by model, capacity, and layout; delete its old volumes and create a new volume only when you are certain it is the correct drive. Formatting or deleting volumes destroys their data.
Keeping both cloned disks connected can cause the computer to boot from the old disk, create confusing drive-letter assignments, or conceal missing boot files on the new one. Macrium notes that drive-letter assignments may differ during cloning and that duplicate Windows installations cannot use the same C: letter in one running system. The independent first boot is the best test.
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Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| New SSD is not detected | Wrong enclosure protocol, unsupported slot, poor seating, or a firmware limitation | Verify NVMe versus M.2 SATA support, check the drive length and computer manual, reseat the SSD, and check whether firmware detects it. |
| Clone target appears too small | Wrong disk selected, source partition layout will not fit, or the copy mode requires a larger destination | Stop before starting. Confirm the target model and capacity; check whether the cloning software can shrink partitions and whether the selected data and partitions fit. |
| Clone finishes but Windows will not boot | Firmware is using the wrong boot entry, boot files were not copied or registered, or UEFI/legacy mode does not match the disk layout | Power off and disconnect the old disk, confirm the new SSD is detected, select its Windows Boot Manager entry, and check the existing boot mode. If needed, use the cloning utility’s rescue environment to repair boot configuration or restore a verified image. |
| Extra capacity is unallocated | The clone preserved the old partition size or another partition blocks C: from the free space | Use Extend Volume if free space is directly after C:. Otherwise resize or move the blocking partition with a suitable tool, or redo the clone with target sizing set correctly. |
| BitLocker requests a recovery key | The disk or boot configuration changed | Enter the saved recovery key and check encryption status after Windows starts. Do not respond by deleting partitions or changing several firmware settings at once. |
| Cloning reports read errors or the source disappears | The old SSD may be failing | Stop repeated attempts and copy the most valuable files first if possible. Consider a recovery-focused image procedure or professional data recovery for uniquely valuable data. |
| Windows boots only while the old SSD is connected | The system may still be using the old disk’s boot files or firmware entry | Shut down, remove or disable the old drive, and test the new drive independently. If it fails, repair the new disk’s boot configuration before erasing the source. |
| Windows starts, but an app or game needs repair | That software may have licensing, drive-path, or hardware checks | Confirm the clone is healthy, then sign in, repair, or reinstall only the affected software as needed. |
Other migration options
- Image and restore: Better when you want a reusable backup or need to replace the only internal SSD before restoring. It requires enough space for the image and a working recovery/restore process.
- Clean installation: A sensible choice for a damaged or infected Windows installation, or when you want to rebuild rather than carry old settings and software. Reinstall applications and restore personal files from backup.
- Macrium Reflect: A guided Windows-oriented option with documented disk-cloning and target-resizing workflows. Check the current product page for release and licensing details.
- Acronis True Image: Offers cloning alongside image backup and other recovery and security features. It may suit readers who want those functions bundled, but can be excessive for a one-time migration; plans and prices change. See the official product page.
- EaseUS Disk Copy: A guided cloning utility with bootable-media options. Check the official product page and purchase page for current edition restrictions and pricing.
- Clonezilla: A bootable, operating-system-independent cloning and imaging tool for technically confident users; its interface is less like a typical Windows wizard. Visit the official project site.
- Rescuezilla: A graphical bootable rescue environment for imaging and cloning workflows. Check the official project site for current release information.
- SSD-maker utility: Some manufacturers offer migration software with eligibility limits, such as requiring a supported brand drive. Use only the maker’s official download page and check what the utility supports; for example, Crucial’s Acronis OEM documentation describes a Windows-only package with limited functions.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
