The safest way to move to a new Windows laptop is to handle files, settings, and apps separately: use OneDrive or an external drive for files, use Windows Backup and restore for supported settings and content, then reinstall apps and sign in to your accounts. Do not count on a built-in PC-to-PC transfer: Microsoft says that feature is no longer available.
Before you start: inventory and protect your files
List the folders and files you need, including anything stored outside Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Videos, and Music. Check how much data you plan to move and confirm you can sign in to the Microsoft and other accounts you use. Make a backup before changing or removing anything from the old laptop, and keep it available until you have checked the new one.
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Microsoft’s guidance also notes that Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. Microsoft no longer provides free Windows Update software updates, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10 after that date. See Microsoft’s move-files guidance.
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Choose how to move your files
| Method | Best suited to | What to consider |
|---|---|---|
| OneDrive | Files you want available through cloud sync on the new laptop and other devices. | Requires internet access and enough OneDrive storage. Only files uploaded or synced to OneDrive will be available this way. |
| External storage | A manual copy that does not depend on cloud synchronization. | The files you select must fit on the storage device. You will need to copy them to the new laptop yourself. |
| Windows Backup and restore | Supported folders and settings that Windows Backup can carry into a new setup. | Requires a Microsoft account and is not a guaranteed full copy of the old Windows installation. |
| PC-to-PC transfer | Not a dependable general option. | Microsoft says this feature is no longer available; the documented requirements below apply only if it is presented to you. |
Move files with OneDrive
- On the old laptop, put the files you need in OneDrive. Move them into the OneDrive folder or enable sync for the folders you want. Allow syncing to complete.
- Confirm the upload. Check OneDrive online to make sure the files are present before relying on the cloud copy.
- On the new laptop, sign in to OneDrive with the same Microsoft account. Open the synced files in File Explorer or from the OneDrive notification-area icon. Microsoft also describes turning on folder backup on the new PC.
Microsoft’s migration instructions list 5 GB of free OneDrive storage with a Microsoft account and 1 TB with a Microsoft 365 subscription; plan amounts can change, so check the current terms and your available space before uploading. Follow Microsoft’s OneDrive migration instructions.
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Move files with external storage
- Connect an external storage device to the old laptop. Microsoft lists USB drives, SD cards, and external hard drives as options.
- Copy the selected files and folders to the device. Open a few copied files to make sure the copy is usable.
- Eject the device safely, connect it to the new laptop, and copy the files into the folders where you want them.
This method avoids relying on cloud sync, but the selected data must fit on the device. Choose capacity based on the files you intend to copy, and keep the drive as a separate backup if useful. See Microsoft’s external-storage instructions.
Use Windows Backup for supported settings and content
Windows Backup can include selected folders such as Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Videos, and Music, along with settings and other listed items. Using it requires a Microsoft account. On the new laptop, sign in to the same account and review the restore experience offered during setup.
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Treat this as a way to restore supported content and preferences, not as a complete clone of the old laptop. The available items depend on the Windows Backup and restore experience for your devices. Read Microsoft’s Windows backup and recovery overview.
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Microsoft’s support page states: “This feature is no longer available. Use Windows Backup and Restore instead.” The page still describes how the experience worked if it is presented during setup, but its documentation is not a promise that the feature is generally available.
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For that documented experience, the old laptop could run Windows 10 or 11; the new one needed Windows 11 version 2024 or later, setup with a Microsoft account, and no existing backup on that account. Microsoft says the two PCs pair by PC name and a one-time code over the same Wi-Fi or LAN. The page says it is unavailable in China and currently supports most Intel- and AMD-based PCs.
The described transfer included personal files and personalization settings, but excluded system and OS files, OneDrive files, installed applications, saved passwords and sign-in credentials, and BitLocker-encrypted drives. It recommended updating and powering both PCs during transfer. These details describe the documented experience, not current general availability. Check Microsoft’s PC-to-PC transfer page.
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Set up apps, accounts, and encrypted files
- Applications: Plan to reinstall desktop apps or access them through their normal service. The described PC-to-PC transfer does not copy installed applications.
- Passwords and sign-ins: Be ready to sign in again. The described transfer excludes saved passwords and sign-in credentials, so confirm you can use account recovery methods before retiring the old laptop.
- OneDrive content: Sign in to OneDrive on the new PC; those files are not included in the described PC-to-PC transfer.
- BitLocker-encrypted drives: The documented transfer excludes them. Use the appropriate authenticated access or backup workflow for encrypted content; do not remove encryption without understanding the security consequences.
Verify the new laptop before wiping the old one
- Check the folders you intended to move and open a sample of important documents and photos.
- Confirm that cloud files are accessible and that any manually copied files are in the intended locations.
- Open the apps you rely on, reinstalling them where needed, and sign in to the relevant accounts.
- Keep the old laptop or an independent backup until you are satisfied that the important files and access are in place.
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