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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →It depends on what “changing platforms” means. Upgrade the existing PC and choose Keep personal files and apps, and Windows Setup retains your files, apps, and settings. A clean install can erase them. Move to another PC, and you can transfer selected files and preferences—but not installed applications as working installations. Switching to a Windows 11 Arm PC also requires checking app and driver compatibility.
First, identify which kind of move you’re making
Microsoft distinguishes upgrading Windows on the same computer from replacing a computer. Those paths preserve different things:
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| Move | What happens | Main thing to check |
|---|---|---|
| Upgrade Windows on the same PC | Apps, personal files, and settings can be retained if you run Setup from the existing Windows installation and select Keep personal files and apps. | The Setup keep option and whether Windows Update offers the upgrade for this device. |
| Install Windows on the same PC from booted installation media | A fresh installation wipes the existing Windows installation and files and apps on the device. | Back up before proceeding. |
| Move to a different PC | Selected files and settings can transfer or restore, but old installed apps do not arrive as working installations. | Transfer method, exclusions, accounts, storage, and app licenses. |
| Move to a Windows 11 Arm PC | Many apps can run, but compatibility depends on the app, drivers, and connected hardware. | Verify critical apps and devices with their publishers. |
Upgrading Windows on the same PC
An in-place upgrade means starting Windows Setup while the existing Windows installation is running. Microsoft describes this approach as a way to keep applications, files, and settings. With Windows 11 installation media launched from within Windows, the default choice is Keep personal files and apps. The available keep choices have distinct outcomes:
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| Windows Setup choice | Personal files | Apps | Windows settings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keep personal files and apps | Kept | Kept | Kept |
| Keep personal files only | Kept | Deleted | Deleted |
| Nothing | Deleted | Deleted | Deleted |
These options are documented in Microsoft’s Windows installation-media guidance. Read the selected option on the Setup screen before continuing.
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Do not confuse an in-place upgrade with a fresh installation
Booting the computer from installation media to perform a fresh Windows installation is not the same as launching Setup from the running Windows desktop. Microsoft warns that a fresh installation completely wipes the hard drive and existing Windows installation; files and installed apps on that device are lost. Back up anything you need before taking this route.
Check eligibility and upgrade readiness
Use Windows Update to see whether Microsoft is offering the upgrade for your particular device. If it is not offered, a compatibility issue or incomplete readiness may be the reason; do not assume that forcing an installation will resolve it. Microsoft’s Windows 11 installation guidance points users to PC Health Check to assess hardware eligibility.
Moving to a different PC
Replacing a computer is a side-by-side migration, not a Windows upgrade on one device. Microsoft offers Windows Backup and a separate direct PC-to-PC transfer experience, but neither should be treated as a complete clone of the old computer.
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Windows Backup and OneDrive restore
Windows Backup is linked to your Microsoft account. It can back up selected user folders to OneDrive and save settings and preferences for restoration on another PC. Microsoft’s overview also describes many installed apps and Wi-Fi information as part of the Windows Backup experience. That does not mean every desktop program, license, local database, or app-specific setting will be restored. Plan to reinstall ordinary desktop software from its publisher or the Microsoft Store, then sign in or reactivate it where required.
Check which folders are included rather than assuming every file on the old PC is protected. OneDrive content is accessed on the replacement PC by signing into OneDrive. Microsoft’s Windows Backup overview describes the backup and restore experience.
Direct PC-to-PC transfer
Microsoft’s direct transfer feature has specific requirements: the old PC may run Windows 10 or Windows 11, while the new PC must run Windows 11 version 2024 or later. Setup requires a Microsoft account on the new PC. The feature currently supports most Intel- and AMD-based PCs and is not currently available in China. Both computers need to be connected to the same Wi-Fi or LAN and plugged into power during transfer. Availability and eligibility can change, so check Microsoft’s current PC-to-PC transfer instructions before relying on it.
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The transfer copies files and settings or preferences, but excludes:
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- System and operating-system files, including Program Files, Program Data, and Temp.
- Saved passwords and sign-in credentials.
- Files on BitLocker-encrypted drives.
- OneDrive files, which are accessed separately by signing in to OneDrive.
You can adjust what is transferred to fit a smaller destination drive. Check available space and review the transfer summary before starting. Microsoft’s page also describes external storage as an option for moving files; a portable drive does not migrate applications, passwords, or system files.
Prepare what the transfer does not cover
- Make a separate backup of important files before migration.
- List the apps you use and locate their installers, publisher accounts, and license or activation details.
- Check for local files outside the folders selected for backup or transfer.
- Plan how to retrieve saved passwords and other sign-in credentials.
- Check destination-drive space and whether important files are in OneDrive or on an encrypted drive.
Microsoft Support lists 5 GB of OneDrive storage for a Microsoft account and 1 TB with a Microsoft 365 subscription as of 2026. Storage terms can change; check the current OneDrive plan information. Cloud backup and sync are not a full PC clone.
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Moving to a Windows 11 Arm PC
Windows 11 on Arm can run many Windows apps. Native Arm64 versions are expected to perform best; some other apps can run through emulation. Compatibility is not guaranteed just because an app runs on Windows 11 for a different processor architecture.
Check apps, drivers, and connected devices
Drivers must be designed for Windows on Arm. Apps or devices that depend on incompatible drivers may not work fully, even when the main app itself can run. Microsoft highlights peripherals, some games that rely on anti-cheat drivers, some customization and assistive-technology apps, and some third-party antivirus software as areas to verify.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteBefore switching, ask the app, game, and hardware publishers about support for the exact Windows 11 Arm device and software version you plan to use. This is particularly important for printers, scanners, specialist assistive technology, security software, and games with anti-cheat requirements. Microsoft’s Windows Arm-based PCs FAQ explains that the app’s developer determines whether it works on an Arm-based PC. Its guidance describes Prism emulation in connection with Windows 11 version 24H2 for Arm PCs; check current device and Windows documentation for the latest availability details.
Windows 10 support has ended
Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. Microsoft says it no longer provides free Windows Update software updates, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10 after that date. This end of support does not automatically make an ineligible computer eligible for Windows 11; check the PC’s hardware eligibility and Windows Update offer for that device. See Microsoft’s Windows 10 end-of-support information.
Quick Recap
Before you start: a practical checklist
- Identify the destination. Decide whether you are upgrading the existing PC, reinstalling Windows on it, or moving to a replacement computer.
- For an upgrade, check eligibility and Setup’s keep choice. Use Windows Update and PC Health Check, and confirm whether Setup is set to keep apps and personal files, files only, or nothing.
- For a replacement PC, inventory what will not transfer. Record apps, licenses, passwords, local data, and device-specific settings; make a separate backup.
- Check cloud and drive coverage. Confirm which folders are backed up, where OneDrive files are stored, whether any needed files are on an encrypted drive, and whether the destination has enough space.
- For an Arm PC, verify dependencies. Ask publishers about your essential apps, drivers, printers, scanners, assistive technology, games, and security software.
- Keep a recovery route. Do not erase or repurpose the old PC until you have checked the new one for the files, apps, and access you need.
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