Clone NVMe to NVMe without USB Enclosure: A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction to NVMe Cloning (without using an Enclosure)

NVMe cloning refers to creating a bootable, identical copy of an NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express) SSD to another NVMe drive.

Taking advantage of the high-speed PCIe interface, it ensures fast and accurate data transfer, making it ideal for upgrading to a larger or faster drive, replacing a failing SSD, setting up a new system without reinstalling, creating reliable backups, and more.

Cloning NVMe to NVMe requires an M.2 enclosure for connection. But what if you don’t have one? No worries, you can also check if your computer has an extra M.2 slot or consider using an M.2 adapter (sufficient to detect the drive).

Best Software to Clone NVMe to NVMe without USB Enclosure

AOMEI Cloner is one of the best NVMe cloning software that can successfully clone NVMe to larger or smaller NVMe disks in Windows 7, 8, 10, 11, and Windows Servers.

Step 1. Connect the new NVMe drive to your computer, or use a USB adapter. Then, open AOMEI Cloner after installing and click Clone > Disk Clone.

Step 2. Select the two NVMe SSD drives in the Source Disk and Destination Disk windows. Click Next after each selection.

Warning: The destination drive will be overwritten or deleted. Make sure to select the right disk and backup your important data (if there is) in advance. Then, click OK to continue.

Step 3. Be sure to check SSD Alignment to improve disk performance. Optionally, click Edit Partitions to convert disk partition style while cloning MBR to GPT or vice versa. At last, click Start Clone to copy one NVMe to another without using an enclosure.

⚠️Notes:
✅ SSD Alignment: It helps to accelerate the reading and writing speed of SSD disks.
✅ Edit Partitions: As the name suggests, it can clone and resize hard drive, but the process is automatic - you don't even need to enable it. It also supports converting MBR to GPT, or vice versa.
❌ Sector by Sector Clone: A cloning mode can clone all sectors of a drive, including empty sectors and bad sectors.

Download AOMEI Cloner for easy cloning!

Best Practices to Ensure a Smooth Cloning

1. Backing up data before cloning

Microsoft offers users Backup and Restore (Windows 7), File History, and Back up files to OneDrive to backup files automatically. You can access them in the backup settings window and set up backup tasks as needed.

2. Quick checks after cloning

After cloning NVMe to NVMe without a USB enclosure, you can still perform a boot test for system drives and data check.

• Shut down the PC completely. Disconnect the power cable as well.
• Restart your computer and press the BIOS key, usually F2, F10, ESC, etc.
• In the BIOS/UEFI settings window, set the cloned drive as first.
• Press F10 to save changes and restart.

FAQs

1. Why clone straight from one NVMe to another?

It's the fastest way to upgrade your NVMe drive. You avoid the USB cable speed limitations and enjoy faster copy processes. You also don't need to buy an external adapter.

2. What if my computer only has one slot for an NVMe drive?

This is a common problem! The easiest fix is to use a cheap USB adapter to connect NVMe drive and your computer. Once the drive is detected, you can clone NVMe to NVMe without a USB enclosure on Windows.

3. What if the cloning fails or the new drive doesn't boot?

First, don't worry! Put your old drive back in to make sure your computer still works. Then, check these things:

• The new drive might not be plugged in all the way.
• The old drive might be starting to fail, which can cause errors.
• Sometimes, you need to change the "Secure Boot" setting in BIOS.

4. Can I just use a free cloning tool?

You can try, but it can be risky. Free tools might not work perfectly with newer NVMe drives. The main risks are:

• The clone might finish but not boot up.
• It could cause errors or corruption.
• You won't get any help or support if something goes wrong.

Using reliable software to make sure your valuable data is copied safely and correctly is of utmost importance.

Conclusion

AOMEI Cloner is one of the best NVMe cloning software that can clone NVMe to NVMe without USB enclosure and handle most issues automatically, even if the cloned SSD won’t boot. Be sure to check if there are two disk slots, or prepare a USB adapter instead.

With it, you can not only clone NVMe to larger NVMe, but also clone NVMe to smaller drive as it uses intelligent clone mode by default. It can clone only the used sectors and handle all the cloning scenarios well.