How to Upgrade Internal Storage on PC without Losing Data

Can you upgrade internal storage on a PC?

There is no doubt that you can upgrade internal storage on a PC. Modern PCs are designed with storage upgrade options in mind. Whether you have a desktop or a laptop, upgrading from a smaller hard drive to a larger HDD or faster SSD can significantly improve both your system's performance and capacity.

After a long time use, you may find yourselves hitting the limits of the computer’s hard drive, often due to the accumulation of years of files, games, software, or massive media libraries. Cleaning it up is time-consuming and labor-intensive, and it may also delete some important files by mistake. The only way out is to increase storage on PC. So here comes the question - How to upgrade internal storage on PC without losing anything? We are here to break it down.

✅Key takeaways of internal storage upgrade on computer

Upgrading storage can improve speed and performance, especially if you're switching from HDD to SSD, because SSDs are much faster and more durable than HDDs. You don't have to reinstall Windows or applications or lose any data if you clone your old drive to the new one, as the cloning process will create an exact copy of your old drive. Using reliable disk clone software like AOMEI Cloner makes the cloning process safe and simple. You can use the old drive as backup or secondary storage afterward.

How to upgrade internal storage on PC without losing data

The key point of how to upgrade storage on a laptop or desktop without data loss is simple - disk cloning. Instead of reinstalling everything from scratch, you make an exact replica of your old drive and use it on the new one directly. This section walks you through the steps in detail.

Part 1. Get a larger compatible HDD/SSD

Start by choosing the right replacement drive. Please make sure that it fits your system's requirements. Desktops generally support both 2.5" and 3.5" drives, while laptops often require 2.5" SATA or M.2 SSDs.Here are some key considerations:

• Capacity: At least equal to or greater than your current drive.
• Performance Needs: If you want speed, go for an SSD; if you want space for less money, an HDD may still make sense. Consider at least 500GB or 1TB if you're planning to add more storage to PC for gaming or multimedia work. Choose SSD over HDD for better speed and reliability.
• Form Factor: Check if your PC uses SATA, M.2, or NVMe. (Usually, using an M.2 NVMe SSD as boot drive offers better performance, compared to SATA SSD)
• Interface Compatibility: Typically, SATA III for older systems, PCIe Gen3/Gen4 for newer ones.

You should also get a USB-to-SATA adapter or M.2 enclosure if your PC doesn’t have an extra internal slot for temporarily connecting the new drive externally. Make sure you have a screwdriver set and an anti-static wristband if needed.

Part 2. Migrate everything from old disk to new drive

Cloning your current drive ensures that your Windows operating system, installed applications, user data, settings, and even hidden files are copied exactly to the new drive.AOMEI Cloner, a multi-functional hard cloning software for Windows 11/10/8/7, can help you clone your internal hard drive to another drive easily and quickly without losing any data or reinstalling Windows. It also provides the following features:

Here is how to add more storage to PC for gaming by using AOMEI Cloner for disk upgrade:

Step 1. If your PC has a spare slot, insert the new SSD or HDD directly. If not, use an adapter to connect the drive externally.

Step 2. Download and open AOMEI Cloner, head to Clone > Disk Clone for cloning the entire hard drive of your device. Alternatively, you can choose System Clone to transfer only OS to another drive.

Step 3. Select your current hard drive as the source disk, and click Next. (For System Clone here, this software will automatically select all system-related partitions.)

Step 4. Choose your new drive as the destination disk, and click Next.

Step 5. Enable SSD Alignment to optimize performance if you are cloning to an SSD. Then, click on Start Clone.

Notes:✎...

You can use Edit partitions to adjust the partition size on the larger destination disk, so you can make full use of its disk space.

If you do not tick the Sector By Sector Clone option, this tool will run in its default Intelligent Clone to skip unused space and bad sectors while cloning (this allows you to clone a larger HDD to a smaller SSD).

Part 3. Boot computer from the cloned drive

Now that you have complete the most important step of how to add internal storage to PC via cloning the internal storage with a larger new drive, the last step is to ensure your computer boots from the new drive.

• For laptops: Unscrew the back panel, remove the old drive, and insert the new one.
• For desktops: Unplug the old drive's SATA and power cables, remove it, and install the new drive using the same connectors.

Once done, power on your PC and enter the BIOS/UEFI by pressing the appropriate key (usually F2, DEL, or ESC during boot).

• Set the new drive as the first boot device.
• Save and exit the BIOS.

Your PC should now boot from the new drive, with all your files, settings, and apps intact.

FAQs about upgrading internal storage on PC

Q1. How do I check if my laptop is upgradeable?

Refer to your laptop's manual or the manufacturer’s website. Many ultrabooks and budget laptops are limited, but gaming and business models often have upgrade options. Look for available drive slots and the type of interface supported (SATA, NVMe).

Q2. What happens if your laptop storage is full?

When storage is full, your PC slows down dramatically. Windows can’t create temporary files, updates fail, and applications may crash. Upgrading storage helps avoid these issues.

Q3. Can I add external storage to my laptop?

Yes. External HDDs, SSDs, or USB flash drives are a quick way to expand storage. However, they are slower than internal drives and less convenient for daily use.

Q4. Can I just add an SSD to my laptop?

If your laptop has an extra M.2 slot or an empty 2.5" bay, you can add an SSD. Otherwise, you may need to replace the existing drive and clone your data.

Q5. How much does it cost to increase storage on a laptop?

Prices vary based on capacity and type. A 1TB HDD costs around $40- 50, while a 1TB SATA SSD costs $60 - 90. NVMe SSDs can be $80 - 120 or more.

Conclusion

That's all about how to upgrade internal storage on PC. Whether you're expanding capacity or switching to a lightning-fast SSD, using the AOMEI Cloner to clone your hard drive to the new drive ensures you won’t have to start from scratch. You can complete the upgrade in a few hours and enjoy a faster, more responsive system without any problems.