Clone HDD to SSD in Lenovo without Reinstalling [2 Ways]

Is your Lenovo laptop or desktop feeling slow? Long boot times, application lag, and general sluggishness are often caused by older HDDs themselves or insufficient space. Upgrading to a Solid State Drive (SSD) is the most effective solution to these issues, dramatically improving speed and responsiveness.

The challenge? You must want to keep the current Windows installation, programs, settings, and files exactly as they are. This is where cloning tools kick in - by cloning HDD to SSD in Lenovo, you create a replica of the old system. Simply swap out the drive, and you'll immediately work on a faster machine without reinstalling anything.

Below, we'll provide two practical methods to ensure a smooth and successful upgrade.

Best Software for Lenovo Clone HDD to SSD

For a smooth and successful upgrade, using dedicated cloning software is essential. While there are many options available, the following two stand out.

#1: Acronis True Image (OEM Version)

Being an official partner, Acronis offers an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) version specifically for Lenovo users, which is often available for free through the Lenovo website or pre-installed on your machine.

Acronis True Image is a wizard-driven cloning software featuring a simple and intuitive interface that can create bootable, perfect drive copies, even for beginners.

⚠️Note: Cloning can be done under Windows with recent versions, but it’s suggested to clone hard drive with bootable USB in a laptop. The target drive should be installed internally to ensure bootability after cloning.

#2: AOMEI Cloner (All-in-one)

AOMEI Cloner is a full-featured, all-in-one cloning software that can be used to clone HDD to SSD on any computer, including brands like Lenovo, Acer, Dell, HP, Asus, etc. It supports different interface types (SATA/M.2/NVMe/PCIe) and partition styles (MBR/GPT).

👍Optional Recommendations:

• Acronis True Image OEM is for users seeking a premium, officially supported tool.
• AOMEI Cloner is a very competitive tool, offering greater ease of use and powerful cloning features.

How to Clone HDD to SSD in Lenovo [Windows 10/11]

Here are two practical methods to clone HDD to SSD in Lenovo Windows 10.

Way 1: Clone HDD to SSD in Lenovo using Acronis True Image

⚠️Notes:
✅ The cloning process will fail if the disk types (MBR/GPT) or sector sizes (512 sectors/4k) do not matchor if an unsupported disk type is used.
✅ The free customized version of Acronis True Image will remain available until October 21st, 2025.

Step 1. Connect the new SSD to Lenovo using a proper adapter or enclosure. Download Acronis True Image OEM for cloning HDD to SSD. On the main page, click Tools > Clone Disk.

Step 2. Select the Automatic (recommended) mode and click Next. It will auto-resize partitions to fit the target drive, even smaller SSD.

Step 3. Select the old HDD and new SSD, respectively.

Step 4. Review the summary and click Proceed to let Acronis clone HDD to SSD in Lenovo. Click Reboot when prompted.

Way 2: Clone Lenovo Hard Drive to SSD using AOMEI Cloner

Step 1. Connect the new SSD and download AOMEI Cloner for cloning. On the main page, click Clone > Disk Clone.

Step 2. Select the old HDD as the source drive and the new SSD as the target drive. Note all the partitions on the new SSD drive will be overwritten. Please backup any important data beforehand.

Step 3. This software will auto-resize the new SSD to full capacity (if it’s larger). You can click Edit Partitions to confirm this and optionally, convert MBR to GPT, or GPT to MBR. Also, it’s suggested to enable SSD Alignment for best performance. At last, click Start Clone.

You don’t need to worry about the cloned SSD won’t boot issue as this software can handle different cloning issues, even cloning to smaller SSD. It uses the intelligent clone mode by default, which clones only the used sectors of HDD to SSD. Just be sure the used space of the HDD is smaller than or equal to new SSD.

How to Boot from Cloned SSD in Lenovo

After cloning, it’s necessary to boot from the new SSD in Lenovo, which significantly speeds up your system, with all data and settings intact.

Step 1. Physical swap HDD and SSD.

Shut down your Lenovo completely and unplug the power cord. Open the back cover and carefully remove the old HDD using a screwdriver. Then, install the new SSD in its place and reassemble.

Step 2. Enter the BIOS/UEFI Firmware Settings

Plug the power cord back in and turn on your Lenovo. Immediately and repeatedly press the specific key to enter the BIOS/UEFI setup. For most Lenovo models, this is: F1 or F2.

Sometimes, you may need to press the Novo Button (a small pinhole button usually on the side) and select "BIOS Setup."

Step 3. Change the Boot Order 

The menus may look slightly different depending on your Lenovo model, but the logic is the same. In the BIOS/UEFI menu, use the keyboard arrow keys to navigate to the "Boot" tab.

• Then, look for an option called "Boot Priority" or "Boot Order"and move the new SSD to the first option.
• You might see Windows Boot Manager listed with the SSD's name (e.g., "Windows Boot Manager: Samsung 980 Pro"). Prioritize this option.
• Then, navigate to the "Exit" tab and select "Exit Saving Changes" (or similar). At last, confirm "Yes" when prompted.

Your Lenovo device will restart and navigate to the Windows desktop, with significantly improved startup speed and overall responsiveness.

🤔👨🏿‍🤝‍👨🏿 Troubleshooting Tip: What if it Doesn't Boot?

• Re-enter the BIOS and double-check that the SSD is indeed the first boot option.
• Look for a "CSM" (Compatibility Support Module) setting in the Boot tab. Try enabling or disabling it and then save and exit again. This setting can affect how the system recognizes boot drives.

Conclusion

That’s all for Lenovo clone HDD to SSD, with dedicated cloning tools, including Acronis True Image OEM, and AOMEI Cloner. The OEM version of Acronis True Image is free, but hardware is limited to use on Lenovo desktop/laptop.

AOMEI Cloner, however, is not subject to these restrictions and is more flexible. It can clone MBR to GPT, boost SSD performance, auto-resize larger drive, etc., in Windows 7, 8/8.1, 10, 11, and Windows Server.