How to Use Lenovo Migration Assistant & Best Alternative

What is Lenovo Migration Assistant?

Lenovo Migration Assistant(LMA) is a free utility developed by Lenovo to help users transfer personal files and settings from one computer to another. It is especially handy when moving from an older PC to a new Lenovo device. This tool aims to transfer data like files in Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Music, Videos, and Downloads, along with some system settings.

It offers two transfer modes: via local network (Wi-Fi) or using a USB drive. The former works by creating a direct network connection between two computers, and the latter needs an external drive as a medium for data migration. This tool supports Windows systems, including Windows 7, 10, and 11.

How to Use Lenovo Migration Assistant on Windows 11/10

Here's how to get started with Lenovo Migration Assistant on Windows 10 or Windows 11 for file transfer from one PC to another. Whether you're transferring files via Wi-Fi or USB, follow the steps below carefully.

System Requirements:✎...

Both PCs must run Windows 7 or later.

The target PC should be a Lenovo device.

Download Lenovo Migration Assistant on both computers.

Option 1 - Using Wi-Fi

Step 1. After Lenovo Migration Assistant is downloaded and installed on both PCs, make sure both your old and new PCs are on the same stable Wi-Fi network.

Step 2. Run the program on both devices, and select Wi-Fi to click Next.

Step 3. Select Old Computer on the source computer and New Computer on the target Lenovo computer.

Step 4. Then, a PIN code will appear on the old screen for pairing the devices. Input and confirm the code on the new PC to establish a secure connection.

Step 5. After connection, Lenovo Migration Assistant will scan your old PC, and you will be prompted to choose what you want to move: individual files, folders, system settings, and more.

Step 6. After selection, click Migrate on the old PC to begin sending the files.

Option 2 - Using USB

This is helpful if the two PCs are not on the same network or if Wi-Fi is unstable.

Step 1. Use a USB flash drive or external hard drive with enough free space to hold the files you're transferring. Plug it into your old PC. Then, choose USB > click Next.

Step 2. Click on Create a backup to back up the files you wish to transfer to the USB drive. Then, go on to choose the target files or folders.

Step 3. When the backup is completed, insert the USB drive into your new computer, select USB > Restore data > select the backed-up files from USB > click Migrate.

Troubleshoot Lenovo Migration Assistant Not Working

While running Lenovo Migration Assistant on Windows 11/10 for PC-to-PC data transfer is straightforward, some users reported that they occasionally run into issues like Lenovo Migration Assistant stuck, Lenovo Migration Assistant cannot connect to your old computer, Lenovo Migration Assistant not connecting, etc. Here are some tips to handle common problems:

• Network connectivity failure: Ensure both PCs are on the same Wi-Fi or LAN. Try disabling firewalls or using a wired connection.
• Software version mismatch: Install the same version of the software on both devices.
• Security code doesn't match: Restart both machines and try pairing again.
• Transfer freeze or stuck: Cancel and restart the migration. Make sure no background processes are interfering.
• Windows Defender blocking: Add the tool to the exceptions list in antivirus or firewall settings. Or disable any firewalls or antivirus programs temporarily.

Best PC Migration Software for Transferring Everything

Lenovo Migration Assistant is ideal for personal files and folders, but what if you want to move installed applications, system configurations, or even your entire disk? That’s where professional disk cloning software like AOMEI Cloner comes into play. With this fully-featured software, you are able to do complete data transfer for programs, games, and the Windows OS, without reinstallation. Also, it comes with advanced features like:

AOMEI Cloner

Best PC Migration Software

• Flexible Cloning - Clone an entire drive, clone only the Windows OS, or clone a specific partition to another drive with the System Clone, Disk Clone, or Partition Clone feature.
• Intelligent Cloning - Copy only the used sectors to another drive, best for cloning hard drive with bad sectors or migrating to a smaller SSD/HDD.
• SSD Alignment - One-click to automatically optimize performance and prolong the lifespan of the target SSD.
• Wide support - Work with all types of HDD and SSD transfers recognized by Windows; compatible with Windows 11/10/8/7 and all Windows Servers, and support cloning MBR to GPT or vice versa.

Free Download
Win 11/10/8/7/Server

100% Secure

Follow these steps to migrate everything by clone your old PC to your new PC using AOMEI Cloner:

Step 1. Connect the new drive from your new PC that you wish to migrate to, using a SATA-to-USB cable or installing the new drive internally. Download and open AOMEI Cloner on your computer.

Step 2. Navigate to the Clone tab. Choose Disk Clone if you want to clone the entire drive. You can also select System Clone for OS-only migration.

Step 3. Select the disk you want to clone, here is your old hard drive.

Step 4. Select the new drive you want to clone to.

Step 5. Enable SSD Alignment if you are migrating to an SSD to optimize performance. Click Start Clone and wait for the process to finish.

FAQs about Lenovo Migration Assistant on Windows 10/11

1. Does Lenovo Migration Assistant move programs?

No, it does not. The tool is designed to move user profiles and files like documents, pictures, and downloads. Applications and system files are not transferred.

2. Does Lenovo Migration Assistant transfer everything from Windows?

Not everything. It excludes applications, hidden system files, and custom installations. For a complete OS transfer, you may need professional disk cloning software like AOMEI Cloner.

3. How long does it take to transfer using Lenovo Migration Assistant?

It depends on the size of your data and the method you use. Over Wi-Fi, it can take several hours for larger transfers. With a USB connection, it’s generally faster but still depends on hardware speed.

In Conclusion

Lenovo Migration Assistant is simple to use for PC to PC file transfers, especially if you're not too tech-savvy and just need to move a few documents or photos. But if you need to migrate everything, including apps, settings, and the OS itself, it's not the best choice.

You can consider switching to AOMEI Cloner. It's fast, reliable, and does exactly what Lenovo Migration Assistant can't. You can use it to clone entire hard drive to new drive for upgrading to a new PC or just for backing up your current system setup. For example, you could clone C drive to new SSD with a larger capacity without reinstalling Windows.