Samsung Data Migration Not Working? Quick Solutions Here!

Why Data Migration Samsung not working?

When Samsung Data Migration doesn’t work as expected, it can be frustrating — especially when you're eager to upgrade your system with a faster SSD. Several factors could cause the software to fail, stall, or display error messages. Let’s break down the most common reasons:

📍 Incompatible hardware issues

📍 Faulty cables or bad connections

📍 Outdated SDM software

📍 Bad sectors on the source disk

📍 Encrypted source disk

📍 Unprepared target disk

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How to fix Samsung Data Migration not responding

If Samsung Data Migration stuck at 0%, 99% or completely not working, don’t panic. Here are some practical fixes to help you out.

Fix 1: Check if the source/target disk is supported

Please remember Samsung Data Migration can only help you clone a system disk to a Samsung SSD. It won’t work if:

• You are cloning a disk without Windows installed.
• The target SSD is a non-Samsung SSD.

💡 Note: Some old Samsung SSD models are also not supported. Make sure you are using 860 EVO, 970 EVO Plus, 980 PRO, and newer models.

Fix 2: Reconnect the target SSD

A loose, faulty, or unstable connection between your SSD and computer can cause Samsung Data Migration to freeze or fail midway through the cloning process. Here’s how to fix it:

1. Unplug and reconnect the target SSD securely.

• If you're using a SATA-to-USB adapter, try switching to a direct internal SATA connection if possible — internal connections are much more stable for large data transfers.
• Try using a different USB port (preferably a USB 3.0 port) or a different cable to eliminate the chance of hardware faults.

2. Reboot your computer after reconnecting the drive to ensure the system properly detects the SSD.

Fix 3: Update SDM software

Running an outdated version of Samsung Data Migration (SDM) can cause compatibility problems, especially if you're using a newer Samsung SSD model or a recent Windows update. Follow the steps below to update SDM software:

1. Uninstall the current version of Samsung Data Migration from your PC.

2. Visit Samsung’s official support website and download the newest version of Samsung Magician (SDM has been integrated into Samsung Magician now).

3. Install Samsung Magician and restart your computer before trying the migration again.

Fix 4: Check the source disk for errors

Disk errors like bad sectors, file system corruption, or minor inconsistencies can cause the Samsung Data Migration not working issue. Follow these steps to fix it:

1. Press Windows + S, type cmd, then right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.

2. In the Command Prompt window, type chkdsk C: /f /r /x and press Enter to check the source drive.

💡 Note: If there are multiple partitions on the source drive, replace C: with other drive letters to check them one by one.

3. If prompted to schedule the scan at the next reboot, type Y and press Enter.

4. Restart your computer. The tool will then find any bad sectors and attempt to repair them.

Fix 5: Decrypt the source disk

If your source drive is encrypted — for example, using BitLocker or another disk encryption tool — Samsung Data Migration may not be able to access the necessary data sectors. Use these steps to unlock the source disk:

1. Turn off BitLocker (if enabled):

• Open Control Panel ➔ System and Security ➔ BitLocker Drive Encryption.

• Find your source drive and click Turn off BitLocker.
• Allow the decryption process to fully complete. This can take time depending on drive size.

2. If you’re using other encryption software, open that program and decrypt the drive following the manufacturer’s instructions.

3. Once decryption is complete, restart your computer before running Samsung Data Migration again.

💡 Note: Always back up important files before decrypting a drive, just in case something goes wrong during the process.

Fix 6: Use Disk Management to prepare the target drive

If the target SSD isn't properly initialized, partitioned, or formatted, Samsung Data Migration might not detect it correctly. Preparing the target drive using Windows Disk Management can fix many of these problems quickly.

1. Press Windows + X and select Disk Management.

2. Check the target SSD status:

• If the target SSD appears as "Unknown" or "Not Initialized," right-click it and choose Initialize Disk. Then choose MBR or GPT and click OK.

• If the drive already has partitions, but cloning still fails, right-click each partition and select Delete Volume to clear the drive.

3. Right-click the unallocated space, choose New Simple Volume, and format it as NTFS with Default Allocation Size.

4. Restart Samsung Data Migration and run disk clone again.

Bonus: Best Samsung Data Migration alternative for disk cloning

If you’ve tried everything and Samsung Data Migration still isn’t working, don’t waste more time troubleshooting. There is an excellent alternative – AOMEI Cloner that can help you with Samsung SSD clone.

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• Full Disk Clone: Replicate everything on your hard drive—operating system, configurations, programs, and personal data.
• Single Partition Clone: Copy just one partition if you don’t need the entire drive.
• OS-Only Clone: Transfer Windows and essential boot files—great for switching to a smaller SSD.
• It allows you to choose between copying only occupied space (Intelligent Clone) or duplicating every sector (Sector-by-Sector Clone).
• It is compatible with all major brands: Samsung, Crucial, WD, Kingston, and more.

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Step 1. Install and open AOMEI Cloner. Navigate to Clone and choose Disk Clone.

Step 2. Select your existing HDD as the source disk and pick your Samsung SSD as the destination.

Step 3. Enable SSD Alignment for optimal performance, then click Start Clone to begin the process.

Verdict

If you encounter the Samsung Data Migration not working issue, it can be caused by various reasons. There are 6 effective solutions offered in this article to help you resolve the issue. If all solutions fail, try a trusted alternative AOMEI Cloner. It offers a simple and highly compatible solution for disk cloning. Not only Samsung SSD, you can use it to clone HDD to Crucial SSD, etc. Just go for it!