How to Transfer Everything from One Laptop to Another Easily

Switching laptops and don't want to start from scratch? This guide provides a reliable laptop cloning software to help you successfully transfer your complete system to the new laptop.

By @Lily
Last Updated February 5, 2026

Need to Move from Old Laptop to New Laptop

Upgrading to a new laptop is exciting—but the thought of moving everything from your old device can be stressful. Most users don’t just want to copy documents—they want their entire working environment on the new laptop. That includes:

  • The operating system
  • Installed programs
  • Personal files
  • User accounts
  • Preferences
  • Hidden configuration data

Then, how to transfer everything from one laptop to another efficiently? Please read on.

Before Transferring Everything from One Laptop to Another

Before you begin, take a little time to get both laptops ready—this will save you hours later.

Check storage space on the new laptop

Confirm that the new device has enough free space to hold all your files, applications, and system data.

Clean up your old laptop

Delete unnecessary files, empty the recycle bin, and uninstall programs you no longer use. This reduces transfer time and ensures you’re not moving clutter to your new laptop.

Choose reliable laptop migration software

To move OS, apps and personal data from one laptop to another, you need dedicated migration software - AOMEI Cloner.

AOMEI Cloner
Best System and Disk Cloning Software
  • Disk Clone: Transfer everything from one laptop to another without reinstalling Windows or applications.
  • System Clone: Transfer only OS from HDD to SSD or from a smaller SSD to a larger SSD.
  • SSD Alignment: Automatically align partitions during cloning to optimize SSD performance and extend its lifespan.
  • Edit Partitions: Adjust partition sizes and types of the destination disk as you want.
  • Offline Clone: Perform cloning even when the system won’t boot by using a bootable USB/CD/DVD.

Don’t hesitate to give AOMEI Cloner a try!

How to Transfer All Data from One Laptop to Another

In this part, you’ll learn how to transfer everything from one laptop to another using AOMEI Cloner step by step.

💡 Notes:
◆ If the old laptop is running Windows 11/10 or Server 2025/2022/2019/2016, the cloned drive will remain bootable whether the new laptop has the same hardware or different hardware.
◆ If the old laptop is running Windows old versions and the new laptop has dissimilar hardware, you may use AOMEI Backupper to backup Windows and restore on another computer to ensure a successful boot.
◆ If you only want to transfer files, learn how to transfer files from old laptop to new laptop here.

Step 1. Connect the new laptop’s hard drive to old laptop

  • Remove the hard drive from the new laptop.
  • Connect the target drive to the old laptop via USB-to-SATA adapter, external enclosure, or by installing it internally.

Step 2. Clone old drive to new drive

1. Download and install AOMEI Cloner on the old laptop.

2. Open AOMEI Cloner and choose CloneDisk Clone to copy the entire disk.

3. Choose the old laptop’s system disk as the source and select the new laptop’s disk as the destination.

4. Configure cloning options according to your situation.

  • If the new disk is larger than the old disk, click Edit PartitionsAdd unused space to all partitions to make full use of disk capacity.
  • If you’re cloning to an SSD, enable SSD Alignment to optimize SSD performance.

5. Click Start Clone and let AOMEI Cloner handle the rest. The time required depends on the amount of data and disk speed, but the process runs automatically without user intervention.

Step 3. Boot the new laptop from the cloned drive

Once cloning is complete:

  • Install the cloned drive into the new laptop.
  • Power on the new laptop and enter BIOS/UEFI settings.
  • Set the cloned drive as the primary boot device.

  • Save changes and restart. Your new laptop should now boot into Windows with all files, programs, and settings intact.

After the Transfer: What to Check on Your New Laptop

Once the transfer is complete and your new laptop boots successfully, don’t rush straight into daily use. Taking a few minutes to verify everything ensures the migration was successful and helps you avoid hidden issues later.

🌟 Confirm your files and folders.

Open key locations such as Documents, Desktop, Pictures, and Downloads to make sure all personal files are present and accessible. Spot-check important work files to confirm they open correctly.

🌟 Test installed applications.

Launch the programs you use most often, especially productivity tools and professional software. Check that they run normally and haven’t lost settings or data during the transfer.

🌟 Verify user accounts and system settings.

Ensure your user profile, desktop layout, wallpapers, power settings, and preferences look the same as they did on the old laptop. This confirms the system environment transferred properly.

🌟 Check software activation and licenses.

Some applications may require reactivation after moving to new hardware. Sign in to your accounts or re-enter license keys if prompted.

🌟 Update drivers and Windows.

New laptops often use different hardware. Run Windows Update and check Device Manager to make sure all drivers are installed and working correctly.

Conclusion

Now you know how to transfer everything from one laptop to another successfully. By using the best laptop cloning software – AOMEI Cloner, you don’t need to spend hours in reinstalling Windows or applications. What’s more, it supports various devices. You can use it to clone USB drives, HDDs, and SSDs, etc. Why not give it a shot?

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