AOMEI Cloner
An Easy Way to Transfer OS from HDD to SSD in Laptop
Looking for an easy way to transfer OS from HDD to SSD in laptop? It’s using a reliable cloning tool like AOMEI Cloner to create an exact replica of the old system. Scroll down to learn more.
By Ivy Updated on September 30, 2025
Transferring OS from HDD to SSD in laptop boosts performance, cutting boot times from 30/40 seconds to about 10 seconds, speeding up apps, and improving system responsiveness. Plus, it is faster to migrate, compared to migrating the entire hard drive. Consequently, many users are looking to make this upgrade, but don’t know how.
This article will introduce 3 useful OS migration methods to transfer OS, focusing on the easiest one, ideal for beginners. Keep reading to learn more!
What’s the easiest way to move OS from HDD to SSD?
“I have Windows 10 on my HDD and I want to move it to a SSD. What's the easiest way? Should I install a fresh copy on the SSD, or is there a way to move the OS from the HDD to the SSD?”
- Question from Reddit forum
Searching online, you’ll find 3 practical methods as follows：
- #1: Create a system image of the HDD and then restore to SSD.
- #2: Directly install Windows on the new SSD.
- #3: Clone OS to SSD using a cloning tool.
Then, which one should you use? Here’s a comparable chart of them:
|
|
Clone OS to SSD |
Backup and Restore OS |
Reinstall Windows |
|
Result |
A replica of the old system, including settings, files, and programs |
An exact copy of the previous backup, not necessarily the latest version.
|
A clean, new system, without junk/errors
|
|
Tool |
3rd-party cloning tool |
No extra software needed |
MediaCreatorTool |
|
Ease of use |
One-click simplicity, 3-4 steps, no technical skills
|
Most complex - two or three processes, restore within WinPE
|
Install within WinPE; requires advanced technical expertise.
|
|
Speed |
Fastest- depends on the data amount; mostly automated |
Slow |
Slowest - need to reinstall all programs, drivers, and configure settings. |
|
Cons |
Need to perform a boot test after cloning |
Can’t restore to smaller SSD; for the current laptop only |
Time-consuming and tedious |
👍Optional Recommendations:
- 👵 The easiest method is cloning - the latest replica, easy to use, and fastest.
- Backup and restore OS is designed to create a full system image for disaster recovery, not migrating to new hardware.
- Reinstalling Windows is for old, slow Windows installation due to bloatware, or system errors.
How to transfer OS from HDD to SSD in laptop easily
A reliable cloning software like AOMEI Cloner is essential for transferring OS from HDD to SSD in a laptop, including the programs, files, settings, etc., while ensuring the cloned SSD is bootable. Its default Intelligent clone plays a crucial role in cloning processes, particularly when cloning to smaller SSD.
AOMEI Cloner- Cloning any types of OS disks, e.g., HDDs/SSDs, MBR/GPT, SATA/M.2/NVMe/PCIe, etc.
- Clone to larger or smaller SSD.
- Bootable clone Windows 7, 8/8.1, 10, 11, and Windows Server.
- SSD Alignment for high performance.
- Auto-resize larger SSD to optimize capacity.
100% SecureStep 1. Connect the new SSD using a SATA or M.2 adapter, depending on the disk interface. Open AOMEI Cloner after cloning and click Clone > System Clone to get started.
Step 2. Select your new SSD as the target drive and click Next. This software will select the OS and boot-related partitions automatically.
Step 3. Be sure to check SSD Alignment for best performance and click Start Clone to clone OS from HDD to SSD in laptop.
⚠️Notes:
✅ Make full use of disk space: By default, this option is checked to optimize capacity when cloning to larger SSDs.
✅ SSD Alignment: It can accelerate the reading and writing speed of an SSD disk.
❌Sector by Sector Clone: A cloning mode to clone all sectors of a drive, including empty sectors and bad sectors, and takes longer.
After cloning, it’s necessary to perform a boot test and ensure the cloned SSD is bootable.
- Shutdown your laptop completely and remove the back cover using a screwdriver.
- Locate the HDD, unscrew the mounting screws, and carefully remove it.
- Install the new SSD in the primary slot, and reassemble the device. At last, restart your laptop to boot from the cloned SSD.
Download AOMEI Cloner for easy cloning!
Conclusion
That’s all for how to transfer OS from HDD to SSD in an easy way. It’s using a cloning tool like AOMEI Cloner to create an exact replica of the old system, including the OS, programs, files, settings, etc.
It will clone only the used sectors of the HDD, making the cloning process faster, and it’s especially useful when cloning to smaller SSD. In addition, it will resize the new SSD (if it’s larger) automatically and boost SSD disk performance.
100%
Clean & Secure
