How to Move Windows 10 to Another Drive - 2025 Newest

Can I move my Windows 10 to another drive? The answer is yes! Transferring Windows 10 to another drive is a common dilemma for users upgrading to a faster or larger drive. One Reddit user posted:

The good news is that it’s entirely possible to move your Windows 10 installation to another drive efficiently. Whether you’re upgrading to an SSD for faster performance or a larger drive for more space, we’ve got you covered. Below are detailed methods for a smooth transition.

What Do You Need?

Before you start, please make the following preparations:

1️⃣ Choose a hard drive with sufficient capacity: Please reserve 30% to 40% of free space for the system disk when selecting a new disk.

2️⃣ Set the new hard drive's disk type to GPT or MBR (mainly to keep the same disk type as the OS disk).

3️⃣ Backup data on the target disk (if there is are) as all data on it will be overwritten during the Windows move process.

4️⃣ Choose a suitable Windows migration tool

Many users on Reddit or other forums have suggested using some professional cloning tools, such as Macrium Reflect or Clonezilla, but it may be troublesome for users unfamiliar with computer operations.

It is recommended that you choose a simpler Windows migration tool, such as AOMEI Cloner. If you don't want to install third-party software, you can choose the Windows System Image Tool.

How to Move Windows 10 Installation to Another Drive (Secure Boot)

This section will introduce two methods to move Windows to another hard drive or SSD with secure boot 

Method 1. Use AOMEI Cloner to Move Windows to Another Drive

Disk cloning is the most effective way to efficiently transfer Windows 10 installation, which simplifies the whole process and increases the success rate of migrating Windows 10 OS to another drive successfully. AOMEI Cloner provides 3 data transfer methods in the Clone section. Here, take System Clone as an example.

Step 1. Select the “Clone” tab on the main interface and click “System Clone” to transfer only the Windows 10 installation.

Step 2. Select the connected target disk to which you want to migrate Windows. Click Next to continue.

Step 4. Please confirm the operation and click Start Clone to get started.

Notes:✎...

Be sure to check SSD alignment to speed up the target drive when moving Windows to another SSD.

Check Sector-By-Sector Clone will clone all sectors of a drive, thus taking longer. So just keep the default cloning option, which clones only the used sectors, saving much time and effort. 

After cloning is complete, press DEL, F2, F12, etc. to enter the BIOS menu and set the new hard drive as the first boot option.

Method 2. Use the Windows System Image Tool

The system image feature of Windows 10 allows you to migrate Windows to another drive without using third-party tools. But you need to prepare the USB in advance and create a system backup containing all the files required for startup:

Step 1. Open the Control Panel and go to System and Security -> Backup and Restore (Windows 7).

Step 2. Select Create System Image on the left side of the pop-up interface.

Step 3. Select the backup destination. You can choose an external drive to save the backup.

Step 4. Select the drive that contains the Windows required to run by default, confirm the settings, and click Start Backup.

Step 5. Connect the USB flash drive to your computer and create recovery media to boot the target drive.

Step 6. Press the Windows + S keys, enter the recovery drive, check "Back up system files to the recovery drive" and click "Next" to continue.

Step 7. Once created, shut down the computer and remove the old OS drive from the computer, connect the recovery USB drive and external hard drive to the computer, and enter the BIOS.

Step 8. Navigate to "Repair your computer" > "Troubleshoot" > "Advanced options" > "System Image Recovery" in the Windows installation screen.

Step 9. Select the correct system backup image from the target external hard drive and click "Next" and successfully transfer Windows to another drive through System Image Recovery.

Step 10. Check "Format and repartition disk" and click "Next".

Conclusion

Transferring your Windows 10 installation to another drive doesn’t have to be stressful. By following these methods, you can ensure a smooth migration without data loss or system issues.

Whether you choose a third-party migration tool, use Windows' built-in system image feature, or clone the entire drive, upgrading to a faster or larger drive is now easier than ever.

FAQs

1. Can you transfer Windows 10 from one SSD to another?

Yes, you can use tools like AOMEI Cloner, Macrium Reflect, or Windows’ system image tool to transfer Windows 10 between SSDs without reinstalling the OS.

2. Is it OK to move the Windows folder to another drive?

No, manually moving the Windows folder can cause serious boot errors. Use dedicated tools for OS migration instead.

3. How to install Windows on another drive without losing data?

Create a system image or use an OS migration tool to safely install Windows on another drive while preserving your data and settings.