How to Move Any Windows to Another Drive (Easiest Method)

Whether you’re planning to switch from an existing HDD to an SSD or are considering installing a larger capacity drive, moving your Windows operating system and all your data to another drive can be daunting. Luckily, there’s a simple way to make the process easier. Now let’s take a look at this easy method…

What Should You Consider Before You Start?

The most common way to move your Windows installation to another drive is through disk cloning. Backup images can also be used, but this can be unnecessarily complicated. Disk cloning allows you to move all your data from your current source drive to the new target drive, and at the end of the process, you can boot from your new drive.

You will need a migration software to perform this process.

For example, you can use vendor-specific tools like Samsung Magician or Acronis True Image for Crucial SSDs. If you can't find such software, you can opt for a third-party cloning tool like Macrium Reflect. Macrium Reflect is a tool that stands out for its ease of use and reliability. Other popular cloning software include Acronis, EaseUS Disk Copy, and CloneZilla.

Prepare Your New Driver

First, you'll need to connect your new SSD or HDD to your computer and make sure it's detected via Disk Management. If you're using an SSD, you may need to initialize the drive. If you're replacing your HDD with a SATA SSD, you'll need a SATA-to-USB cable before cloning the drive.

Migrating Windows with Macrium Reflect

Macrium Reflect is an excellent backup and cloning tool for Windows. Let's explain step by step how you can move Windows to another drive using this tool;

Step 1: Download and Install Macrium Reflect : Go to the Macrium Reflect website and download the Home version of the software. You can purchase a license or choose a free trial to download and install the You software on your computer.

Step 2: Start the Cloning Process : Open the application and select your Windows installation drive in the Local Disks tab. Click on “Clone this disk” option.

Step 3: Select Source and Target Drive : In the Clone window that opens, select the drive where your Windows installation is located as the source. Then, click on the “Select a disk to clone” button to choose your target drive where you want to clon.

Step 4: Backup Your Data and Start Cloning : All data on your target drive will be deleted. So don't forget to backup your important picture, videos or files. Now You Click on the "Next" button to start the cloning process.

Step 5: Set Your Boot Drive : Once the cloning is complete, restart your computer and set your new drive as the main boot drive by entering the BIOS or UEFI settings.

Disk cloning is the simplest and safest way to move Windows 10 or 11 to another drive. In rare cases, you may encounter Windows activation issues. However, this is usually take 24 hours to resolved. 

Also, remember that in case you move the cloned drive to another computer, your digital license is tied to your motherboard for Windows activation .