How to Clone a Hard Drive In Windows 10|11: Graphic Tutorial

The Need to Clone a Hard Drive In Windows 10

Users often seek to clone disks on their Windows 10/11 laptops or desktops for various common reasons:

• Upgrade from a Smaller Disk to a Larger Disk: 

Some manufacturers may initially equip PCs/laptops with second-tier, small-capacity hard drives, typically around 500GB. This can become frustrating for users as the drive quickly runs out of space. In such cases, users often opt to upgrade their old hard drive to a larger capacity SSD using reliable ssd drive cloning software. This approach provides a cost-effective solution compared to purchasing an entirely new PC.

• Replace an Old HDD with a New SSD: 

The incorporation of SSDs can significantly enhance computer performance by accelerating read and write speeds during data transfer. This upgrade generally elevates overall user satisfaction with the system’s quality. For gamers, having an SSD is crucial to avoiding lag when playing resource-intensive games, particularly online FPS games.

The Best Disk Clone Software for Windows OS

When it comes to the premier disk cloning software, AOMEI Backupper edition stands at the forefront of our recommendations. This user-friendly and straightforward disk cloning software has gained the trust of millions of users globally.

✦ Versatile Clone Options: AOMEI Backupper allows you to effortlessly clone a hard drive to an SSD or another HDD. Additionally, you have the flexibility to clone specific partitions or only the OS based on your requirements.

✦ Clone to Smaller/Larger Disks: By default, the software copies only used sectors, facilitating the cloning of a larger drive to a smaller one. For those cloning to a larger drive, the “Edit Partitions” feature allows the utilization of the full disk capacity.

✦ SSD Alignment: AOMEI Backupper supports 4K partition alignment for SSDs, enhancing their reading and writing speed while extending their lifespan.

✦ Broad Compatibility: Designed to cater to various Windows operating systems including Windows 11, 10, 8.1/8, 7, Vista, and XP, both 32-bit and 64-bit. The software supports an array of disk types, encompassing all-branded HDDs, SATA/M.2 SSDs, PCIe NVMe SSDs, USB drives, SD cards, and more.

Feel free to download AOMEI Backupper and give it a try now.

How to Clone a Hard Drive In Windows 10

☀ Before disk cloning with AOMEI Backupper in Windows 10/11:

• Back up crucial data on the destination disk externally to prevent data loss during cloning.
• Verify the used space on the original Windows 10/11 hard drive, ensuring it’s within the target SSD’s capacity. Ignore if cloning to a larger HDD/SSD.
• Convert a dynamic disk to a basic disk if needed before initiating the standard disk copy.
• Keep screwdrivers handy for opening your laptop or desktop back cover.
• For laptops with a single hard drive slot, have a 2.5’’ SSD enclosure or SATA-to-USB cable for connecting the SSD.

Execute the Windows 10/11 Hard Drive Clone process by following these step-by-step instructions:

Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI Backupper. Navigate to Clone > Disk Clone in the main interface.

Note: If you intend to clone solely your Windows 10/11 operating system, installed programs, and drivers to an SSD or HDD, opt for System Clone instead.

Step 2. Pick the Windows 10/11 hard drive and proceed by clicking the Next >> button.

Step 3. Within the subsequent window, choose the larger SSD as the destination and proceed by clicking the Next >> button.

Step 4. Check the SSD Alignment option to enhance the reading and writing speed on the larger SSD. Subsequently, click Start Clone to initiate the HDD to SSD cloning process in Windows 10/11.

Step 5. Once the cloning process reaches 100%, click on Finish to exit the window.
★ Quick Tips:

When using AOMEI Backupper for MBR to GPT disk cloning, switch from Legacy to UEFI or vice versa post-cloning.

• Sector by Sector Clone: This method replicates all space on the original hard disk, irrespective of usage, leading to a significantly longer process. The “Edit partitions” option becomes unavailable. For larger SSDs, use a free partition manager to resize partitions and display full capacity.
• Avoid selecting the Sector by Sector clone option when cloning from a larger HDD to a smaller SSD.
• Edit Partitions: This feature allows resizing partitions on the target hard drive when cloning a smaller Windows 10/11 disk to a larger one. Uncheck “Add unused space to all partitions” to obtain unallocated space on the larger SSD drive.

Your Turn

With its intuitive interface, cloning a hard drive in Windows 10/11 using AOMEI Backupper is a breeze. Making an exact copy of the Windows 10/11 hard drive requires just a few clicks. This process is versatile, allowing you to clone a large HDD to a smaller SSD, clone a disk to a larger disk, clone SATA SSDs, clone Windows to NVMe SSDs, and more.

Furthermore, you can create file backups, partition backups, disk backups, and system image backups. These backups serve as reliable options to restore Windows to a new hard drive. For server users, consider exploring AOMEI Backupper Server for advanced functionalities.