How to Transfer Files from an Old PC to a New PC

The Problem

A new PC arrives and everything you care about is still on the old one — documents, photos, browser bookmarks, saved Wi-Fi passwords, game saves, and the licence key for that one program you paid for.

There is no single button for this. Pick the route that matches what you have: an external drive (most reliable), a network transfer (fastest for large libraries), or cloud sync (easiest if your data already lives there). Then handle the parts that no method copies automatically: applications and licences.

Old PC won't boot? You can still get the data off — see how to recover deleted files and Step 8 below. Selling the old machine afterwards? Wipe it properly: wipe your PC before selling or donating.

Step 1: Inventory What Actually Needs to Move

Ten minutes here saves hours later.

1. On the old PC, check the obvious folders: Documents, Pictures, Videos, Music, Desktop, Downloads.
2. Look for data outside the profile — many programs store files in C:\ root folders, C:\ProgramData, or a second drive.
3. Note game saves: usually Documents\My Games, %APPDATA%, or in the Steam/Epic cloud already.
4. Note licence keys and account details for paid apps.
5. Check mail: Outlook .pst files live in Documents\Outlook Files.
6. Total the size: right-click your user folder → Properties. This tells you which method below is viable.

Step 2: Choose Your Transfer Method

• External USB drive — works for any size, needs no network, and doubles as a backup. Best default.
• Network transfer over Ethernet — fastest for 500 GB+ if both PCs are on the same router.
• OneDrive or another cloud service — simplest for under ~100 GB and gives you an off-site copy.
• Physically moving the old drive into the new PC or a USB enclosure — best when the old PC is dead.

Step 3: Transfer with an External Drive

1. Plug the drive into the old PC. Check it is NTFS or exFAT — FAT32 cannot hold files over 4 GB.
2. Copy your user folder: C:\Users\<YourName>. Skip AppData for now unless you need specific app data.
3. Use a robust copy for large sets — open Terminal on the old PC and run:

   robocopy C:\Users\YourName E:\Transfer /E /R:1 /W:1 /XJ
   

   /E includes subfolders, /R:1 /W:1 stops it stalling on locked files, /XJ skips junction loops.
4. Eject the drive safely, plug it into the new PC, and copy into the matching folders.
5. If transfers crawl, see fix slow file transfer speeds.

Step 4: Transfer Over the Network

1. Connect both PCs to the same router, ideally by Ethernet.
2. On the old PC, right-click the folder → Properties → Sharing → Advanced Sharing → tick Share this folder.
3. Set the network profile to Private on both machines: Settings → Network & internet → Ethernet → Private network.
4. On the new PC, open File Explorer and type \\OLDPCNAME in the address bar.
5. Copy across. Full setup, including permissions: share files between Windows PCs on the same network.
6. If the share is invisible, check Windows Firewall blocking apps.

Step 5: Bring Across Browser Data

Bookmarks, saved passwords, extensions, and history all sync through the browser account — no file copying needed.

1. Chrome: sign in with the same Google account and turn on Sync.
2. Edge: sign in with the same Microsoft account → Settings → Profiles → Sync.
3. Firefox: sign in to a Firefox Account.
4. If you never used sync, export bookmarks to an HTML file on the old PC and import on the new one.
5. Saved passwords are better moved into a proper vault: use a password manager safely.

Step 6: Move Email, and Sync Cloud Folders

1. Outlook: copy Documents\Outlook Files\*.pst across, then in Outlook go to File → Open & Export → Open Outlook Data File.
2. OneDrive: sign in on the new PC and let it sync. Files marked online-only download on demand.
3. Check Settings → Accounts → Windows backup on the old PC — if it was on, some settings restore automatically when you sign in on the new machine.

Step 7: Reinstall Applications — Don't Copy Them

Copying Program Files does not work; Windows applications need registry entries and services that only an installer creates.

1. List what you actually use, then download fresh installers from each vendor's official site.
2. Retrieve licence keys from your email or vendor account before wiping the old PC.
3. Steam, Epic, and similar launchers re-download games; you can also copy the steamapps\common folder across and let Steam verify it, which saves the download.
4. Only install what you need — a clean new PC is worth keeping clean. See how to debloat Windows 11.

Step 8: Recover Data from a Dead Old PC

1. Remove the drive: a 2.5" SATA drive, an M.2 NVMe stick, or a 3.5" desktop drive.
2. Buy a matching USB enclosure or dock — under £20 for most types.
3. Connect it to the new PC. Windows assigns it a drive letter and you can browse it directly.
4. Your files are under Users\<YourName> on that drive. If Windows demands permission, right-click the folder → Properties → Security → Advanced → Change owner.
5. If the drive is not detected, see fix a corrupted USB or external drive and check SSD and hard drive health.

Step 9: Verify, Then Wipe the Old PC

1. Open a sample of the transferred files on the new PC — a document, a photo, a video. Confirm they open, not just that they exist.
2. Check totals: compare folder sizes and file counts on both machines.
3. Keep the old drive untouched for a few weeks as a safety net.
4. Only then wipe it: wipe your PC before selling or donating.
5. Set up protection on the new machine straight away: set up automatic backups.

What Not to Do

• Don't copy Program Files or Windows folders. They will not run on the new PC.
• Don't wipe the old PC the same day. Give yourself a fortnight to discover what you forgot.
• Don't transfer over Wi-Fi if you can use Ethernet or USB for a large library — it is slower and more likely to drop mid-copy.
• Don't copy your old antivirus or system utilities across. Install fresh versions.

Still Not Working?

If the new PC refuses to see the old one on the network, use the external-drive route in Step 3 — it works when nothing else does. If files copy but will not open, the source drive may be failing: stop copying, image the drive, and read check SSD and hard drive health.

Related: organize and back up important documents and how to check your PC specs.