Summary
As much as Windows 11 has evolved over time, it’s still not as easy to switch between computers as it is to switch between smartphones or tablets. That, however, might change soon, as Windows is looking into bringing back a dedicated migration tool.
Microsoft has officially confirmed it is reintroducing a direct, peer-to-peer file migration tool for both Windows 11 and Windows 10. We say “reintroduced” and not “adding” because some of you might still remember Windows Easy Transfer, a popular utility from the Windows Vista and 7 era that provided a straightforward method for migrating data. In subsequent versions of Windows, Microsoft instead encouraged users to use OneDrive for transferring files and syncing settings. This works, don’t get me wrong, but uploading stuff to a central server to then re-download it on another PC might be cumbersome for large-scale data moves and was not a true substitute for a dedicated, local migration tool.
With local migration tools being commonplace on a lot of other platforms, it stands to reason that Windows should at least have it as an option. As per a support document, Windows Backup is set to get the ability to transfer essential user folders, including Documents, Photos, and other personal files, directly from an old computer to a new one. It also copies your desktop layout and many personal settings, helping to make your new PC feel familiar right out of the box. The transfer is not all-encompassing, though. Apps and saved passwords will not be migrated from one computer to another. The company’s apparent strategy is to have you reinstall applications from the Microsoft Store and have passwords synced and restored through your Microsoft account. Still, it should be pretty neat.
All you’ll need to do once this is fully available is initiate the data transfer from the old PC and then, when prompted to do so from the new PC, enter the name of the old PC and a six-digit verification code. From there, you can review the list of data to be transferred, and the data transfer will start.
The feature will be available on both Windows 11 and Windows 10. Its inclusion on Windows 10 is probably to help people with old Windows 10 computers migrate to a new one that can run Windows 11as that dreaded October deadline approaches. But I don’t think it will allow for incoming data transfers. You might see the new migration tool already live on your end, but it’s apparently non-working right now—it will probably fully go live within the next few weeks.
