How to Transfer SSD to New SSD Without Losing Data

How to transfer data from old SSD to new SSD

Transfer SSD to new SSD by cloning

The solid-state drive has become quite popular among computer users due to its better performance, faster reading and writing speed, and excellent durability, etc. Many users even install or migrate OS onto SSD drive from HDD to speed up the computer. However, when the old SSD is small, or about to fail, you might want to transfer everything from old SSD to new SSD for an upgrade or a replacement.

To migrate some personal files like photos, music, and documents from one SSD to another SSD, you can copy or cut them in the old SSD and paste them into the new SSD drive. But to move a large amount of data, will cost time. Also, if you transfer applications through “copy and paste” to another SSD, some can be unbootable. And, if the SSD is a bootable drive and holds the boot files, that method will make the boot files invalid. As a consequence, you cannot boot OS from the new SSD drive afterward.

Luckily, you can clone SSD drive. This can transfer all data from old SSD to new SSD and then transferred OS/programs can load up as they were in the old solid-state drive.

Best SSD clone software: Transfer SSD to SSD easily and safely

Now that we have known the best method of transferring data from SSD to SSD is to clone the whole old SSD drive, we need to find out which tool can effectively clone SSD to SSD without boot issues. After fair comparison and user reviews, AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional is worth trying.

This software provides the "Disk Clone" function to help transfer everything to new SSD via cloning the entire disk. Besides, there are two different disk clone methods for you to choose based on your actual requirements and SSD size.
▸ Clone Disk Quickly will only copy the used space of the disk to another disk. So the destination disk must have to be larger than the used space of the source disk. This method can clone larger SSD to smaller SSD.
▸ Sector-by-Sector Clone will copy every sector of the disk to another one no matter it is used or not. So the target disk must be larger than the source disk. This method can help you clone BitLocker disk.

This method also works for cloning USB flash drive, SD card and other hard drives in Windows 11/10/8/7/XP/Vista. Moreover, its “Partition Clone” feature allows you to clone a specific partition to another drive.

Step-by-step: How to transfer SSD to SSD without losing data

After getting a basic understanding of this SSD cloning software, you might want to know how to transfer data from old SSD to new SSD via its "Disk Clone" function. So, next we will show you how to perform it step by step. Please download the Demo Version for a free trial!

Preparation work:

● Install the new SSD to your desktop or laptop. If your electronic device has only one disk slot, you may need a SATA to USB adapter to connect it. (If the target disk has not been used, please initialize it first.)

● Although cloning is a safe process, there is a necessity to back up your important files.

Step 1.  Install and run AOMEI software. Right-click the target SSD and select "Clone Disk".

Step 2. Choose a disk copying method based on your situation and click "Next".

Step 3. Now select the target SSD to hold all content on the old SSD and tick "Optimize the performance of SSD". Then click "Next".

Step 4. A warning about the data loss on the target disk will appear. If you have backed up vital files, click “Yes” to continue.

Step 5. Here, you can change the partition size on the new SSD drive. Click "Next" to proceed.

Step 6. Then, you will receive a note on how to boot OS successfully from the destination disk afterward. Read it carefully and click "Finish".

Step 7. Click "Apply" to start the SSD cloning process.

This guide is based on transferring/cloning the MBR SSD with OS installation to another GPT SSD drive. If you are doing that as well, please ensure your motherboard supports the UEFI boot mode because you need to change into UEFI from BIOS to boot OS from cloned SSD successfully.

The vice versa is also true. If you don’t want to change the boot mode or the motherboard does not support UEFI, you can convert SSD to MBR before cloning.

Further reading: transfer only OS/Apps from SSD to new SSD

The above guide is about how to transfer all data from old SSD to new SSD drive via AOMEI Partition Assistant Software. What if you want to transfer only OS or some applications from one disk to another one? Don't worry, the AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional can also help you with that.

1. Migrate OS from old SSD to new SSD

AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional comes with the "Migrate OS", which allows you to transfer only OS-related partitions to another location and boot from the destination drive successfully. 

2. Transfer some applications from old SSD to new SSD

Besides moving OS partitions, this versatile software is also able to transfer some applications from one drive to another without damaging the boot files. So, you don't need to worry that the moved Apps cannot load after migration. To do this job, just click "Free up" > "App Mover" and follow the steps. Now, this feature also supports moving Cache, Downloads, or other large video folders to another drive.

Conclusion

So, with AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional, you can effectively transfer SSD to a new SSD by cloning a hard disk. Furthermore, it is not only an SSD cloning utility to transfer data between two SSD drives, but also an SSD repair tool to help fix damaged or corrupted SSD. If you want to clone SSD to SSD in Windows Server, you can try AOMEI Partition Assistant Server.

FAQs about how to transfer SSD to new SSD

Do I need an external adapter to perform the transfer?
In most cases, an external adapter is not necessary if you are transferring data between two internal SSDs. However, if one of the SSDs is external, you may need an external SSD enclosure or adapter.

How do I check if my SSDs are compatible with data transfer?
Check the physical size (2.5-inch or M.2), and connection interface (SATA or NVMe), and ensure the target SSD has equal or greater capacity than the source SSD. Reviewing the manufacturer's specifications is recommended.

Can I transfer data from an HDD to an SSD using the same methods?
Yes, the process is similar. However, note that the speed benefits of an SSD may not be fully realized if the HDD is significantly slower.

What do I do if my new SSD is not recognized after the transfer?
Check the connections, ensure the new SSD is properly seated, and try re-cloning the data. If issues persist, consult the SSD manufacturer's support or forums for guidance.