How to Migrate Windows 10 to SSD? [Step-By-Step Guide 2024]

• ⌛Duration: 30-45 minutes.
• 🧑🏻‍💻Suitable Users: All levels of users.
• 🎯Goal: Migrate Windows 10 to SSD, switch Windows 10 to SSD without boot issue.
• 💻Also Applies to: Migrate Windows 11/8.1/8/7 and Windows XP/Vista to SSD.

How do I migrate my Windows 10 to a new SSD? This page covers everything you need to know about OS migration. Here, we'll take Windows 10 as an example to show you how to migrate Windows 10 to SSD on your own successfully:

1. #1. Windows 10 to SSD Migration Software Free Download
2. #2. Set Up SSD for Migrating Windows 10
3. #3. Migrate Windows 10 to SSD
4. #4. Set SSD as the Boot Drive in Windows 10

  

How to Migrate Windows 10 to SSD without Losing Data [Full Guide]

So, how do I transfer my operating system to a new SSD? As the overall procedure is complex, here, we'll present you with a complete guide that you can follow to migrate Windows 10 to SSD on your own successfully. Let's get started here:

#1. Windows 10 Migration Software Free Download

• 🔢Complexity: Easy
• 🧑🏻‍💻Supported OS: Windows 10, Windows 11, and Older Windows 8.1/8/7, etc.
• 🏅Benefits & Pros: For all levels of users, easy to operate, no data loss, no system reinstallation.
• 🎯Applies to: Migrate and transfer OS from HDD to SSD, HDD, hybrid-HDD/SSD.

Note that migrating Windows OS to a new disk requires you to turn to reliable OS migration software for help, as Windows 10 itself doesn't contain a system migration feature.

EaseUS Partition Master, with its Migrate OS feature, can fulfill your need to transfer and move the entire OS to a new SSD in simple clicks. It simplifies the complex procedure in only a few clicks, and all levels of Windows users can apply this tool for help. You can directly download and install this software on your PC and then move to the next step.

#2. Set Up SSD for Migrating Windows 10

The second step is setting up the new SSD for your PC. Note that the storage capacity of your new SSD shall be equal to or larger than the used space of the Windows 10 system C drive. Also, make sure that you install the SSD correctly to your Windows 10 computer before starting with the next configuration steps here:

Step 1. Shut down the PC and install a new SSD to Windows 10.

• For SATA SSD: Connect it to your computer motherboard via the SATA and Data connection cable.
• For NVMe or M.2 SSD: Inset it to the SSD slot and fasten the screws.

Step 2. Configure and initialize SSD to the same disk partition style as the current OS drive.

• Open Disk Management, right-click on the current OS disk, and select 'Properties'.
• Confirm and view its disk partition style in the volume section, MBR or GPT.
• Right-click on the SSD unallocated space, and select 'Initialize Disk', set SSD to the same disk partition style as the old drive: MBR - MBR; GPT-GPT.

#3. Guide to Migrate Windows 10 to SSD

Once your SSD is set up and ready for OS migration in Windows 10, you can now follow the steps here to migrate the OS to SSD with the help of reliable OS migration software - EaseUS Partition Master. 

1. Launch EaseUS Partition Master, go to the Clone section, click "Migrate OS" and click "Next" to continue.

2. Select the target SSD you want to migrate Windows OS to, and click "Next".

3. Click "Yes" to confirm the you want to exceute the operation. 

4. Click "Start" to start migrating your OS to the new SSD.

5. When the process completes, you'll see a confirming message, asking "if you want to start up computer from the clone target disk".

Tick "Adjust the order to boot from the clone target disk" and click the respective button through your demands. 

• Reboot Now means to reboot your PC and configure the computer to boot OS from the new disk immediately.
• Done means you want to make the changes later. 

#4. Set Windows 10 to Boot from SSD

As you switched the OS to SSD, you'll need to set up the new SSD with OS as the boot drive instead of the old disk in BIOS settings.

Here are the detailed steps that you can follow:

Step 1. Shut down and reboot your computer, and press F2/F8/F11 or Del key to enter the BIOS settings.

Step 2. Go to the Boot menu and set the new SSD with migrated Windows 10 as the boot drive in the Boot Priority section.

Step 3. Press F10 or save the changes, and exit BIOS. Then reboot the PC.

Wait patiently to let the computer boot up. You can then log in with your password and start computing like on the new SSD. 

After this, you should be able to run Windows 10 on the new SSD and enjoy a faster computing life. If this tutorial guide did work, and you've switched the OS disk to SSD, feel free to share this page to help more of your friends online:

Bonus Tip: What to Do with the Old OS Drive after Migrating OS to SSD on Windows 10

Some of you may have the same question here: What do I do with the OS drive? How do I deal with the old system disk, or what do I do with the old operating system OS disk after I migrate my OS to the new SSD?

Here is a list of tips that you can follow to learn how to make use of an old disk on your computer:

#1. Reset the Old OS Drive as a Data Disk

If you simply want to use the old OS drive as a second data drive on your computer to separate data and OS, you can directly format the old OS partition to quickly clean the partitions for saving new content. 

EaseUS Partition Master, with its Format feature, can help.

Step 1. Right-click the hard drive partition and choose the "Format" option.

Step 2. In the new window, set the Partition label, File system, and Cluster size for the partition, then click "OK".

Step 3. You can see a warning window, click "Yes" to continue.

Step 4. Click the "Execute 1 Task(s)" button, then click "Apply" to start formatting the hard drive partition.

#2. Wipe Old OS Disk and Cleanup Data Completely for Sell

If you want to sell the old OS drive, you can turn to reliable hard disk wipe software to completely erase everything on the drive. Then, you can sell it online.

EaseUS Partition Master also offers a disk wipe feature that you can apply to reset the old drive as fresh as new with the steps here:

Should I Migrate Windows 10 to SSD? Yes, and Here Is Why

Should I Migrate Windows 10 to SSD? Sure, Yes. As long as you have the budget for purchasing a new SSD, it's worth spending time and energy for updating Windows 10 disk to SSD. Here is why:

1. Windows 10 still takes the biggest market share (according to statcounter), and 51.31% of users are using Windows 10 (according to EaseUS Disk Drive Stats Report 2).

2. Most Windows 10 computers are getting old and not compatible with Windows 11.

As time passes, Windows 10 computers get even older, and updating the OS disk to a new HDD or SSD is a good choice for optimizing the computers' performance as SSD performs better over HDD. Upgrading Windows 10 to SSD is also a great way to configure better PC compatibility for installing WIndows 11.

When Should I Need to Migrate Windows 10 to SSD?

So when should I migrate Windows 10 to an SSD disk? Or, in what situations will I need to upgrade and migrate the Windows 10 OS to a new SSD?

Here is a list of situations, and if you are experiencing any one of them, you'll need to migrate the OS to SSD: 

• Windows 10 gets stuck for no reason
• Windows 10 is slow to boot, run, and shutdown
• Windows 10 programs freeze while running
• Windows 10 computer gets stuck or freezes while playing games or large programs
• File transferring gets stuck. For example, Windows 10 file transfer stuck at 99%, or so.
• It's slow to open files on a local drive, etc.

Conclusion

Migrating Windows 10 OS to an SSD disk is complex yet possible with the correct methods and tutorials. This page presents you with a list of reasons and situations that explain why and when you need to upgrade the Windows 10 OS disk to an SSD disk.

To do so, you need to obtain reliable OS migration software - EaseUS Partition Master and set up SSD ready. Then, accomplish the steps mentioned in #3 to learn how to migrate Windows 10 to SSD with the Migrate OS software in EaseUS Partition Master:

1. 1. Run EaseUS Partition Master in Windows 10.
2. 2. Choose Migrate OS and click Next.
3. 3. Select target SSD to migrate Windows 10.
4. 4. Click Yes and Start to move OS.
5. 5. Follow the boot note and reset the SSD as the boot drive.

If you have further questions about OS migration, follow and find answers in the next part.

FAQs About Migrate OS to SSD in Windows 10

Here, we also collected some hot topics about OS migration in Windows 10. If you feel interested, continue reading and finding desired answers here:

1. What are the benefits of migrating Windows 10 to SSD?

• Improve computer performance and minimize the bootup and shutdown duration.
• Improve computer reading and writing speed.
• Speed up file transferring speed.
• Improve gaming experience.
• Create more space to save data on the second disk.
• Isolate OS with data, making data management more intelligent.

2. What is the best migrate Windows 10 SSD software?

Here is a list of OS migration software that worldwide users and professionals highly praise for migrating the operating system:

• EaseUS Partition Master
• Macrium Reflect
• Samsung Data Migration
• Paragon Drive Copy
• Clonezilla

3. Can I migrate Windows 10 to SSD for free?

Yes, sure. You can migrate Windows 10 to SSD for free using reliable OS cloning software. EaseUS Partition Master Free edition, with its Partition Clone feature, allows you to clone the Windows 10 system to SSD for free.

For a step-by-step guide, follow this page to learn the details: Clone Windows to SSD for Free. 

4. Can I clone Windows 10 to SSD without software?

No, Windows doesn't have a cloning tool for cloning the operating system to a new disk. Though Windows 10 supports creating a system image and restoring to a new SSD, the procedure is not a cloning process.

Also, it's a complex and time-consuming task for Windows beginners. So, we suggest you use a reliable and trustworthy third-party disk cloning software to accomplish this task.