How to Move Programs Between Hard Drives [2024 Full Guide]

With the continuous advancement of technology, the size of digital files and programs keeps expanding, which requires more storage capacity. As a result, it's not uncommon to face a scenario where a particular hard drive, like the C drive, runs out of storage space while another hard drive has unused capacity. In such cases, moving programs from one hard drive to another can be a practical solution.

Transferring programs between hard drives can be daunting, particularly if you lack technical expertise. Rest assured. EaseUS aims to ease your worries by presenting a thorough and detailed step-by-step guide on moving programs between hard drives in this text.

Make Preparations for Moving Programs Between Hard Drives

Before learning about transferring programs between drives, you need to make everything ready for moving programs between hard drives. Here is the preparation job that needs to be done:

1. Prepare a new hard drive(SSD/HDD)

To transfer programs to another hard drive, you must ensure that two hard drives are connected to your computer. If not, you need to prepare a new hard drive first, then connect it to the PC and initialize the HDD or SSD.

2. Download and Install a Reliable Programs Transfer Tool

Before starting the transfer process, you should first download EaseUS Todo PCTrans and get Windows built-in utility(Windows Settings, Command Prompt, and Registry Editor) ready.

How to Move Programs Between Hard Drives - 4 Ways

You can move programs between hard drives using Windows in-built utilities and third-party tools. This article will discuss four ways to move programs between hard drives on Windows. These include a specialized tool and three Windows utilities. Before taking the step-by-step tutorials on the four methods, you can get to know more details with the help of the comparison table:

Way 1. Move Programs via EaseUS Todo PCTrans

Specialized software is always recommended to move programs between hard drives seamlessly and fast. The best tool to quickly transfer your programs from one drive to another is EaseUS Todo PCTrans. It allows you to transfer files, folders, applications, and user accounts from an old computer to a new one or from one hard drive to another.

With this tool, you can transfer programs without any restrictions or limitations. It also keeps the data secure and safe, meaning you can run the newly transferred programs without a hitch.

Moving programs via EaseUS Todo is fast and straightforward. Here is how to transfer programs between hard drives using this tool:

Step 1. Launch EaseUS Todo PCTrans and select transfer mode

On the main screen of EaseUS Todo PCTrans, go to "App Migration" section and click "Start" to continue.

Step 2. Select apps and another drive to transfer

1. Select the source partition and tick applications, programs and software (marked as "Yes") that you'd like to migrate.

2. Click triangle icon to select another drive or disk as your target device and click "Transfer" to start the migration.

Step 3. Finish the migration process

When the transferring process finishes, click "OK" to complete.

You can restart your PC to keep all the changes, and you should be able to run your migrated apps on the other drive again.

Key Features of EaseUS Todo PCTrans

Along with transfer programs between hard drives, EaseUS Todo PCTrans also has other useful functions as below:

• Transfer the user profile to another drive.
• Back up your entire PC data by transferring it to an external hard drive.
• The best junk and temporary files cleaner.
• Resolve system issues like the "C drive is full."

No more hesitation. Let EaseUS Todo PCTrans look after your partitions and keep them in a good state from now on. Click and share this page on your social media platform to help other users that stuck at move programs between hard drives:

Way 2. Move Programs via Windows Settings

It is also possible to move programs between hard drives using Windows Settings. You can access the "Apps & Features" tab and move the desired program to another drive. However, this method doesn't work for all programs. Follow these steps to move the program via Windows Settings:

Step 1: Use the "Win + I" to access Windows Settings, and here click "Apps." Select "Apps & Features" from the left on the next screen.

Step 2: Scroll down and find your targeted program. After selecting the program, click "Move" and choose the new drive to move the program.

Way 3. Move Programs via Registry Editor

You can also move the program from one drive to another using Registry Editor. However, modifying the Registry Editor can be risky, and you should only attempt this method when you have complete confidence in your skills. Here is an example of moving "Program Files" and "Program Files (x86)" from C to D drive. Use the following to move programs via Registry Editor:

Step 1: To start, you need to copy the "Program Files" and "Program Files (x86)" folders" from the C drive to desired drive, like the D drive. Launch the Run function using the "Win + R" key.

Step 2: Type "Regedit" in the Run function and press "OK" to open Registry Editor. Now navigate to the "MICROSOFT" folder using "SOFTWARE" through "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE."

Step 3: In the "MICROSOFT" folder, access the "CurrentVersion" subfolder through "Windows." Now right-click "Program Files" and choose "Modify."

Step 4: Change the "Program File" path by replacing the drive letter with your selected drive. Afterward, perform the same instruction for "Program Files (x86)."

Way 4. Move Programs via CMD

When moving the program from one hard drive to another, you can also use the Command Prompt. Use the mklink command to change the program via CMD. This command will help you move "Program Files" and "Program Files (x86)" from the C drive to the D drive. Moreover, you can choose your desired program and drive. Below are the steps to move programs via CMD:

Step 1: Start by copying the "Program Files" and "Program Files (x86)" folders to the D drive from C. Now use the Windows search bar to access Command Prompt and run it as administrator.

Step 2: Head to the Command Prompt, run the command mklink /J "Program Files" "D: Program Files" command. You can replace the program name and drive letter according to your needs.

Conclusion

In conclusion, transferring programs from one hard drive to another can free up storage space in a C drive or move files onto a different and faster hard disk. For example, if you recently added SSD to your computer, you probably want to free up your C drive or move the Windows to another drive. However, transferring programs between hard drives is a challenging task that requires the right tools and techniques. In this instruction, we have explored various methods to move programs between hard drives, and we can confidently recommend EaseUS Todo PCTrans as the best choice.

EaseUS Todo PCTrans is an efficient and reliable program that simplifies transferring programs, files, and data between hard drives. Its intuitive user interface and comprehensive features make it a fantastic tool for individuals and businesses seeking to move programs seamlessly and securely. By clicking the following links, you can read more related articles about moving programs between hard drives:

FAQs About How to Move Programs Between Hard Drives

If you have additional questions, you can read the answers below to the FAQs about moving programs between hard drives.

1. How to move programs from C drive to D drive in Windows 11?

Follow these steps to move programs from C drive to D drive in Windows 11:

Step 1: Open Windows Settings and click "Apps" to access "Apps & Features."

Step 2: Here, find the targeted program and select it. Afterward, tap "Move," like the desired drive, and click "Move" to start the moving process.

2. Is moving files from C drive to D drive safe?

If you take the appropriate precautions, transferring files from the C to D drive is typically considered safe. You should only move non-system files and personal data, such as documents, music, videos, and pictures. It is better to keep system files on the C drive.

3. Can I transfer an installed program to another computer?

Yes, you can transfer an installed program to another computer. However, moving an installed program to another computer can be challenging and often requires using third-party tools. The best means to transfer an installed program to another computer is EaseUS Todo PCTrans.