- Microsoft has given us extra particulars on how PC-to-PC migration works
- It'll supply a helpful different to those that don't need to restore a backup by way of OneDrive
- The function does nonetheless have caveats, although, together with needing a Microsoft account – and it received't help Arm-based PCs initially, both
Microsoft has offered extra particulars on how its PC-to-PC migration function will truly work in terms of switching over to a brand new Home windows 11 PC.
The function is designed to clean over the improve to a brand new PC, and make it as straightforward as doable – albeit with some caveats – and clearly the main focus is on serving to Home windows 10 customers swap to Home windows 11 (assuming their {hardware} helps the latter OS).
Beforehand, PC-to-PC migration has been seen in testing, and Microsoft has put the shell of the expertise within the launch model of Home windows 11 (with the most recent replace) – nonetheless, it isn't but practical.
No less than we now know precisely how the flexibility will work because of a help submit Microsoft has uploaded (as Thurrott.com noticed). So, let's dive into all the important thing particulars you might want to know.
The outdated PC and new PC you're transferring over to will have to be on the identical community, both related by way of Ethernet (wired, to your router) or wi-fi (on the identical Wi-Fi community).
Each machines can even have to be signed right into a Microsoft account – so with the brand new PC, you'll should register to an account throughout setup. As soon as that preliminary setup is run, you’ll be able to kick off the PC-to-PC migration, which can pair the PCs utilizing a one-time-code.
You'll then have to pick out what you need to switch throughout in the way in which of information or settings. You possibly can switch virtually all the pieces when it comes to information and the choices you've chosen in Home windows, together with personalised components of the desktop (wallpapers or themes), however there are a couple of exceptions.
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What received't be ported throughout consists of momentary and system information (which you wouldn't need anyway), in addition to the apps put in on the outdated PC, and saved passwords (although you could have them saved in your browser, anyway).
When you've chosen the information and settings to be ported throughout, the method will start, offering you with a timer as a sign of how lengthy you'll be ready (hopefully an correct one – these countdowns aren't at all times that dependable).
If the community connection ought to drop someway, Microsoft says that Home windows will routinely attempt to resume the information switch when it's again up once more – although you’ll be able to manually restart the method if all else fails.
Evaluation: backup or migration
The PC-to-PC migration function is actually an alternate for individuals who haven't configured a backup (saved to OneDrive) by way of the Home windows Backup app. When you’ve got a type of, you’ll be able to merely deploy that backup on the brand new PC – if not, you should use PC-to-PC migration as an alternative (as an area knowledge switch technique, however you should nonetheless be signed right into a Microsoft account as famous). Or not less than you'll have the ability to when it's totally launched to Home windows 11 (and 10) PCs, which ought to occur quickly sufficient – I'm betting Microsoft will need this up and operating earlier than Home windows 10 reaches Finish of Life (for apparent causes).
It's value noting that when you do configure a backup on the Home windows Backup app – simply to sync your gadget settings, in actual fact – you get an extra 12 months of help for Home windows 10 without cost (dodging the $30 price Microsoft had beforehand slapped on this selection).
So, Backup is clearly an app Microsoft needs folks to make use of – and I can see that alternative being a well-liked stopgap measure to place off any determination on upgrading to Home windows 11 till subsequent 12 months – however it's good to see that PC-to-PC migration is being provided up as one other approach ahead, with fewer strings connected (OneDrive-wise, although you continue to have to make use of a Microsoft account).
With PC-to-PC migration, the principle factor you don't get ported over to the brand new PC is your apps, however that isn't shocking. Certainly, the Backup app received't present your apps when it restores a backup – though it could restore apps from the Microsoft Retailer, and with third-party apps, present a hyperlink to obtain them for comfort (you don't get that capacity with the brand new migration function).
The principle distinction with the brand new function, then, is that migration doesn’t require or use OneDrive (albeit it does want a Microsoft account), and there are not any choices pertaining to conserving your apps (even when utilizing Home windows Backup is proscribed in that respect, too).
Another notable caveats with PC-to-PC migration are that it doesn't work with drives which are encrypted with BitLocker (they should be decrypted first), and that gadgets with Arm CPUs aren't supported both (but). On condition that Microsoft says Arm PCs aren't "at the moment" catered for, I anticipate that to alter quickly sufficient – particularly as these characterize a good chunk of Copilot+ PCs, that are the machines Microsoft is busy attempting to get everybody to purchase into.
As famous, we're nonetheless ready for the complete PC-to-PC migration expertise to be enabled in Home windows 11 (and Home windows 10), however it shouldn't be too lengthy earlier than this occurs.
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