Windows 11 PC-to-PC Migration, the Windows Backup option that moved your files and settings straight from an old PC to a new one, is being removed. Microsoft now points everyone to Windows Backup with a Microsoft account instead. If you plan to set up a new PC soon, that changes how you should prepare.
The removal first appeared in September preview builds and was carried into the October 13 update, according to IT-Connect.
The short version:
- Removed: the direct PC-to-PC transfer option inside Windows Backup.
- First documented in the September 10 Release Preview notes for Windows 11 24H2, 25H2 and 26H2.
- Included in the October 13 update, KB5127648.
- Microsoft’s replacement: Windows Backup, which restores through your Microsoft account and OneDrive.
Nothing breaks on your current PC. What you lose is the shortcut for the next one.
What Windows 11 PC-to-PC Migration actually did
Microsoft announced the feature in the Beta Channel on May 23, 2025, as part of its push to move people off Windows 10. It let you pick files, settings and preferences on your old PC and send them directly to the new one during setup.
Both computers had to sit on the same network, and an interrupted transfer tried to resume. Per Windows Forum, it never moved installed apps, saved passwords, files already in OneDrive, or BitLocker-encrypted drives unless you decrypted them first.
The appeal was simple: no cloud account and no upload wait. That is also why some people will miss it.
When it was removed, and what we don’t know
The timeline below pulls together the dates reported so far. Microsoft has not given a reason for the removal, and it has not promised the feature will return.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| May 23, 2025 | Feature announced in the Beta Channel, with pairing pages inside Windows Backup. |
| Sept 10, 2026 | Release Preview notes mark it as no longer available (builds 9539 for 24H2, 25H2 and 26H2). |
| Sept 22, 2026 | Optional update KB5124010 carries the removal, reports Windows Report. |
| Oct 13, 2026 | Patch Tuesday update KB5127648 includes it, per Windows Latest. |
One catch: Microsoft’s own screen-reader migration guide still says the experience is “currently available,” so older instructions may not match what you see. Treat any guide that mentions the direct transfer with caution.
How to move to a new PC now with Windows Backup
Windows Backup is the route Microsoft recommends. It saves supported settings, app entries, Wi-Fi networks and selected folders to your Microsoft account and OneDrive, then restores them when you sign in on the new PC.
Do this on the old PC before you switch:
- Open the Windows Backup app and sign in with your personal Microsoft account.
- Choose which folders, settings and credentials to back up.
- Run the backup and wait for it to finish, then check it in OneDrive.
- On the new PC, sign in with the same account during setup and pick the restore option.
Windows Backup needs a personal Microsoft account. Work and school accounts are not supported, so company laptops follow your IT team’s process instead.
What Windows Backup may not carry over
Restore is not a perfect clone. Here is how the two approaches compare on the things people usually worry about.
| Item | Old PC-to-PC transfer | Windows Backup |
|---|---|---|
| Needs a Microsoft account | No | Yes, personal account |
| Needs an upload to the cloud | No, same network only | Yes, via OneDrive |
| Installed apps | Not moved | App entries restored, non-Store apps may need a reinstall |
| Large folders | Limited by local network speed | Limited by your OneDrive space and upload speed |
The cloud storage limit matters most. A free OneDrive account has limited space, so a big photo or video library may not fit.
Options if you don’t want a cloud backup
You still have simple choices. The most reliable is copying your important folders to an external drive and plugging it into the new PC.
For a quick check, list what you actually need before the move: documents, photos, browser bookmarks, and license keys for paid software. Anything on that list that lives only on the old PC needs a copy somewhere.
If you are also thinking about a fresh start on the same PC, see our guide to the Windows 11 cloud rebuild. And if you are on 24H2, our post on KB5127648 covers the support cutoff that arrived with the same update.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Windows 11 PC-to-PC Migration gone for everyone?
Microsoft marked it as no longer available in September and October release notes. Rollouts are gradual, so some PCs may still show it for a while.
Can I still use Windows Backup?
Yes. It remains the recommended tool, but it needs a personal Microsoft account and OneDrive.
Will my installed apps move to the new PC?
Not directly. Windows Backup restores app entries, but non-Store apps may need a manual reinstall.
Does this affect Windows 11 26H2?
The September 10 notes list 26H2 alongside 24H2 and 25H2. If you are still deciding on that release, read how to get Windows 11 26H2.
Our take
Removing the direct transfer is a small step back for anyone with slow upload speeds or a full OneDrive. If you are buying a PC this season, run Windows Backup a week early so you can fix any gaps, and keep an external drive copy of the files you can’t replace.
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