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0871 244 0934Getting a new laptop is a great feeling. It's faster, cleaner, and full of new promise. But then comes the one job everyone puts off: moving all your important files from your old computer.
It can feel like a big task, but don't worry. It's simpler than you might think. We'll walk you through three popular ways to move your documents, photos, and other data from your old machine to your new one.
Cloud storage is a very common way to back up and move files. Services like OneDrive (which is built into Windows), Google Drive, and Dropbox work by syncing your files to an online folder. You can then access them from any device, including your new laptop.
Best for: Moving your most important files (like documents and photos) and keeping a secure backup at the same time. It's less good for very large files (like 100GB+ of video) as it can be slow and you might run out of free space.
Choose your service: If you have a Microsoft account, you already have OneDrive. If you use Gmail, you have Google Drive. Pick the one you're most comfortable with.
Install the app on your old laptop: Download and install the desktop app for your chosen service.
Sync your files: Find the new "OneDrive" or "Google Drive" folder in your File Explorer. Drag all the folders you want to move (like "Documents," "Pictures," and "Desktop") into this folder.
Wait: This is the most important step. You must wait for all your files to upload. A green tick will usually appear next to them when they are safely in the cloud. This can take a while if you have a slow internet connection or lots of files.
Log in on your new laptop: Sign into the same cloud service on your new machine. Your files will appear and start downloading.
This is the classic, and often the fastest, method. An external hard drive or, even better, a speedy external SSD (Solid State Drive) gives you a physical copy of your files.
Best for: Transferring large amounts of data, moving your entire file library, and when you don't want to rely on an internet connection.
This is our top recommendation for most people, as it's quick, all done in one go, and doesn't depend on your internet speed. It's also a good excuse to get an external hard drive, which you can use for regular backups afterwards.
Plug your drive into the old laptop: Connect your external drive to a USB port.
Open File Explorer: Go to "This PC" and find your external drive (it might be called "E: Drive" or "Seagate," for example).
Copy your files: We suggest you copy your main user folders. Go to C:\Users\[YourName] and copy the "Documents," "Pictures," "Music," "Videos," and "Desktop" folders.
Paste onto the drive: Right-click on your external drive and select "Paste." This will take some time.
Safely Eject: Once it's finished, right-click on the drive in "This PC" and select "Eject" before unplugging it.
Move to the new laptop: Plug the drive into your new laptop. Open it up, and copy and paste the folders into your new user folder.
Method Three: Use a Specialised Laptop Transfer Cable
For a direct, one-time move, you can use a specialised data transfer cable. This isn't just a standard USB-C cable; it's a cable (often called a "USB-Link" or "Easy Transfer" cable) that has software to help the two computers talk to each other.
Best for: A one-off, direct transfer when both laptops are in the same room. It's often faster than using the cloud, but you do need to buy the specific cable.
Step One:
Install the software: The cable will come with software. You need to install this on both your old and new laptops first.
Step Two:
Connect the cable: Plug the cable into a USB port on both machines.
Step Three:
Run the software: Open the transfer program on both laptops. The software will detect the connection.
Step Four:
Follow the guide: The program will then give you on-screen steps to select which files, settings, and user profiles you want to move. It's a very guided process.
And that's it! Whether you choose the online route with the cloud or the physical route with a drive, your new laptop will be set up with all your familiar files in no time.
Now that your data is sorted, why not check out our range of laptop accessories to complete your setup? Or, if you're still looking for the perfect machine, explore our full laptop range.
