Move Windows User Profile to Another PC

Moving a Windows user profile to a different PC lets you carry over your desktop, documents, settings, and app data without starting from scratch. This guide covers two reliable methods: using Windows’ built-in backup tools and manually copying the profile folder. You’ll need access to both computers and a temporary storage device with enough free space.

What You’ll Need

Both PCs running Windows 10 (or 11, steps are similar)
An external hard drive, USB flash drive, or a network share with enough space for your profile (check folder size first)
Administrator access on both computers
Your Microsoft account password or local account credentials
Patience â€“ the copy can take a while depending on profile size

Step-by-Step

Back up your profile on the old PC. Open File Explorer, navigate to C:\Users, and right-click your username folder. Select Properties â†’ General tab to see the size. If it’s large (tens of GB), an external drive is best.
Create a full backup using Windows Backup (recommended). Go to Settings â†’ Update & Security â†’ Backup â†’ Add a drive. Choose your external drive and let Windows create a system image. This captures everything, including your profile.
Alternatively, manually copy the profile folder. Log into the old PC with an administrator account. In File Explorer, go to C:\Users, right-click your profile folder, and choose Copy. Paste it onto the external drive. If you get a â€œfolder in useâ€� error, close all apps and sign out other users. You may need to take ownership of some subfolders first (right-click â†’ Properties â†’ Security â†’ Advanced â†’ Change owner).
Prepare the new PC. Set up Windows 10 with the same Microsoft account you used on the old PC. This ensures your settings sync where possible. Create a temporary local admin account if you don’t want to use your main account during the transfer.
Restore using Windows Backup. On the new PC, go to Settings â†’ Update & Security â†’ Backup â†’ More options â†’ Restore files from a current backup. Follow the prompts to restore your files and settings.
If you copied manually, move the folder into place. On the new PC, navigate to C:\Users. Copy your old profile folder from the external drive into this location. If a folder with your username already exists, rename it (e.g., username.old) and then paste your old one.
Point Windows to the new profile. Open System Properties (right-click This PC â†’ Properties â†’ Advanced system settings). Under the Advanced tab, click Settings in the User Profiles section. Select your profile and click Copy To. Browse to C:\Users\YourUsername and select it. Check â€œPermitted to useâ€� and set it to Everyone or your account. Click OK and restart.
Test and clean up. Log in with your regular account. Open your desktop, Documents, and a few apps to confirm everything works. If all looks good, you can delete the .old folder to free space.

Common Mistakes

Copying while logged in: You can’t copy a profile that’s in use. Always use a different admin account or the built-in backup tool.
Ignoring hidden files: Some profile data (like AppData) is hidden. Make sure you enable â€œShow hidden filesâ€� in File Explorer before copying manually.
Mismatched account names: If the new PC has a different username, Windows may not recognize the profile. Stick to the same username or use the Copy To method to reassign it.
Forgetting to transfer app settings: Many apps store data in the registry or in ProgramData. A profile copy won’t bring those over; you’ll need to reinstall the apps and then copy their data from the old PC if needed.

Tips

Use the Windows Backup tool if you want a clean, automatic transfer. It handles permissions and hidden files correctly.
If you only need documents and desktop files, skip the full profile and just copy those folders â€“ it’s much faster and less risky.
Before starting, update both PCs to the latest Windows 10 version. This avoids compatibility issues.
Keep the old PC intact until you’ve confirmed the new profile works. Don’t wipe anything until you’re sure.
For large profiles, use a USB 3.0 drive or network transfer to save time.

Troubleshooting

â€œAccess deniedâ€� when copying: Take ownership of the profile folder. Right-click â†’ Properties â†’ Security â†’ Advanced â†’ Change owner to your admin account, then try again.
New PC shows a temporary profile: This usually means Windows couldn’t load your profile. Check the registry: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList. Find the key with your SID and ensure ProfileImagePath points to the correct folder. If it’s wrong, edit it and restart.
Settings don’t sync: Some settings are tied to the device, not the account. You may need to reapply them manually.
Apps won’t start: Reinstall the apps. Their data is in your profile, but the program files and registry entries are missing.
Profile is corrupted after transfer: Use System Restore or the backup to go back to a clean state, then try again with a different method.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I move just my Documents and Desktop without the whole profile? Yes, that’s often easier. Copy those folders to the external drive, then paste them into the corresponding locations on the new PC. You can also use OneDrive or another cloud service.
Will my installed programs come along? No. Programs are installed system-wide, not in your profile. You’ll need to reinstall them on the new PC. Some apps let you export settings, but the programs themselves must be installed.
Do I need the same Microsoft account? It’s strongly recommended. Using the same account syncs many settings and makes the profile more likely to work. If you use a local account, you’ll need to create a matching one on the new PC.
How long does the transfer take? It depends on the profile size and the transfer method. A few GB might take 10â€“20 minutes; a 50 GB profile on a USB 2.0 drive could take hours.
What if my new PC already has a user with the same name? You’ll have two profiles. Rename the old one (e.g., username.old) and then copy your old profile in. Or use the Copy To method to merge them.
Is it safe to delete the old profile after moving? Once you’ve verified everything works, yes. But keep a backup on the external drive for a week or two in case you need to roll back.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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