Moving to new computer

Question

A few questions:

• Any recommendations for PC mover software -- preferably free -- or a guide for manual transfer? Win 11 Home
• When I get the new laptop do I sign in with my current windows ID? Does that transfer any of my settings? Do I need to sign in to One Drive separately?
• I share my wife's 365 subscription. Will it transfer to the new PC? Do I need to deactivate it on the old one?
• I have several passkeys set up linked to my PIN. Will they transfer with my account or will I need to set them up again? (I'm a bit confused about passkeys: How do I tell if they are stored in Windows, Chrome, or my password manager?)

That's all for now; maybe more when I run into problems. Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

For moving to a new Windows 11 Home PC, the built-in and documented options are:

1. For files and settings (no third‑party PC mover needed)

• Use Windows Backup and the new Windows 11 transfer experience when setting up the new PC.
• Requirements:
  • Old PC: Windows 10 or Windows 11.
  • New PC: Windows 11, version 2024 or later.
  • Both devices on the same network and plugged into power.
  • Sign in on the new PC with a Microsoft account that does not already have an existing backup.
• On the old PC:
  1. Make sure Windows is fully updated (Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates, install all, restart).
  2. Open the Windows Backup app.
  3. Select Transfer information to a new PC.
• On the new PC (during initial setup/OOBE):
  1. Choose to transfer from another PC when prompted.
  2. Pair the devices using the PC name and one‑time code shown on each device.
  3. Select which files and folders to transfer.
  4. Start the transfer and wait for completion.
• This process transfers:
  • Files (documents, photos, videos, etc.).
  • Many personalization settings and preferences.
• It does not transfer:
  • Installed applications.
  • System/OS folders (Program Files, ProgramData, Temp, etc.).
  • OneDrive cloud files (those are re‑synced by signing into OneDrive).
  • Saved passwords and sign‑in credentials.
  • Data on BitLocker‑encrypted drives unless decrypted first.

If the transfer option is not available or not suitable, files can be moved manually with an external drive or network drive as described in the “Move your files to a new Windows PC” guidance.

2. Signing in on the new laptop (Microsoft account, OneDrive, and settings)

• When the new Windows 11 PC is first set up, sign in with the same Microsoft account used on the old PC.
• Using the same Microsoft account:
  • Connects the device to Microsoft apps and services (Microsoft 365, OneDrive, Microsoft Edge, Microsoft Store).
  • Brings many settings and personalization preferences with the account.
• OneDrive:
  • OneDrive files themselves are not moved by the PC‑to‑PC transfer feature.
  • After setup, sign in to OneDrive on the new PC to sync files from the cloud.
  • For additional backup/transfer, see “Backup your Documents, Pictures, and Desktop folders with OneDrive” and “Move files to a new Windows PC with OneDrive”.

3. Microsoft 365 subscription shared from a family member

• Programs and apps are not transferred automatically.
• For Microsoft 365 shared from a spouse’s subscription:
  • On the new PC, sign in to the Microsoft 365 services/apps using the same Microsoft account that is part of the shared subscription.
  • Then install Microsoft 365 on the new device following the standard install guidance (from the Microsoft account/Office portal as documented in the referenced articles).
• For older perpetual Office (like Office 2016), installation is done from the associated Microsoft account’s services page, and activation issues can be resolved via the documented activation methods.
• Deactivation on the old PC is not handled by Windows Backup; it is managed within the Microsoft 365/Office account portal according to subscription limits. The context does not provide specific deactivation steps, only install/reinstall guidance.

4. Passkeys and sign‑in credentials

• The documented Windows transfer experience explicitly does not transfer saved passwords and sign‑in credentials.
• That means passkeys and other sign‑in data should not be expected to move automatically via Windows Backup/PC‑to‑PC transfer.
• After moving to the new PC, passkeys and sign‑in methods will need to be re‑established according to where they are stored (Windows Hello, browser, or password manager). The provided context does not include a detailed breakdown of how to distinguish passkey storage locations.

5. Apps and programs

• Existing programs are not moved by the transfer feature.
• Recommended approach is to freshly install apps on the new Windows 11 PC:
  • Prefer Microsoft Store where available.
  • For apps not in Microsoft Store, download the Windows 11 version from the software vendor’s official site.

Summary:

• Use Windows Backup + the new transfer experience (or OneDrive / external drive) for files and many settings.
• Sign in to the new PC with the same Microsoft account; then sign in separately to OneDrive to sync cloud files.
• Reinstall Microsoft 365/Office on the new PC using the same account that owns or shares the subscription.
• Do not expect passwords or passkeys to transfer; plan to reconfigure them on the new device.

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References:

• Transfer your files and settings to a new Windows PC
• Getting ready for the Windows 11 upgrade
• Windows 10 support on Intel Clover Trail chipsets ended on January 10, 2023
• Move your files to a new Windows PC
• Use a screen reader to move data to a new PC
• Windows 10 support has ended on October 14, 2025
• Welcome to Windows
• How do I transfer information from my old PC to a new without using the cloud? - Microsoft Q&A
• I have a subscription to Office 365 and want to install it on my new laptop - Microsoft Q&A
• move microsoft 360 to new computer - Microsoft Q&A
• Move my Home and Student 2016 to a new computer - Microsoft Q&A

Answer 2

There's no supported method for moving apps and settings from one PC to another, so PC mover software is hit or miss. There is no PC mover software that Microsoft supports, so you are on your own if you want to try it. Personally, I would not take the risk. So many things depend on how you initially setup your PC.

Moving your personal files is supported and it's easy: Copy the files from the old computer to an external drive or a USB flash drive, then move the files from the drive to the same folders in the new computer.

When you go through the setup process with your new computer you will be asked to sign in with your Microsoft account. Use the same Microsoft account you are using now. A Microsoft account exists on the internet, so whether you sign in to your account with computer "A" or computer "B", it's the same Microsoft account.

OneDrive is a feature of a Microsoft account. When you sign in to your Microsoft account on the new computer, you will have the same OneDrive, the same Outlook, the same Microsoft store, etc. It's like moving your keys from the right pocket to the left pocket. Same keys, different pocket.

The fate of your passkeys depends on where they are located. If they are located on the old computer (they'll be in the TPM) then you'll have to setup new passkeys on the new computer, which will take all of a few seconds. If your passkeys are located in your password manager, they'll still be in the password manager when you are using it with your new computer. If you want to know if your passkeys are located in your password manager, disable the password manager and try signing in.

The fate of your Microsoft 365 apps depends on how you originally got them. For example, did your wife purchase Microsoft 365 Family and send you an invitation to download the apps?