[Answered] Does Clonezilla Work on Windows 11?

Curious about does Clonezilla work on Windows 11? This article provides answers and detailed instructions for downloading and using Clonezilla to clone your HDD to an SSD on Windows 11. It also introduces an easier cloning alternative.

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By Phoebe / Updated on November 21, 2023

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Does Clonezilla work on Windows 11?

 

I've purchased a new SSD and plan to clone my old HDD to it using Clonezilla. I am prepared to download it on my computer. But can Clonezilla work with Windows 11? If not, are there simpler alternatives to clone an HDD to an SSD?"

---Source: Windows 11 Forum

Yes, Clonezilla works on Windows 11 and supports various operating systems and file formats, including NTFS on Windows 11/10, ext2, 3, 4 on Linux, and HFS on MacOS.

Developed by NCHC Free Software Labs, Clonezilla is a versatile imaging and cloning tool. It aids in system deployment, bare metal backup, and recovery.

Clonezilla comes in three versions: Clonezilla live, Clonezilla lite server, and Clonezilla SE (server edition). Clonezilla live is ideal for individual machine backup and restore, while Clonezilla lite server or SE enables large-scale deployment, capable of cloning multiple (40 plus!) computers simultaneously.

Whether you want to clone HDD to SSD or larger HDD, Clonezilla helps you effortlessly transfer everything on your current Windows system for disk upgrades, optimized performance, and expanded storage space.

How to download Clonezilla on Windows 11/10

Now that you know does Clonezilla work on Windows 11/10, follow these steps to download Clonezilla to your computer.

Step 1: Visit the official Clonezilla Download page.

Step 2: Choose the appropriate CPU architecture (usually amd64 for modern computers).

Step 3: Select the suitable iso/zip file.

Step 4: Keep the repository "auto".

Step 5: Click "Download" to begin.

download-clonezilla

How to use Clonezilla to clone HDD to SSD

Once you've completed the Clonezilla download, the subsequent step involves utilizing it for hard drive cloning. Although the procedure might appear intricate for beginners, with careful execution, successful hard drive cloning using Clonezilla is feasible.

There is a prerequisite before using Clonezilla to clone - create bootable media. Two ways are available here: (1) extract the Clonezilla zip file and create a 200 MB partition on the SSD as the boot partition.  (2) create a bootable USB using Diskpart and place the Clonezilla ISO file there. 

★Tips:
Ensure that the target SSD/HDD has an equal or larger storage capacity than the original drive. For migrations to smaller drives, shrink the source drive to accommodate the target drive's size. 
Ensure all essential files on the target SSD are backed up, as Clonezilla will overwrite the existing data on the hard drive.

Then you can start to copy Clonezilla HDD to SSD. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Connect your SSD to your computer.

Step 2: Boot your PC from the Clonezilla live bootable USB.

Step 3: Select Clonezilla live from the interface and press "Enter".

clone-win7-clonezilla-1

Step 4: Select a preferred language and press "Enter".

Step 5: Configure the keyboard layout.

Step 6: Start Clonezilla or enter the login shell (command prompt).

start-clonezilla

Step 7: Choose "device-device work directly from a disk or partition to a disk or partition", "beginner mode: Accept the default options", and "disk_to_local_disk local_disk_to_local_disk_clone" one by one.

disk-local-to-disk-clonezilla

Step 8: Choose the HDD as the source disk and designate the SSD as the target disk. You can retain the default advanced parameters or customize them according to your requirements.

select-source-disk-clonezilla

target-disk-clonezilla

Step 9: Select the preferred action upon completion of the cloning process (reboot or power off). Confirm the operations by pressing "Y" and "Enter" thrice, then patiently wait for the process to finalize.

Step 10: After cloning, power down the system, then proceed to replace the former HDD with the newly cloned SSD. Subsequently, initiate the PC startup from the SSD.

Best Clonezilla alternative for cloning disks easily

You might find it very daunting to use Clonezilla to clone disks after reviewing the comprehensive steps involved. For a simple alternative, consider AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional. This software offers a secure and much easier solution for cloning HDD to SSD or larger SSD in Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, XP, and Vista.

Compared with Clonezilla, AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional boasts various advantages:

✿ Require no commands and bootable media and provide step-by-step guides, friendly even for beginners.
✿ Support cloning larger drive to smaller drive.
✿ Safely clone hard drives without boot issues.
✿ Migrate only the OS to another SSD/HDD without reinstalling or even copy a single partition to another drive.
✿ Make 4K alignment to optimize the performance of SSD during cloning.

Download Pro DemoWin 11/10/8.1/8/7/XP
Secure Download

Step 1: Connect the SSD to your computer.

Step 2: Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional.

Step 3: Navigate to "Clone" and select "Clone Disk".

copy-wizard

Step 4: Choose a disk clone method; for instance, "Clone Disk Quickly" to clone only used space to another disk.

methods

Step 5: Select the source disk and proceed by clicking "Next".

source-disk

Step 6: Choose the destination disk and click "Next". Optimize SSD performance by ticking "Optimize the performance of SSD".

target-one

Step 7: Resize partitions on the new drive as needed and click "Next".

edit

Step 8: After reviewing instructions on how to boot from the cloned disk, click "Finish", and then click "Apply" to execute the operation.

apply

Once completed, your old HDD has been successfully cloned to the new SSD.

Bottom line

Does Clonezilla work on Windows 11? You can get a positive answer from this article. However, Clonezilla comes to be a complicated clone tool, and its complexity might be daunting. If you lack experience in utilizing Clonezilla and want an easier experience, we recommend you to choose AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional. This powerful and user-friendly tool can help you clone HDD to SSD safely and easily.

Additionally, AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional includes a Server edition for Windows Server users, supporting Windows Server 2022, 2019, 2016, 2012, 2008, and 2003 (all editions, 32/64 bit).

Phoebe
Phoebe · Staff Editor
Phoebe, an editor at AOMEI Technology, is dedicated to offering optimal solutions for Windows-related concerns, specializing in partition management, disk upgrades, data recovery, and more. During her free time, she enjoys indulging in reading, watching movies, and exploring her passion for cooking.