How to Clone an SSD to a Larger SSD in Windows 11

Scenario: Need to clone an SSD to a larger SSD in Windows 11

“I bought a 1TB SSD for my Windows 11 to replace my 256GB SSD which is just about full. I'd like to just transfer everything over, including the OS, to the new SSD. Does any tool recommend?”

--From tomshardware

Clone SSD to larger SSD for quick disk upgrade in Windows 11/10/7/8

Nowadays, more and more users would like to use SSD instead of HDD for higher disk performance. With the increasing of data on the computer, consumers need to upgrade their SSD to a larger one. However, if you want to keep data on the old SSD at the same time, cloning an SSD to a larger SSD in Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7 should be the best way for upgrading storage disk without data loss.

How to clone SSD to SSD in Windows 11

It is imperative to adequately prepare for the migration of the Windows 11 operating system to a larger SSD in order to ensure a seamless process.

1. A new, larger SSD

Among the numerous varieties of SSDs that are available are SATA SSD, M.2 SSD, NVMe SSD, PCIe SSED, and other brands. You are required to acquire an SSD that is compatible with your computer or laptop and has an adequate amount of storage space (which is greater than the capacity of your previous SSD).

2. SATA to USB cables are required

The majority of computers are equipped with two SSD ports, which enable the installation of the new, larger SSD in the computer case in conjunction with the existing SSD. If not, a USB to SATA cable can be employed to establish a connection between the computer and SSD.

3. A screwdriver

A screwdriver is necessary for the insertion of an SSD into the computer casing or the replacement of a smaller SSD with a larger SSD after cloning.

4. An SSD cloning software

For SSD cloning, we highly recommend AOMEI Partition Assistant, which supports all brands of SSD in the market, Samsung, SanDisk, Intel, Kingston, Crucial…This tool not only clones your old drive seamlessly but also allows you to resize partitions on the new SSD during the process.

If you would like to clone a data SSD to a larger SSD in Windows 11, AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard should be the best free SSD cloning software that can help you easily and safely clone to SSD free.

If you would like to upgrade your system disk to a larger SSD in Windows 11 without reinstalling, AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional is more suitable. It allows to clone SSD to larger SSD in Windows 11, even migrate only OS to SSD, and ensures you can boot from the cloned SSD successfully.

If you’re a Windows Server user, don’t worry, it has a Server edition to assist you.

AOMEI Partition Assistant

The Best SSD Cloning Software and Windows Disk Partition Manager.

Download to Try
Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7

Now, here is the step-by-step guide for how to clone an SSD to a larger SSD in Windows 11 with AOMEI Partition Assistant.

After you connect your larger SSD, follow the steps to safely clone your disk.

Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant, click "Clone" in the main interface and select "Clone Disk".

Step 2. Choose the hard disk that you need to clone as the source disk and click "Next".

Step 3. Select the destination disk to store the data on the source disk, and then click "Next".

Step 4. Then, you can check the source and destination disk in the next window or change to “Sector to Sector clone”, and click the "Confirm" button to continue if there is no problem.

Here, you can also click the "Settings" button to adjust the partition size on the destination disk or tick "4k alignment" to improve the reading and writing speed of SSD if the target disk is an SSD drive.

Step 5. At last, click "Apply" and "Proceed" in the main interface to start cloning the hard drive.

Now you can try to boot your computer from the larger SSD.

What you need to do after the clone

If you don’t remember what the note shows how to boot from the cloned SSD, here we’ll show you details.

1. Change boot order

Boot your PC, go to BIOS, and change the boot order.

You can run “SSD Secure Erase” to wipe the old SSD and make it a data disk.

2. If the larger SSD shows a smaller capacity:

• When you clone a smaller SSD to a larger SSD, the exceeding space will be shown as unallocated space in Disk Management. So, you need to create a new partition or allocate this space to another partition.

• If the destination cloned SSD is over 2TB and it’s an MBR partition style disk, please convert it to a GPT table, because the MBR disk has a 2TB limitation.

• The system recovery partition hinders the cloning from correctly scaling the C disk, you can change partition size without losing data to solve it.

Ending line

What you might wish to know about how to clone SSD to a large SSD in Windows 11 is all shown in this article.  AOMEI Partition Assistant offers you the best choice. After reading this article, you must find how versatile this tool is. In addition to all the functions we’ve mentioned above, you can also convert the file system between FAT32 and NTFS or fix the RAW drive. You can enjoy more convenient services like moving installed applications, converting dynamic disks to basic disks, and Partition Recovery Wizard, etc, after upgrading to the Professional edition.

FAQs about clone SSD to larger SSD on Windows 11

1. What is the optimal capacity for a system SSD?

The optimal size of an OS SSD is contingent upon the specific needs and utilisation patterns of the user. The operating system and essential software are typically advised to be installed on a minimum of 128GB of storage. Nevertheless, larger capacities, such as 256GB or 512GB, are recommended for a more optimal experience. This allows for the storage of supplementary applications, files, and updates while simultaneously ensuring optimal performance. Additionally, a larger SSD guarantees sufficient storage capacity for system caches and transient files, which can enhance the overall performance of the system. Ultimately, the optimal capacity of an OS SSD is contingent upon the user's unique requirements and preferences.

2. Can I clone my SSD without using third-party software?

While Windows 11 does not have built-in cloning tools, you can use the "Backup and Restore" feature to create a system image and restore it to the new SSD. However, third-party cloning software is often more straightforward for this purpose.

3. Can I clone an SSD to a smaller SSD?

You can clone an SSD to a smaller SSD only if the total data size on the source SSD is less than or equal to the capacity of the smaller SSD. Ensure there is enough free space on the target SSD before cloning.

4. What should I do if my cloned SSD does not boot?

If the cloned SSD does not boot:

• Ensure it is set as the boot drive in the BIOS/UEFI.
• Check the connections to make sure the SSD is properly installed.
• Verify that the cloning process completed successfully without errors.
• Use Windows recovery tools to repair the bootloader if necessary.

5. How long does it take to clone an SSD?

The time it takes to clone an SSD depends on the amount of data being cloned and the speed of the SSDs and connection interfaces. Typically, it may take several hours.