📋 Verified Walkthrough
Computers • Everyday Basics

How to move your photos, documents, and favorites to a new Windows PC

Direct Answer

The easiest way to move your personal files to a new Windows PC is with an inexpensive USB flash drive or external hard drive: plug the drive into your old PC, copy your "Pictures," "Documents," and "Desktop" folders onto it, then plug it into your new PC and paste them in. To bring over your bookmarks and saved passwords automatically, simply sign into Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge on the new computer.

Why You Might Want to Do This

  • To transfer your personal photo albums, tax forms, Word documents, and recipes to your new computer safely.
  • To keep all your favorite web bookmarks, email shortcuts, and saved website logins intact without writing them down.
  • To make sure none of your memories or important records are left behind on an old computer.

Before You Start

  • A USB flash drive (thumb drive) or external hard drive with at least 64GB–128GB capacity.
  • Both your old Windows computer and your new Windows computer powered on.
  • The password for your email or Google/Microsoft account (used to sync browser bookmarks).

Never delete anything from your old computer until you have verified that your pictures and documents open properly on your new computer.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. 1

    Plug your USB flash drive into your OLD Windows computer

    Insert the USB drive into a rectangular or oval USB port on your old computer. Press the Windows Key + E on your keyboard (or click the yellow folder icon on your taskbar) to open File Explorer.

    👀 Yellow folder icon (File Explorer) on taskbar.

  2. 2

    Copy your Pictures, Documents, and Desktop folders

    In the left sidebar of File Explorer under "This PC," right-click on the "Pictures" folder and select "Copy" (or click the two-sheets copy icon). Then click on your USB Drive in the left sidebar, right-click inside the blank space, and choose "Paste." Repeat this for your "Documents" folder.

    👀 Right-click menu: "Copy" and "Paste."

    3. ✅ Success Checkpoint: You're Doing Great

    If your screen matches the description above, you have followed the steps correctly. Continue to the next step.

  3. 3

    Safely eject the USB drive from the old computer

    In File Explorer, right-click your USB drive in the left panel and click "Eject." Wait for the notification saying "Safe to remove hardware," then unplug the drive from the old computer.

    👀 Right-click on USB drive > "Eject."

  4. 4

    Plug the USB drive into your NEW Windows PC and copy files

    Plug the USB drive into your new computer. Open File Explorer (Windows Key + E), click on your USB drive, select the copied folders, right-click and choose "Copy." Then click on "Pictures" or "Documents" under "This PC" on the new computer and choose "Paste."

    👀 Paste folders into new PC storage.

  5. 5

    Sync your bookmarks and passwords in your web browser

    Open Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge on your new PC. Click the small circular profile icon in the top right corner and click "Sign in to sync." Enter your email and password. All your bookmarks, saved passwords, and autofill info will appear immediately.

    👀 Profile icon in top right corner of browser.

  6. 6

    Verify your files open and deauthorize subscriptions on old PC

    Double-click a few photos and Word documents on your new PC to make sure they open smoothly. Before discarding the old PC, sign out of Microsoft 365, antivirus subscriptions, and web accounts.

    👀 Photos opening in Windows Photos app.

If You Don't See It / Troubleshooting

My USB flash drive does not have enough room for all my photos

Copy one folder at a time (e.g. just Documents first, paste it to the new PC, delete it from the USB drive, then copy Pictures). Alternatively, use an external hard drive with 1TB capacity.

I used OneDrive on my old PC and my files are already showing on the new PC

If you signed into the same Microsoft Account on both PCs, OneDrive may have already synced your Desktop, Documents, and Pictures automatically over the cloud! Look for the green checkmark icons next to your files.

My printer does not work on the new computer

New computers need to install the printer driver. Plug the printer's USB cord into the new PC, or go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners > "Add device" to detect your Wi-Fi printer.

Good to Know

  • Programs (like Microsoft Word or Photoshop) cannot simply be copied with a USB drive; you just reinstall them on the new PC from your official account portal (e.g., account.microsoft.com).
  • Keep the USB flash drive stored in a safe place as an offline backup of your photos and important papers.
  • Windows 11 includes free antivirus (Windows Security) built-in, so you do not need to buy expensive third-party security trials.