Clone Windows 11? Here's the Software You Can Use
Cloning your hard drive creates an exact copy of your hard drive, useful for upgrading computers, creating backups, or erasing personal data when selling a computer.
- 1. Qiling Backup
- 2. Macrium Reflect
- 3. Paragon Drive Copy Professional
- 4. Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office
- 5. Clonezilla
What's Good in Windows 11 Cloning
Cloning Windows 11 allows you to create an exact copy of your operating system and settings with just a few clicks, making it a useful tool for migrating data, creating backups, and rolling back changes, ultimately saving you time, effort, and money.
Best 5 Windows 11 Cloning Software
1. Qiling Backup
Qiling Backup is a powerful backup and cloning software for Windows 11 that offers a range of features to protect your data, including full and incremental backups, file compression, and encryption. Its cloning function allows you to create an exact copy of your hard drive, making it easy to switch to a new drive, recover from a crash, or upgrade to a larger drive without reinstalling your operating system and applications. Overall, Qiling Backup is an excellent choice for a reliable backup and cloning solution for Windows 11.
Pros:
- The software has a straightforward design, allowing users to quickly learn and navigate it without needing extensive training or time to get familiar with its features.
- The software offers better clone and backup quality than its competitors, and is well-received by users and review sites.
- The platform provides users with various backup and clone options to tailor their plans to suit their needs.
Cons:
No free clone features.
Price:
- $0 - Free version (Backup only)
- $39.95 - Yearly (Clone + Backup + 7/24 Support)
- $59.95 - Perpetual (Clone + Backup + 7/24 Support)
- $79.95 - Lifetime Upgrades (Clone + Backup + 7/24 Support)
2. Macrium Reflect
Macrium Reflect is a free tool that allows users to create an exact copy of their hard drive, complete backups of individual files and folders, and manage disk space, making it an essential tool for any Windows user.
Pros:
- Has free backup and clone functions
- Trusted and recommended by huge numbers of users
- Has detailed and abundant user manual
Cons:
- Home edition charges more
- To be honest, the software does take some time to get used to, but once you're familiar with its features, it becomes quite intuitive and easy to use. With a little practice, most users can pick it up quickly and start using it efficiently.
Price:
- $0 - Reflect Free (Clone + Backup)
- $69.95 - Home Edition (1 license)
- $139.95 - Home Edition (4 pack license)
3. Paragon Drive Copy Professional
Paragon Drive Copy Professional offers a wide range of features and is easy to use, featuring a cloning function that clones entire hard drives with data and applications in minutes, and supports cloning to various destinations, including external hard drives, USB flash drives, and memory cards, also featuring a powerful file recovery function.
Pros:
- The design is simple, yet someone might view it as a negative aspect, implying that it lacks depth or sophistication.
- To clone and migrate disks with advanced features, excluding files and folders, you can use tools like Acronis True Image or Qiling Backup. These programs allow you to create an exact copy of a disk, including its operating system, applications, and data, while excluding specific files and folders.
- Has additional disk management functions - split/merge partitions
Cons:
- No free version, all features are paid
- A little more expensive than other software
Price:
- $79.95 - 3 PC license (No 1 PC license)
*If you buy more, you will get a bigger discount.
4. Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office
Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office, formerly known as Acronis True Image, offers advanced features such as full disk and partition cloning, as well as incremental cloning of only changed files. This powerful tool also provides robust security features, including file encryption and password protection, making it an ideal choice for safeguarding your data from cyber threats.
Pros:
- Big enterprise in data backup and cloning business
- Has good data security capability
- Acronis has powerful cloud storage and backup features
Cons:
- Expensive
- Does not have a free version
Prices:
- $49.99 - One-year subscription (Clone + Backup)
- $89.99 - The advanced one-year subscription offers a comprehensive package of services, including cloning, backup, anti-virus protection, and cloud backup, providing users with a robust and reliable solution for their digital security and data protection needs.
5. Clonezilla
Clonezilla is a free and open-source disk cloning software that allows users to clone entire hard drives, including the operating system, applications, settings, and data. It can also clone individual partitions and create a bootable clone for system restoration. With its user-friendly interface and customization options, Clonezilla is an essential tool for creating backups and migrating data to new computers.
Pros:
- Open-source software with all features free
Cons:
- It is difficult for novice users to use
- Lack of tech support
Price:
$0 - open-source software
How to Clone Windows 11 To Another Drive
When choosing a Windows 11 cloning software, you'll need to decide which tool to use. Regardless of the software chosen, the cloning process remains the same. If you're upgrading your computer by replacing the old hard drive with a new SSD, you'll need to clone the Windows 11 OS to the new drive. To do this, you'll need more than just a cloning software, and Qiling Backup will be used as an example to guide you through the process.
Step 1. Connect the New Second Hard Drive to the PC
Preparations before cloning start:
1. To connect the target disk to your PC, you may need a screwdriver, a Power Splitter Adapter Cable, a SATA cable, or a USB to SATA adapter, depending on the type of connection required.
2. Before transferring data from an old hard drive (HDD) or solid-state drive (SSD) to a new one, ensure that the target drive has a capacity that is equal to or greater than the amount of used space on the old drive. This is crucial to prevent any potential data loss or corruption during the transfer process.
3. If the style of the new disk is different from that of the old disk, initialize the new HDD/SSD to match the style of the old disk, either MBR or GPT.
3. Download a Disk Cloning Tool – Qiling Backup
Qiling Backup is a cloning software that integrates multiple functions, including backup, cloning, and more. In the disk clone field, it stands out for its exceptional capabilities, making it a top choice among users.
- Support system/disk clone, backup, restoring , and system transfer.
- Disk cloning software covers a wide range of demands, including updating a hard drive to a larger one, cloning an operating system, and more.
- Disk cloning has the highest success rate among all similar products on the market.
- This software supports a wide range of disk types, including IDE, EIDE, SATA, ESATA, ATA, SCSI, iSCSI, and USB 1.0/2.0/3.0.
- Supports cloning of basic/dynamic disks and MBR/GPT disks.
Step 2. Step by Step Guide
System Clone: To clone your system, go to System Clone, select the destination disk, and click Next to start. You can also choose the option to create a portable Windows USB drive in the Advanced options.
Disk/Partition Clone: To clone a disk, choose Clone, select the resource disk or partition, then select the target disk, and click Next to start the cloning process.
Step 3. Boot from the Clone Hard Drive
Case 1. If you want to keep both the old disk and the new disk
- To restart your PC and enter the BIOS settings, follow these steps: Press the power button to turn off your computer, then press the power button again to turn it back on. As the computer boots up, press the designated key to enter the BIOS settings, which is usually F2, F8, F10, or DEL, depending on your computer model. You can refer to your computer's manual or manufacturer's website for specific instructions. Once you're in the BIOS settings, you can navigate and make any necessary changes. Note that you'll need to save your changes and exit the BIOS settings to apply them.
- In the Boot option, select new HDD/SSD as the new boot drive.
- Exit BIOS and restart the computer.
Case 2. If you want to only keep the new disk
- Unplug the old disk and ensure the new one is securely connected.
- To connect the new disk and make sure it can be detected by the computer, first, physically connect the new disk to the computer using a USB cable or SATA cable, depending on the type of disk. Then, restart the computer or go to the Device Manager (Windows) or Disk Utility (Mac) to verify that the new disk is recognized and listed as a connected device.
- Restart your computer.
Wrap Up
Choosing the best Windows 11 cloning software can be overwhelming with so many options available. When selecting a program, consider the features that are important to you, such as the level of customization and data protection offered. Reading reviews from other users can also provide valuable insights into a program's effectiveness and any potential drawbacks. Ultimately, taking the time to research and compare different options will help you make an informed decision and find the best Windows 11 cloning software for your needs.
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