Microsoft has revealed more details about its free tool for transferring files to a new PC when upgrading to Windows 11. It's got some unfortunate limitations that mean a third-party solution may be better for some users.

The tool is part of Microsoft's drive to remove headaches for people who choose (or feel forced) to get a new computer when switching to Windows 11. In some cases that's taking the opportunity for some new hardware and in other cases, it's because their existing Windows 10 PC doesn't meet Microsoft's minimum specifications and requirements.

Built Into Backup App

The transfer tool is being rolled out to testers and will soon appear as part of the existing Backup app in Windows where it will be labeled "Transfer information to a new PC."

Users will need to have both the old and new computer on a local network. That could mean a physical connection though in most cases being connected to the same WiFi router will be sufficient. They'll need to open the app on both devices and then get a six digit code from one to type into the other. That's designed to get round the risk of mistakenly overwriting the wrong PC, or somebody leeching onto a poorly or unsecured network to steal data. (Source: neowin.net)

In principle, users simply need to select which folders or drives they want to transfer over, click "Start transfer", and wait for the process to automatically complete. There'll even be an estimate of how long the task has left to run, though these estimates can be unreliable as large files can distort the figures depending on where they are in the transfer order.

Data Limitations

One limitation is that some data can't be transferred this way. In each case, it's a logical explanation, but it may add up to too much frustration for some users. Items which can't be transferred include: system files and folders; individual apps (though Microsoft will create a list of links to retrieve them on the new machine from both the Windows store and third party sites); OneDrive; stored passwords and login details, and any data on a drive encrypted by BitLocker (users will need to decrypt the drive before the transfer).

Another limitation is that the tool doesn't currently work on PCs that use ARM-based processors, which includes some high profile machines such as some Surface Pro laptops and those specially built for AI features. This appears to be a temporary measure that Microsoft intends to fix. (Source: techradar.com)

What's Your Opinion?

Would you find such a tool useful? Would the limitations deter you? If you haven't got Windows 11 yet, is file transfer among the most important factors in holding off?