How to Transfer Files to External Hard Drive in Windows 10

User Case: How Do I Transfer Files from My Computer to External Hard Drive?

There are many people who want to transfer files to external hard drive in Windows 10 but don't know how to do it, next. This article will provide detailed graphic tutorials to teach you one of the easiest ways to transfer files to external hard drive for Windows 10! Check it out now!

Best Way to Transfer Files to External Hard Drive in Windows 10

How to transfer files to external hard drive for Windows 10? If you're tired of the copy-paste hassle and want to ensure a working OS after transferring files, check out AOMEI Backupper Professional. It's the top-notch hard drive transfer software that's got your back. With two awesome features, you'll breeze through data transfer between internal/external hard drives:

☎File Sync: Move loads of files between drives at once. You can even sync files from PC to PC, NAS devices, and local folders to a cloud drive.
☎Disk Clone: Copy everything from the source drive, including programs and OS, to the destination drive. No need to reinstall anything!

It works with all Windows versions and various disk types. Get AOMEI Backupper now and follow the step-by-step guide for hassle-free transfers.

Here are two methods for transferring files to external hard drive for Windows 10, depending on what you need.

Method 1. Move Files such as Documents, Pictures, and Music

If you need to transfer files like documents, pictures, and music from your PC hard drive to another drive, you can follow method 1 to copy all files to external hard drive for Windows 10. First, connect the external drive to your PC and ensure it's recognized.

Step 1. Open AOMEI Backupper.Click on Sync and choose Basic Sync.

Step 2. Give your task a distinctive name to differentiate it from other sync tasks. Then, click on Add Folder to choose the folder(s) you wish to synchronize from the source drive.

Step 3. Choose a different drive where you want to store the synced folder(s) as the destination path.

Step 4. Simply click the Start Sync button to initiate the file transfer process from one hard drive to another. Once the operation is complete, make sure to safely disconnect your drive.

Options: Feel free to add a comment to your sync task for easy identification of the specific sync contents. Additionally, you have the option to enable email notifications for updates.
Schedule Sync: You can set up your sync task to run automatically at regular intervals. Choose from five modes: Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Event triggers, and USB plugin.

Method 2.Transfer Files, Programs, and OS to A New Drive

If you need to transfer everything, including programs and the operating system, consider Way 2. Before proceeding with Way 2, remember to back up files on the destination drive, as they will be overwritten during cloning. 

Step 1.Open AOMEI Backupper. On the left pane, click on Clone and then choose Disk Clone.

Step 2. Choose the original hard drive on your PC as the source disk, and then click Next.

Step 3. Pick the destination drive that you've connected to your PC, and then click Next.

Step 4. Verify the operation details and click Start Clone to initiate the disk-to-disk copying process.

Additional options to consider:
●Edit Partitions: Decide whether you want to resize partitions on the destination disk. You can make adjustments here.
●SSD Alignment: Optimize the reading and writing speed of the SSD. Enable this option if the destination disk is an SSD.
●Sector by sector clone: Clone every sector on the source disk, regardless of whether it's used or not. Keep in mind this method takes more time. The destination disk must be equal to or larger than the source disk.

Step 5. Once the cloning process is complete, you'll need to change the boot order in BIOS or replace the source drive with the cloned one to boot from it.

Summary

On this page, you'll find the top two methods for transferring files to external hard drive in Windows 10. Not only can AOMEI Backupper help you transfer data between drives, but it also allows you to back up multiple drives on Windows 11/10/8/7. Give it a shot without any hesitation!