To move Windows 10 to an SSD without reinstalling, create a system image of your PC on an external drive and make a recovery USB drive. Then install the SSD, start the PC from the recovery drive, and choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > System Image Recovery. Windows copies everything back onto the SSD, including your apps, settings, and files.
Applies to: Windows 10. Checked against Microsoft Support and Microsoft Learn on September 27, 2026. Microsoft’s pages cover the system image tool and System Image Recovery, but not moving to a new drive step by step, so some steps follow the Windows 10 interface.
Before you start
- An external drive with enough free space for everything on your current C: drive.
- A USB flash drive of at least 16 GB for the recovery drive. It will be erased.
- An SSD that’s at least as big as your current drive. Restoring an image to a smaller drive usually fails. If your SSD is smaller, a clean install is often easier.
- A separate copy of your important files, just in case. See how to back up Windows 10.
1. Create a system image
- Connect the external drive.
- Open Control Panel and go to System and Security > Backup and Restore (Windows 7).
- Select Create a system image on the left.
- Choose On a hard disk, pick your external drive, and select Next.
- Leave the system drives checked, then select Start backup. This can take a while.
If Windows offers to create a system repair disc when it’s done, you can select No and make a recovery USB drive in the next step instead.
You can also create the image from an admin Command Prompt. Type wbadmin start backup -backupTarget:E: -allCritical -quiet, using your external drive’s letter.
2. Make a recovery USB drive
You need a way to start the PC once the old drive is gone. See how to create a Windows 10 recovery USB drive. A Windows 10 installation USB also works: select Repair your computer on its first screen.
3. Install the SSD
Shut down the PC and unplug it. Replace the old drive with the SSD, or, on a desktop, add the SSD and disconnect the old drive for now. That way you can’t restore onto the wrong drive. For help fitting the drive, check your PC’s manual or see how to set up a new SSD in Windows 10.
4. Restore the image to the SSD
- Connect the external drive and the recovery USB drive.
- Turn on the PC and start it from the USB drive. You may need to open the boot menu or change the boot order. See how to change the boot order in Windows 10.
- Choose your keyboard layout, then select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > System Image Recovery.
- Choose Use the latest available system image and select Next.
- Follow the steps and select Finish, then Yes. Everything on the SSD is replaced with the image.
- When it’s done, remove the USB drives and restart. Windows starts from the SSD.
5. Check everything after the move
- Open File Explorer > This PC and check that C: is on the SSD. If the SSD is bigger than your old drive, you may see unallocated space. See how to extend the C drive in Windows 10.
- Keep the old drive as it is until you’re sure everything works. Then you can reuse or wipe it.
If System Image Recovery doesn’t work
- “Windows cannot find a system image on this computer”: Make sure the external drive is connected before you open System Image Recovery. The image is saved in a folder named WindowsImageBackup at the top of that drive. Don’t rename or move it.
- “The disk that is set as active in BIOS is too small” (0x80042412): The SSD is smaller than the old drive. Use a bigger SSD, or do a clean install instead.
- “No disk that can be used for recovering the system disk can be found”: The SSD isn’t showing up. Check that it’s seated properly and appears in your BIOS or UEFI settings. Also disconnect any other drives except the external backup drive.
- The PC won’t start after the restore: Check that the SSD is first in the boot order. If your old drive used UEFI, leave the PC in UEFI mode; switching to Legacy or CSM mode will stop it from starting.
- The restore stops partway: The image may be damaged, or the external drive may have a fault. Create a new image and try again before wiping the old drive.
Get the most from your new SSD
Windows 10 detects SSDs and looks after them for you, so you don’t need to change much. A few quick checks are worth doing:
- Check that TRIM is on. Open Command Prompt as an administrator and run
fsutil behavior query DisableDeleteNotify. A result of 0 means TRIM is on, which keeps the SSD fast over time. - Check Optimize Drives. Type Defragment in Start and open Defragment and Optimize Drives. Your SSD should show as Solid state drive. Windows optimizes SSDs differently from hard drives, so leave the scheduled optimization on.
- Update the SSD’s firmware. Many SSD makers offer a free tool that checks the drive’s health and installs firmware updates.
Reuse the old drive
Once you’re sure everything works, you can use the old drive for extra storage. Connect it, open Disk Management (right-click Start), delete its old volumes, and create a new one. This erases everything on it, so copy anything you still need first.
Frequently asked questions
Will my apps and files come with it?
Yes. A system image copies the whole drive, so your apps, settings, and files move to the SSD as they were when you made the image.
Can I use the SSD maker’s cloning tool instead?
Many SSD makers offer their own migration software. It can be faster, but it’s not part of Windows, so follow the maker’s instructions.
Will Windows stay activated on the SSD?
Usually, yes. A digital license is linked to your PC’s hardware, mainly the motherboard, so changing only the drive doesn’t normally affect it.
Can I move Windows 10 to an NVMe SSD?
Yes, if your PC has an M.2 slot that supports NVMe. Windows 10 includes the driver it needs, and the steps above are the same.
How long does the move take?
It depends on how much data you have and how fast your drives are. Creating the image and restoring it can each take from a few minutes to a couple of hours.
My laptop only has one drive slot. Can I still do this?
Yes. The system image is stored on the external drive, so you can remove the old drive, fit the SSD in the same slot, and restore the image onto it.
Do I need to reinstall drivers afterward?
No. The image includes your drivers along with Windows and your apps. Run Windows Update afterward to pick up anything new.
What if I’d rather start fresh?
A clean install on the SSD gives you a fresh copy of Windows, but you’ll need to reinstall your apps and copy your files back.
Microsoft’s references are Windows recovery environment (System Image Recovery) and wbadmin start backup. More help is on our Windows Help & Guides page.
Related: install Windows 10 on an external hard drive.
Related: check SSD size in Windows 10.
Related: install Windows 10 on a GPT disk.
Related: set up RAID 0 in Windows 10.
Related: how to find your digital license in Windows 10.
Related: how to clone a hard drive in Windows 11.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.