How to migrate Windows user profile between different Windows Installations?

Question

Currently I have 2 Windows installations on my system - Windows 10 on C drive that I've been using for years; and clean Windows 11 instance in W drive. I cant figure out how to fully migrate my user profile to the new windows installation. So far I've tried copying the profile folder to new .../users/ folder and merging the folder with existing Win11 profile (which corrupted the profile and forced me to reinstall win11). The profile Im trying to move is registered as 'local' profile so advanced system option to 'copy' profile doesn't work.

Answer 1

Try the folowing:

1. Backup Your Data

• Before proceeding, create a full backup of your Windows 10 user profile folder (C:\Users\YourUsername).
• Include all important subfolders like Documents, Downloads, Pictures, etc.

2. Create a New Profile on Windows 11

• Log in to your Windows 11 installation.
• Create a new user account with the same username you used on Windows 10:
  • Open Settings > Accounts > Family & other users.
  • Add a new local user account with administrative privileges.

3. Use Windows Easy Transfer Alternatives Windows no longer provides "Easy Transfer," but third-party tools can help. Consider tools like:

• User Profile Wizard (ForensIT) – Designed specifically for migrating user profiles.
• Zinstall Migration Suite – A paid tool that handles profile transfers. These tools automatically handle registry, permissions, and application settings during the migration.

4. Manual Profile Migration (Advanced) If you prefer not to use third-party tools:

1. Copy Data:
   • Boot into your Windows 10 installation.
   • Copy only user data folders (Documents, Downloads, Pictures, Desktop) from C:\Users\YourUsername to an external drive.
2. Import Data:
   • Boot into Windows 11.
   • Paste the data into corresponding folders in your new user profile (e.g., C:\Users\NewUsername).

5. Application Settings

• Application-specific settings and configurations will need to be reconfigured or exported/imported where possible.
• Check if the application offers a built-in export feature (e.g., browsers for bookmarks, Office for templates).

6. Transfer App Data (Optional and Risky)

• Copying the AppData folder can transfer certain configurations but may cause instability if file paths differ or software versions conflict.
• Instead of copying the entire AppData, selectively migrate data (e.g., browser profiles, email clients).

7. Test and Adjust

• Log into the Windows 11 profile and test access to files and settings.
• Reinstall applications as needed for missing settings or integrations.

---

Note that you should avoid folder merging. Directly copying and merging C:\Users\YourUsername from Windows 10 into Windows 11 corrupts the profile due to registry and permission mismatches. The system also uses unique security identifiers (SIDs) tied to profiles, which are not portable between installations.

---

If the above response helps answer your question, remember to "Accept Answer" so that others in the community facing similar issues can easily find the solution. Your contribution is highly appreciated.

hth

Marcin

Answer 2

Hello,

Before attempting the migration, make sure to back up all important files and data.

Documents and Files,Email and Contacts,Migrate Browser Data and so on. Manually copying the profile folder is not recommended, as you’ve discovered, because it can lead to corruption due to the way Windows handles user profiles, registry settings, and permissions.

How to Migrate User Profiles with User State Migration Tool (USMT) on Windows 10? – TheITBros

Best Regards,

Hania Lian

============================================

If the Answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and upvote it.