Windows 11 Transfer to New PC Not Working

Question

Windows 11 Transfer to New PC Not Working

David Cullinan 20

I have purchased a new Lenovo laptop, with Windows 11 pre-installed. At the “restore from backup” step of the process, I hoped to restore from my old Lenovo laptop, which is also running Windows 11. Despite multiple attempts (full resets of the new machine), the new machine never ‘sees’ the old machine. Both PCs are on the same network and logged into the same Microsoft account. I have tried both WiFi and Ethernet to no avail. ‘Windows Backup’ on the old machine launches and displays the PC’s name, but the new PC never sees it. The new PC never generates a code to be entered on the old PC (as described online in some places). There is a lot online (both officially and unofficially) about this amazing new “migration” tool in Windows 11, but I do not see that it works in any way.

Is there some step in setting up the new PC, or configuration on the old PC that I am missing that will make the “transfer to new PC” migration work?

Greg Beaulieu 0 Reputation points

2025-09-01T19:58:24.7+00:00

Hello David. I recently purchased a new Windows 11 laptop to replace a 12 year-old one that was originally running Win 7, then upgraded to 10, but which has become somewhat balky. When I learned of this migration tool I had hopes that it would make the process somewhat easier. Unfortunately I had the exact same experience as you and despite numerous attempts trying different things, the new machine never prompted me to ever enter the old machine’s name as it said it would. Somehow, I’m not surprised.

One point of interest: I was surprised to discover that the new W11 machine was not seeing my old machine on the network section of Explorer. Just as was the case with every Windows PC I’ve ever used, the default setting in advanced sharing on the new machine was set to prevent that. I made the change to make it visible and now I can see my old machine. Why MS makes this the default is another mystery. Rather than wrestle with this rather worthless utility further I will just transfer files manually via wifi. I had read that this utility might do something regarding transfer of apps from the old machine but saw nothing about that since it never got beyond the first step. I wish you better luck than I had.

2 answers

Your answer

Greg Beaulieu 0 Reputation points

2025-09-01T19:58:24.7+00:00

Hello David. I recently purchased a new Windows 11 laptop to replace a 12 year-old one that was originally running Win 7, then upgraded to 10, but which has become somewhat balky. When I learned of this migration tool I had hopes that it would make the process somewhat easier. Unfortunately I had the exact same experience as you and despite numerous attempts trying different things, the new machine never prompted me to ever enter the old machine’s name as it said it would. Somehow, I’m not surprised.

One point of interest: I was surprised to discover that the new W11 machine was not seeing my old machine on the network section of Explorer. Just as was the case with every Windows PC I’ve ever used, the default setting in advanced sharing on the new machine was set to prevent that. I made the change to make it visible and now I can see my old machine. Why MS makes this the default is another mystery. Rather than wrestle with this rather worthless utility further I will just transfer files manually via wifi. I had read that this utility might do something regarding transfer of apps from the old machine but saw nothing about that since it never got beyond the first step. I wish you better luck than I had.

Answer 1

David Cullinan 20

Hi Craig:

Thank you for your reply.

Firstly, all the documentation and descriptions I have found state that this ‘migration’ tool will ONLY work during the setup process of the new computer. How can the new machine possibly be listed at account.microsoft.com/devices if it hasn’t been fully setup yet?

Second, in all my searching for a solution, I did not come across the support article you linked to. I did however, come across this one:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/transfer-your-files-and-settings-to-a-new-windows-pc-57b8d163-d80e-44fe-8247-62f7cf84a8ed

Most of the materials I found, official and independent, echo the same: the tool should work without OneDrive.

At this stage of computing, I don’t think it unreasonable to be able to migrate from one computer to another directly. Most of what I read stated that the Windows 11 migration tool, strangely named “Windows Backup,” would work in this manner. Why else would the new machine and the old machine need to be on the same local network AND do a handshake of computer name <=> auto-generated PIN number?

OneDrive offers 5GB for free. That is about 2 orders magnitude less than the data I needed to migrate. Why must I pay to move everything up to the cloud and then back down, when the two machines are sitting right next to each other?

I would just really like to know what is wrong with my configuration that it doesn’t work.

Bozidar Frangov 0 Reputation points

2025-08-29T15:31:50.5233333+00:00

Microsoft is trying to make like Mac OS transfer tool but unsuccessful. I tried it and it doesn't work at all. Waste of time.
Craig Long 18,830 Reputation points

2025-08-29T21:42:42.2066667+00:00

The link I posted works for me. Try it again here:https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/back-up-and-restore-with-windows-backup-87a81f8a-78fa-456e-b521-ac0560e32338

Here is a screenshot of Step 2. When it says backup your Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folders it can only mean in OneDrive.
Craig Long 18,830 Reputation points

2025-08-29T21:54:16.01+00:00

According to the documentation in the link you posted, it states the following (see screenshot). So I'm not sure why you would want to transfer data this way? If you transfer files using an external drive, you won't need to turn off bitlocker. Files transferred to an external drive are decrypted on the fly. Besides, you should always keep a backup of all your files on an external drive.

Apps must be reinstalled since you are not cloning a drive. Cloning a drive is not recommended anyway.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/transfer-your-files-and-settings-to-a-new-windows-pc-57b8d163-d80e-44fe-8247-62f7cf84a8ed

Do you really want to do it this way below?:
none none 0 Reputation points

2025-11-30T18:52:43+00:00

You realize you completely didn't answer the question. And, no, it does not work. What everyone is trying to do is transfer directly from one machine to another via the local network. It doesn't work. Windows Backup says 'enter the name of the old pc on the new pc'. THERE IS NO PLACE TO ENTER THIS. Typical Microsoft incompetence. It should not be this difficult to setup a new machine. Particularly grating are all the MS videos saying 'just click Backup and relax!'

Answer 2

Hi, and welcome to Microsoft Q&A.

It may help to ensure that both laptops are listed in your devices at account.microsoft.com/devices.

Are you using the following method shown in the video to transfer your data to the new laptop?

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/back-up-and-restore-with-windows-backup-87a81f8a-78fa-456e-b521-ac0560e32338

The new Windows Backup feature assumes that you have all your personal files saved in OneDrive. OneDrive's free plan provides only 5GB of storage, so you will likely need to purchase a OneDrive storage plan to fully utilize that Windows backup feature. Do you have your files saved in OneDrive? If so, simply sign in to OneDrive on your new PC to sync your data. If you are using only the free OneDrive, I suggest avoiding using OneDrive to transfer your files.

Quoting the article:

Your apps' pins are restored where you left them. Apps that are available in the Microsoft Store can be restored by selecting on the app pin to get started. For apps that aren’t available in the Store, you’ll be directed to the web to download the installer.

Simply signing into your Microsoft account will certainly not install your apps. However, Windows Backup apparently keeps a record of the apps you have previously installed.

I hope my information has helped.

Craig