Possible to manually backup windows 11 profile to new computer?

When you manually backup windows 11 profile to new computer, you decide what’s important. I remember when I first switched computers, instead of transferring everything, I only kept the files and settings I actually used. This helped me declutter my new setup! Use File Explorer to check your profile folder. By selecting only the essential folders (like Documents and Pictures), you can clean out the digital junk while transferring.

Manually backing up Windows 11 profile to a new computer can be pretty simple if you break it down into a few manageable steps.

Step 1. Head to File Explorer
This part is easy. Open up File Explorer (you can just hit Win + E) and navigate to your user profile folder. It’s usually located at: C:\Users\<YourUsername>
Here’s where you’ll find the major folders you might want to copy over.

Step 2: Copy Your Important Files
Just select the folders you want (like Documents, Pictures—whatever’s important) and drag them to an external drive or a cloud service (like OneDrive). If you use OneDrive, it’s integrated into Windows, and you can just drop your files right into the OneDrive folder for easy access later.

Step 3: Export Browser Data (Browser-Specific)
If you use Edge, Chrome, or Firefox, they all have built-in features to back up your bookmarks and settings:

• Microsoft Edge: Open Edge, click on the three dots in the top right corner > Settings > Profiles > Click on your profile > Export bookmarks.
• Google Chrome: Go to the three dots > Bookmarks > Bookmark manager > Click the three dots on the blue banner > Export bookmarks.
• Firefox: Open Firefox > Click on the Library icon > Bookmarks > Show All Bookmarks > Click the “Import and Backup” option > Export Bookmarks to HTML.

Step 4: Backup App Settings
About manually backup Windows 11 Profile to new computer, like Microsoft Office, some programs allow you to export settings. For others, you may need to check the respective app’s settings (like using the "Export" function if it's available) or locate specific configuration files. 

Tip: Often, app data is stored in the AppData folder. You can find it by typing %AppData% in the Run dialog (press Win + R). Just make sure to check for app-specific folders you might want to back up.

Step 5: Copying the App Data
You might want some settings from those app folders, too. You can head to: C:\Users\<YourUsername>\AppData
From here, you’ll find various app data folders. Keep in mind to only copy what you really need, and make sure you know what each folder is for!

Step 6: Transferring to the New Machine
Now that you’ve backed everything up, hook up your external hard drive or log into OneDrive (or your preferred cloud service) on your new computer and start moving those files over! Just drag-and-drop into the corresponding folders.

Step 7: Restore Browser Data
Once you’ve got everything on your new machine, restore your browser bookmarks by using the import feature (like the export steps above but in reverse).

Step 8: Final Touches
For applications, download the programs you need fresh on your new system and import any settings from the exported files. It might take a bit of time, but it’s worth it to have everything set up just the way you like!

Just manually copy your entire user profile folder, which contains your documents, app data, and other settings, to an external storage device and then transfer it to the new computer.

Step 1: On your old PC, open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Users\<Your Username>.

Step 2: Copy the entire user profile folder (including Documents, AppData, Pictures, etc.) to an external drive.

Step 3: On your new computer, paste the copied user profile folder into the same directory (C:\Users\<Your Username>).

Step 4: You may need to adjust permissions after pasting the files.

However, some system-specific settings (like installed apps and registry entries) might not transfer, so this method works best for documents, pictures, and general user data. You need to use a dedicated app for fully backing up Windows 11 profile to new computer manually. You search the community for more help!

Manually backup Windows 11 profiles to new computer can be a great way to transfer your settings, files, and configurations to a new computer. Here are the advantages of doing so:

• Manually backing up your profile can save you time and effort when setting up your new computer. You won't need to reinstall programs, configure settings, or recreate your desktop environment from scratch.
• By backing up your profile manually, you're less likely to lose important data in case of a hardware failure, accidental deletion, or other data loss scenarios.
• If you plan to use multiple devices with the same Windows 11 installation, manually backing up your profile makes it easier to set up new devices with the same configuration and settings.

How to manually backup Windows 11 profile to new computer?

• Backup your personal files: Use the built-in Backup tool in Windows 11 to create a backup of your personal files.
• Backup your user profiles: Use the robocopy command to copy your user profiles to an external drive or network location.
• Backup program settings: Use the built-in export feature in each program to backup their settings and configurations.
• Backup browser profiles: Use the built-in export feature in your browser to backup its settings and bookmarks.

Remember to also update your Windows 11 installation and drivers on your new computer before transferring your backup Windows 11 profile to new computer.

File History allows you to back up your user files, including documents, pictures, and settings, to an external drive or network location.

How to manually backup windows 11 profile to new computer:

1. On your old computer, go to Settings > Update & Security > Backup.
2. Click Add a drive and select an external drive or network location.
3. Turn on Automatically back up my files.
4. Wait for File History to back up your files.
5. On your new computer, connect the external drive and go to Settings > Update & Security > Backup.
6. Choose Restore files from a current backup and select your external drive to restore the files.

Limitations: File History mainly backs up personal files and settings but doesn't back up system files or applications.