How to Transfer Software From One PC to Another

Getting a new computer is a lot like moving from one tiny house with a keyboard to another tiny house with a keyboard – all your stuff is in there, you'd rather not lose any of it, and it's a pain to tote it from one place to the other. Luckily, when it comes time to transfer programs to a new computer, you have a few options for making the transition. Go ahead and peel those stickers and screen protectors off, because you're about ready to move in to your new PC.

When migrating computers, using physical media and a physical connection offers one of the most straightforward options. You can drag and drop files to an external hard drive connected via USB or use a customized Windows transfer cable – which directly connects the two computers – to get the job done.

To transfer programs to a new PC using an external drive, you need either the setup files for your programs (you can't just drag and drop the .EXE files in most cases) or the physical disc media the software shipped on so you can reinstall it on your new PC. You likely need the activation key on hand, too. On the flip side, the transfer cable migrates the whole kit and kaboodle, with software that helps you transfer your files, folders, programs, user accounts and settings.

While cloud storage programs like OneDrive and Google Drive have your files covered, opting in to cloud-based software early on helps make transferring your programs easier down the line.

With cloud-based software like Office 365, Salesforce, Slack, Adobe Creative Cloud and Intuit's tax apps, there's no need to copy a program from one computer to another. Most cloud apps are based on user accounts so that you can use them anywhere. You create your account (often on a paid subscription model), log in with your credentials, and either use the software live online or use your account to download it on your PC of the moment, uploading your saved files to the cloud so you can access them anywhere. This option makes your software more persistent and greatly reduces the chance of losing the programs you've already paid for when transferring to a new PC.

There is software that's made just for transferring other software. Laplink's PCmover, for example, is officially endorsed by Microsoft. For Windows 10 users, it costs about $15 to use the program for a single move, but this baseline version does not transfer applications. To transfer your programs alongside everything else, you have to pay the roughly $50 to use PCmover Professional. Both options work entirely online.

Alternatively, programs like Macrium Reflect fully clone your hard drive, making it ready to boot on a new PC with all your programs, files, settings and minutia intact. It's like putting a faster more powerful house over all the old furniture from your last place.