5 ways to transfer files from one computer to another

Do I need to transfer files from one PC to another? This is a way to do this quickly and easily using hardware and software.

When buying a new computer, you need to transfer most of the existing files to the new computer. Whether you carry all your data with you or just basic data with you, there is a quick and easy way to transfer files from PC to PC.

Depending on what you are using, some methods will be better than others. According to experience, using any method that uses a strong physical connection (such as swapping hard drives or transferring via LAN) is faster than using quick and convenient solutions (such as transferring via Wi-Fi or using a USB drive).

1. Use external storage media

This is the way most people do it. Insert the USB flash drive into a computer and copy the data. Paste the same drive to another computer and paste the data. simple. Or, if your data volume exceeds the capacity of the flash drive, you can use an external hard drive.

If both computers have USB 3.0 ports, you may want to consider buying one of the fastest flash drives around. When you want to transfer large transfer, speed becomes important!

There is a faster way. Check whether the computer you want to move data has an eSATA port or an available SATA slot. If so, disconnect the hard drive from the original computer, and then connect it to the new computer. Boom, it will show up as another drive on the target PC. You can transfer data via SATA, which will be faster than USB.

2. Share via LAN or Wi-Fi

For computers that are close to each other, there are two main ways to share files and folders. The first is to set up a local area network (LAN) so that you can use one PC to browse the hard drive of another PC. The second is to use software to transfer files via Wi-Fi.

Shared network drive

All major operating systems have built-in options to set up a home network. In this way, devices located on the same router (connected via Ethernet or Wi-Fi) can permanently identify each other. Therefore, when you need to transfer files between computers, you do not need to establish a new connection every time. As long as both computers are on, they will always be on.

We have a simple guide that shows how to share files between Windows and Mac. The process also applies to Windows to Windows and Mac to Mac. If you are using Linux, the menu system depends on your operating system. However, once you enter the network settings, you will find that it is similar to how you set up a home network on MacOS.

If both computers are on the same Wi-Fi network, you can use some simple software to transfer files. This is an easy way to share without setting up a home network and is ideal for temporary networks. Several applications can share large files at once. We believe that the best way is to "send anywhere".

Share with software

Raysync has an application for Windows, Mac, and Linux. It even has web apps and Chrome extensions, so you can use it on Chrome OS. Sending to any place can work normally, and it only requires very few settings, which is amazing.

You can also use it to transfer files from one computer to other computers, or mobile phones and tablets. Kicker? It is completely free.

Download: Anywhere for Windows | macOS | Linux | Android | iOS (free)

3. Use a transmission cable

For computer-to-computer transmission, some basic cables can be used. It is faster than using a drive because copy and paste are performed simultaneously between computers. When using an external drive, you switch between the three drives. The cable reduces it to two drives.

Windows to Windows: If you are primarily a Windows user and usually use it with other Windows computers, get an EasyTransfer USB cable, such as Belkin's F5U279. It allows you to connect two Windows PCs via a USB to USB connection. If you use USB 3.0 ports on both PCs, it will work faster.

Mac to Mac: Apple has its proprietary port Thunderbolt, which allows you to create daisy chains and transfer files between Macs. Therefore, getting a Thunderbolt to Thunderbolt cable is as easy as transferring files from a USB flash drive to a hard drive.

Windows / Mac / Linux to Windows / Mac / Linux: Use Ethernet cable to build LAN without the router. Make sure it is a crossover Ethernet cable (that is, the color pattern on one end does not match the other end). Set up network sharing on both computers and everything goes well.

USB-C to USB-C: If both computers have USB-C ports, things become easier than ever. A simple USB-C to USB-C cable will ensure that you can connect two devices and transfer data between them without any hassle. However, please make sure that the USB-C cable you buy will not damage the gadgets.

4. Manually connect HDD or SSD

If you are transferring from an old computer to a new computer, the old PC may no longer be usable. Or, you may want to install a new hard drive to replace the old hard drive. How do you get old data?

Hard disk drives (HDD) and solid-state drives (SSD) are connected to the motherboard using standard SATA cables. If you have a spare SATA or eSATA (external SATA) port, please connect your old hard drive here. The operating system will recognize it as a new drive. Then start the transmission. This is the fastest of all solutions.

Unlike a PC, it is difficult to find a spare SATA port on a laptop. It will be much easier to use a simple SATA to USB converter (such as Anker's USB 3.0 to SATA adapter).

You may also want to convert your old hard drive to external storage. Buying an external case for the old drive will enable you to copy all the data from the old drive, and then you can use the old drive as portable external storage.

5. Use cloud storage or web transfer

The last option is to use the Internet. This means uploading and downloading files, but now you don’t need a nearby computer. However, sending large videos may be too slow.

You can use one of several cloud storage providers such as Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive. They all cooperate to complete the work together.

Cloud drives are a good choice because as long as you have enough storage space, the file size is practically unlimited. Besides, if two computers are synchronizing folders locally, when one computer uploads a file, the other computer will download the file at the same time.

If you don't want a cloud drive, but want to upload large files, try Raysync. You can upload up to 5GB in one transfer, even without registering an account.

If you want to speed up file transfer, Raysync has a dedicated transfer protocol, which can increase the file transfer speed by 100 times in 1 second. This is one of the easiest tools for sharing files with friends. What makes it unique is that it is a peer-to-peer application. Therefore, when one computer uploads a file, the other computer immediately downloads it. There is no waiting between the two. And you don't need to subscribe to the same cloud drive. All in the browser.

What is your preferred file transfer method?

By any of these methods, you should be able to quickly transfer files between PCs. Remember, to transfer large amounts of data, it is best to use a wired connection between computers. If it’s just a few gigabytes of data, please feel free to use one of the wireless options. I believe that Raysync will be your best choice in all aspects.