One thing to look ahead to: Tech corporations could want everybody rely solely on cloud storage and on-line providers, however many customers want sharing information over native networks. In a nod to those cussed “offline” holdouts, Microsoft is reintroducing a characteristic that first appeared within the Home windows ecosystem sixteen years in the past.
There was a time when Home windows 7 customers might simply switch information and folders between PCs utilizing the “Home windows Straightforward Switch” device. Microsoft later eliminated this convenient characteristic – together with many others – in newer variations of Home windows. As an alternative, the corporate shifted its focus to favor OneDrive and different cloud storage platforms for dealing with file and information migration.
Nevertheless, the Straightforward Switch device could also be poised for a comeback in an upcoming Home windows 11 replace. Prolific Home windows Insider construct explorer “phantomofearth” lately shared screenshots of a brand new Home windows Migration circulation within the Backup app, which now contains an choice to switch information to a brand new PC over an area community.
Home windows Backup can now switch information, apps, settings, and even credentials to a different PC over an area WiFi community, serving to customers arrange new machines extra shortly. The method requires getting into a passcode on the receiving PC – a standard sense safety safeguard on any platform.
This is a little bit of the Home windows Migration circulation within the newest Dev construct, 26200.5600 (additionally in Beta 26120.3964). That is within the precise Backup app, not the UI reconstruction we noticed earlier this yr. pic.twitter.com/rwImzRJoJE
– phantomofearth 🌳 (@phantomofearth) Could 13, 2025
Phantomofearth notes that the newest Home windows Dev construct (26200.5600) contains the brand new migration circulation. The choice additionally seems in Beta 26120.3964. Longtime Home windows customers – particularly Home windows 7 lovers – have welcomed the return of this Home windows Backup characteristic, which carefully resembles the unique Straightforward Switch utility.
The present Home windows Backup app helps migration to OneDrive, which offers simply 5 gigabytes of free storage. Including an choice to switch information and settings on to an area PC will please many customers, although it nonetheless lacks an offline various. Some customers need the flexibility to repeat information through an exterior USB drive since native networks can generally be unreliable.
In fact, there are third-party backup instruments for transferring information between programs. Whereas Macrium Mirror Free is now restricted to trialware, alternate options like Veeam Agent, Paragon Backup & Restoration, and Hasleo Backup supply all of the options of Home windows Backup – solely a lot better.
