How to Transfer Photos to a New Windows PC

Learn the most efficient methods to migrate your photo library to a new Windows 11 PC using OneDrive, external drives, or manual network transfer.

1. Locate the source folder. Open File Explorer on your old PC and navigate to the Pictures folder, typically found under C:\Users\[Username]\Pictures. Verify the total file size by right-clicking the folder and selecting Properties to ensure your destination drive has sufficient capacity.
2. Copy files to external storage. Connect your external drive to the old PC. Select your photo folders, right-click, and select Copy. Navigate to your external drive in File Explorer, right-click in an empty space, and select Paste to initiate the data transfer.
3. Utilize OneDrive for cloud migration. If your library is under 5GB, sign in to OneDrive on your old PC and drag your folders into the OneDrive directory. Once the status icons change to a green checkmark, your photos are safely uploaded to the cloud.
4. Connect to the new PC. Connect your external drive to your new Windows PC. Open File Explorer and locate your external storage device in the sidebar. Select your photo folders from the drive, right-click, and select Copy.
5. Paste files to the target directory. Navigate to the Pictures library on your new PC, right-click within the window, and select Paste. Windows will begin moving the files to the local solid-state drive.
6. Index the new library. Open the Photos app on the new Windows PC. Click Settings, then under Sources, ensure the Pictures folder path is included in the scan list. The application will automatically index your newly imported files for viewing.