Microsoft doesn’t care if you hate OneDrive, kills Windows 11’s best local way to move to a new PC, and only gives you 5GB free
AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication
Microsoft removed the PC‑to‑PC Migration tool from Windows 11 with the September optional update, which was fully applied in the October 13 Patch Tuesday release (KB5127648). The feature previously let users copy files and settings between an old and a new PC over a local network without using the cloud. Microsoft now directs users to Windows Backup, which syncs selected folders to OneDrive and restores them via a Microsoft account. The free OneDrive tier offers only 5 GB, so moving larger data sets requires a paid plan or manual copying with external media. The change eliminates the only guided, no‑cost local transfer option, and the new backup solution does not preserve installed apps, passwords, or system folders or other personal data files.
💡 Why It Matters
- · By forcing migration through OneDrive, Microsoft pushes free‑tier users toward paid cloud storage, turning a once‑free local utility into a revenue driver.
