Published March 10, 2025 6:00am EDT close 'CyberGuy': How to easily transfer files and photos off a computer to your hard drive Tech expert Kurt Knutsson helps you free up space by transferring files to an external drive: connect, copy and back up safely. This is a great time of year to buy a new computer, especially if it's been several years since your last upgrade. If you do buy a new laptop, you'll probably want to transfer all of your data from your old laptop to the new one. Roger from Findlay, Ohio, emailed us asking for help with buying a new laptop and what software he can use to affordably move his data from his old laptop to his new one. Here's what he is asking:"I am a retired 75-year-old living on a fixed income. I only use my laptop for emails, banking, and the occasional solitaire game. I currently have a Lenovo Ideapad 110. I need to buy a new laptop. What laptop would be a good replacement for me, keeping in mind the cost and the limited usage I would need? What is the most cost-effective way to transfer my data to the new laptop? I have received prices from $100.00 to $200.00 just for the transfer from old to new. I could use some direction that will help me move forward."To answer this question, I'll explain how to buy a new laptop and transfer your data. I'll also include links to a few affordable laptops that can handle your daily emails and web surfing. Please keep reading to see our favorite laptops and software for data transfers. A laptop and external storage devices on a desk (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)The best laptops to buy in 2025Laptops for everyone and at all price points Images of various laptops (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)The first thing I recommend doing is looking at Kurt's picks for the best laptops you can buy right now. You can read the article in detailhere. If you're in search of a laptop that can handle daily tasks such as browsing and emailing,check out these options from Acer, Lenovo and Asus.Each laptop has enough processing power to make everything feel snappy, but none are ideal for a heavy workload. If you are just looking for something to check your email with and play the occasional game of Solitaire, theAcer Aspire 3 is your most affordable option. If you want something with 2-in-1 touchscreen functionality, then I would recommend theLenovo Yoga 9i. TheASUS Zenbook 14 is a miniature powerhouse and a great option for anyone who wants to push a lightweight, portable laptop for content creation. Be sure to check outKurt's picks for the best laptops for 2025.How to transfer data from one device to anotherUsing external storage devices A person holding a USB flash drive (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)There are two different ways you can use an external storage device to transfer your old data to your new computer. Here they are:USB flash drive: Copy the files you want to transfer to aUSB flash drive, then plug it into the new computer and copy the files over. Be aware that many flash drive storage spaces tend to be on the smaller side. This won't be a problem if you are just transferring documents and emails to a new laptop, but if you have a lot of media files (photographs, videos, etc.), then you might be better suited with an external hard drive. Follow these steps:For WindowsPlug the USB flash drive into an available USB port on your current computerWait for your computer to recognize the deviceOpenFile Explorer on your computerLocate thefiles you want to transfer andselect themRight-click on the selected files and chooseCopy or use the keyboard shortcutCtrl+CNavigate to your USB flash drive in File ExplorerRight-click on an empty space and selectPaste or use the keyboard shortcutCtrl+VWait for thetransfer to complete.Safely eject theUSB flash drive by right-clicking on its icon and selectingEjectPlug the USB flash drive into thenew computer andrepeat steps 3-8 to copy files to the new device.For MacInsert theUSB flash drive into an availableUSB portWait for your Mac torecognize it (it should appear in Finder)Open aFinder window andlocate the files you want to transferDrag the selected files to the USB drive listed in the sidebar or right-click and chooseCopy, then navigate to the USB drive, right-click and selectPasteWait for thetransfer to completeEject the USB drive by right-clicking its icon and selecting Eject before removing itExternal hard drive: Similar to a USB flash drive, but with more storage capacity.External hard drives come as either portable Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) or Solid State Drives (SSDs). Portable SSDs tend to have higher capacity and are faster than HDDs, but cost more. If you need to transfer a lot of media files, in particular videos and photographs, I recommend choosing a portable SSD. Follow these steps:For WindowsConnect theexternal hard drive (HDD or SSD) to your current computer's USB portWait for the computer torecognize the deviceOpenFile Explorer on your computerLocate thefiles you want to transfer andselect themRight-click on theselected files and choose Copy or use Ctrl+CNavigate to your external hard drive inFile ExplorerRight-click on an empty space and selectPaste or useCtrl+VWait for thetransfer to complete. This may take longer for large files or numerous filesSafely eject the external hard drive by right-clicking on its icon and selecting EjectConnect theexternal hard drive to the new computer and repeat steps 3-8 to copy files to the new deviceFor MacConnect the external hard drive (HDD or SSD) to yourMac's USB portWait for your Mac torecognize the device (it should appear in Finder)Open aFinder window on your MacLocate thefiles you want to transfer andselect themDrag the selected files to theexternal hard drive listed in the Finder sidebar or right-click and chooseCopy, then navigate to the external drive, right-click and selectPasteAlternatively, use the keyboard shortcutsCommand-C to copy andCommand-V to paste the filesWait for thetransfer to complete. This may take longer for large files or numerous filesSafely eject the external hard drive by right-clicking its icon in Finder and selectingEjectConnect the external hard drive to the new Mac andrepeat steps 3-7 to copy files to the new deviceUsing cloud storageTransferring data from an old laptop to a new one withcloud storage makes the process easy, but it's also largely dependent on how much data you are transferring and how fast your internet speed is. Transferring data with a physical drive is always faster, but if you have a speedy internet connection and don't want to buy additional accessories, then transferring via cloud storage is an excellent way to bring your new data over to a new computer.Google Drive: Upload your files from your old computer to Google Drive, then download them to your new computer.Dropbox: Similar to Google Drive but with different features and storage options.Get a deeper dive into my top recommended cloud services here. A woman working on her laptop (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Using network transferIf you have tried using cloud storage to transfer your data but found it too slow, you can utilize a network transfer with an Ethernet cable or over Wi-Fi to make the process go faster.Ethernet Cable: Connect both computers to the same network using anEthernet cable, enable file sharing and transfer the files directly.Wi-Fi: Ensure both computers are on the same Wi-Fi network, enable file sharing and transfer the files wirelessly.Using third-party softwareThere's a wide range of third-party software you can also use to transfer your data. We prefer EaseUS Todo PCTrans, which you can learn more about below:EaseUS Todo PCTrans (PC) This powerful data migration software simplifies transferring files, applications and user settings between computers on the same network. It offers a streamlined way to move your data without the hassle of manual transfers.Learn more about it here.Migration Assistant (Mac) Built into macOS, Migration Assistant allows you to easily transfer files, settings and applications from one Mac to another or from a Time Machine backup. This free tool ensures a smooth transition when setting up a new Mac. Learn more about ithere.If you are looking for an in-depth guide on the different ways to transfer data to a new laptop, see my in-depth guidehere.Essential steps to take when you get a new laptop or desktopBuying a new computer is exciting, but beyond transferring your data, there are several important steps to ensure a smooth setup and optimal performance. Heres what I recommend:Transfer your data Move your files, applications and settings from your old device.Install your preferred browser Get your favorite web browser set up for seamless browsing.See my picks here.Set up your operating system Configure Windows or macOS to match your preferences.Register your hardware and software Activate warranties and ensure your software is properly licensed.For a step-by-step guide on everything to do when setting up a new computer, check out these tips:Setting up a new PC |Setting up a new Mac.And once youve got your new computer up and running, dont forget to securely dispose of your old device to protect your data.Learn how to do that here.Kurt's key takeawaysBuying a new computer is an exciting time, but there are a lot of different ways to set up your new computer and make it truly yours. We have several guides on everything you need to do with a new Windows computer or a new Mac, and you can always reach out to us via email if you have more questions.What is your biggest concern when it comes to upgrading your technology? Let us know by writing us atCyberguy.com/Contact.For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading toCyberguy.com/Newsletter.Follow Kurt on his social channels:Answers to the most-asked CyberGuy questions:New from Kurt:Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com.All rights reserved. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurts free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.