Best Way to Clone NVMe SSD to Another SSD [Step-by-Step Guide]

Can NVMe SSD be Cloned?

NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express) is a high-speed interface designed for SSDs to take full advantage of PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) lanes. Unlike older SATA SSDs, NVMe SSDs provide significantly faster read and write speeds, lower latency, and greater IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second). If your NVMe SSD is running out of space or looks to die, you may be wondering if it’s possible to clone NVMe to another NVMe/SATA SSD.

Absolutely, yes! NVMe SSDs can absolutely be cloned to another SSD. The process involves creating a 1:1 replica of the source NVMe drive, including the operating system, installed programs, boot configurations, and all files. Once cloning is complete, the new SSD can be booted up immediately, offering seamless transition without reinstalling Windows or losing personal data.

How to Clone NVMe to Another SSD via AOMEI Cloner

Since Windows doesn't have a pre-installed cloning utility, the most important tool you'll need to clone an NVMe drive is NVMe SSD cloning software. The tool we recommend that helps you clone an NVMe SSD is AOMEI Cloner. Its interface is clear and simple, and it can help you clone NVMe to a larger/smaller NVMe SSD and clone NVMe to a SATA SSD. Here’s what makes AOMEI Cloner ideal for NVMe drive cloning:

♥Flexible Clone Modes

It allows disk clone, system clone, and partition clone, meeting your different cloning needs.

♥Bootable Cloning

It ensures the Windows system clone from a bootable NVMe SSD without downtime, as it runs in live clone.

♥Smart Clone

The software can clone only used sectors, making it easier to clone from a larger drive to a smaller one. Also it is able to perform sector-by-sector cloning to copy every sector from the source drive.

♥SSD Alignment

It offers 4K partition alignment for the target SSD to improve its read/write speed and extend its lifespan.

Now, you could download and run the AOMEI Cloner software, and follow the guidelines below to perform a bootable clone from your NVMe to another SSD with ease!

Step 1. Connect the Target SSD

If your system has a second NVMe slot, install the new SSD internally. If not, connect it using a USB-to-NVMe adapter or enclosure.

Step 2. Run AOMEI Cloner and Select Clone Mode

Open AOMEI Cloner. Go to Clone on the left menu, select Disk Clone to clone your entire NVMe drive, or choose System Clone to only move OS to another drive.

Step 3. Select Source and Destination

• For Disk Clone, choose the NVMe SSD that you are planning to clone from as the source, and the new SSD that you need to clone to as the destination.
• For System Clone, this software will pick all boot-related partitions as the cloning source automatically, you only need to choose your destination drive here.

Step 4. Start NVMe Cloning

Check the SSD Alignment option optimize performance on the new SSD. Then, click on Start Clone to initiate the process. The cloning time depends on the data size and SSD speed.

Step 5. Swap Drives and Boot

Once the cloning process finishes, shut down your PC, and remove the old NVMe or set the new one as the primary boot drive in BIOS. Then, boot your system and verify everything works.

FAQs about cloning NVMe

#1. Do I need to format an NVMe SSD before cloning to it?

Not necessarily. AOMEI Cloner will overwrite all existing data on the target SSD during the process. However, formatting can help avoid disk confusion and ensure no hidden partitions interfere.

#2. Can you install more than one NVMe SSD?

In most cases, yes. Many modern motherboards support two or more M.2 NVMe slots. If yours doesn’t, you can use a PCIe to NVMe adapter or an external enclosure for temporary cloning.

#3. How to clone Windows 11 from NVMe to another SSD?

Use the System Clone feature in AOMEI Cloner. It is designed specifically to clone the system partition and bootloader. This ensures the new SSD is bootable and your OS is ready to go.

Summary

Migrating to a new SSD no longer needs to be a stressful experience. With the excellent disk cloning software AOMEI Cloner, it's simple to clone NVMe drives without reinstalling Windows or risking data loss. You get a seamless transfer of everything - from files and apps to partitions and boot records. Download it now and upgrade SSD securely and quickly today.