Microsoft Drops Windows 11’s Limited PC Migration Feature Before Launch

Microsoft has removed a PC-to-PC migration feature from Windows 11 Insider Preview builds after testing began in July 2025. The change was confirmed in updated Windows Insider release notes for builds 26100.9539 and 26200.9539. The feature, which was built into the Windows Backup app, never reached a stable Windows 11 release. Microsoft is instead directing users towards its existing Windows Backup and Restore tools.

According to the report, the trial feature transferred selected personal files, basic settings and some personalisation options, but did not migrate installed applications, integrated OneDrive files, saved passwords or login information. It also could not reproduce registry entries, software settings or authorisation tokens required by many installed programmes, meaning it was not a complete system migration despite its name.

The report characterises the feature’s removal as a response to these limitations, although Microsoft’s release-note update is the cited evidence for the withdrawal.

Microsoft recommends backing up selected folders, system settings and some account data through Windows Backup, then signing into the same Microsoft account on the replacement computer to restore them. OneDrive can also continuously back up the Desktop, Documents and Pictures folders. These approaches depend on cloud storage, and the report says users with larger data sets may need a paid Microsoft 365 subscription because free storage is limited. Dedicated third-party imaging software is presented as an alternative for users seeking to reproduce a system drive more completely.