How to Clone SD Card in Windows 11/10/8/7?

Updated by

Linda 

Written by

Linda 

Updated on April 22, 2024

On this page, you will discover the reasons behind cloning SD cards and learn how to clone a micro SD card to a larger SD card on Windows 11/10/8/7. Regardless of the brand of your SD card, whether it's SanDisk, Toshiba, Kingston, Sony, Lexar, Strontium, or any other, you can successfully clone your SD card by following this tutorial.

1. Applies to: Micro SD card/SDHC/SDXC/memory card cloning; cloning small SD card to a larger SD card; cloning larger SD to a smaller SD;
2. Supported Windows OS: Windows 11/10/8/7/Vista/XP, Windows Server 2019/2016/2013, etc.
3. Cloning Duration: 5 minutes, 3-step cloning process.

Looking for an easy way to clone an SD card to a larger one? Try the Partition Master tool with its cloning feature, and follow this tutorial to clone and upgrade your SD card in just 3 simple steps.

How to Clone SD Card to a Larger/Smaller SD Card in Windows 11/10/8/7

Applies to: Clone SD card to a larger or smaller SD card, clone SD to a hard drive, USB, or external hard drive.

Follow the next 5-minute tutorial to easily clone your SD card data to another SD card now:

#1. Preparation for SD Card Cloning Before cloning your SD card, ensure you have the following: 1. **Source SD Card**: This is the original SD card that contains the data or operating system you want to clone. 2. **Destination SD Card**: This should be a new or empty SD card with a capacity equal to or greater than the source card. It will receive the cloned content. 3. **Computer**: You'll need a computer (Windows, macOS, or Linux) to perform the cloning process. 4. **SD Card Reader/Writer**: A reliable SD card reader to connect both the source and destination SD cards to your computer. 5. **Cloning Software**: Choose a suitable cloning tool such as: - **Windows**: Clonezilla, tools Todo Backup Free, or Microsoft's Disk Copy. - **macOS**: Disk Utility (built-in) or Carbon Copy Cloner. - **Linux**: Clonezilla (live USB or CD/DVD), or `dd` command-line utility. 6. **Backup**: Make sure you have a backup of important data, as the cloning process can overwrite any existing data on the destination card. Now, follow these steps to clone your SD card: 1. **Insert the SD Cards**: Insert the source and destination SD cards into the card reader. 2. **Connect the Reader**: Plug the card reader into your computer's USB port. 3. **Launch Cloning Software**: Open the chosen cloning tool on your computer. 4. **Select Source and Destination**: In the software, identify and select the source SD card as the one to be cloned and the destination SD card as the target. 5. **Start Cloning**: Initiate the cloning process according to the software's instructions. Be patient, as this may take some time depending on the size of the SD cards and the speed of your computer. 6. **Verify Cloning**: After the cloning is complete, use your computer's file explorer to check if the contents of both SD cards are identical. 7. **Eject the SD Cards**: Safely remove the SD cards from your computer to avoid data corruption. Now, you have successfully cloned your SD card. The destination SD card should function identically to the original.

Before cloning your SD card, there are some preparatory steps you need to take:

• Prepare a New SD Card, USB Drive, or External Hard Drive

The capacity of the new storage device should be equal to or larger than the space used on your original SD card.

• Backup files before cloning (optional)

If you've got data saved on the target SD card, USB, or external hard drive, make sure to back up those files to a different location first.

Download SD Card Cloner

Reliable partition manager software - Partition Master, equipped with its Clone feature, enables you to clone all storage devices, such as HDD/SSD, SD cards, USB drives, external hard drives, and more. It is compatible with all Windows operating systems, including Windows 10/8/7/XP, Vista, and various Windows Server versions.

Download this SD card cloner and use it to upgrade your SD card now:

#2. Clone an SD Card to a Larger SD Card in 3 Steps

Also works: clone the SD card to a smaller SD card, USB, external hard drive, etc.

Connect your new SD card to your computer and follow the steps in this guide to clone and upgrade your SD card on Windows 11/10/8/7: 1. Connect the new SD card to your computer using a card reader or an adapter. 2. Download a reliable disk cloning software, such as Clonezilla, Macrium Reflect Free, ortools Todo Backup Free. 3. Install the chosen software and launch it. 4. Select the "Clone" or "Disk Copy" feature within the software. 5. Choose the source disk, which is your current SD card containing the operating system. 6. Designate the target disk, which is your new SD card. 7. Review the settings and ensure that the destination disk will be overwritten (be cautious, as this will erase all data on the new SD card). 8. Start the cloning process. Wait for it to complete; this may take some time depending on the size of the data. 9. Once cloning is finished, eject both SD cards safely. 10. Insert the new SD card into your device (e.g., Raspberry Pi or other single-board computer). 11. Boot the device with the new SD card. If everything went well, it should function identically to the previous one. Remember to backup any important data before proceeding with the cloning process.

Step 1. Clone external storage device (SD/USB/external hard drive)

1. Click on the "Clone" tab. Select the "Clone Data Disk" option and click "Next" to proceed. 2. Choose a source disk and then select a new device (such as an SD card, USB drive, external hard drive, or internal hard drive) as the target disk, then click "Next". 3. Click "Yes" to confirm the warning message.

Select the target device to start cloning.

Step 2. Keep all changes

Here are the translations for the given language segments into English:
1. 1. Check the source disk layout (you can edit the disk by clicking "Autofit the disk", "Clone as the source").
2. 2. Click "Start" to begin cloning.
3. 3. Wait for the cloning process to complete.

Upon completing the SD card cloning, you can insert the new, larger SD card into your smartphone, camera, or media player. Your device will now have increased storage capacity with improved speed and performance. Share this method with others to help more users benefit from it.

#3. What Else You Can Do with SD Card Cloner Tools

As a partition tool, AOMEI Partition Assistant doubles as an SD card clone and acts as an SD card optimizer. You can also use this software to manage and fix errors on your SD card.

Translate the following into English:
• Check and Fix SD Card Error
• Format RAW SD Card
• Format SD Card to NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, EXT2/3/4
• Format 64GB SD Card to FAT32
• Convert FAT32 SD to NTFS without Formatting
• More...

Why Need to Clone SD Card

Therefore, the reasons for cloning an SD card to a larger or smaller one vary. Here's a list of advantages that explain why people prefer to clone an SD card rather than manually copying and pasting files:

• Expand and upgrade SD capacity
• One-time operation for file backup
• Back up SD card data to another location
• Faster than Copy & Paste
• No file loss, even if the cloning process gets interrupted
Translation:
• Expand and upgrade SD card storage capacity
• Single-step operation for file backup
• Backup SD card data to a different location
• Quicker than using Copy and Paste
• No file loss, even if the cloning process is interrupted

Regardless of why you need to clone an SD card, as long as you have a free partition, an empty USB drive, or another larger SD card, you can perform the operation yourself using the following tutorial. In addition, please click the buttons below to share this article and help more users learn how to clone an SD card.

The Bottom Line

In short, you can easily complete SD card cloning with the help of a proper SD card cloning tool. Here, Partition Master can assist you in cloning an SD card with straightforward steps.

It's not solely designed for disk cloning; you can also use it for partition resizing, disk formatting, OS migration, and more. If you prefer a multifunctional tool, it's a suitable choice for you.

If you frequently use an SD card to store important files on your phone, camera, or media player, it's advisable to create regular backups of your files. A professional Windows backup software like tools Todo Backup is a worthy tool that merits a try.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cloning an SD Card

Here, we've compiled some common questions related to cloning SD cards. If you have similar concerns, browse below to find the answers:

**1. How can I clone my SD card for free?**

Here are two ways you can clone your SD card for free.

One way is to seek assistance from the tool Partition Master Free:

1. Connect your SD card to your computer and launch the Partition Master Free edition tool. 2. Click on "Clone," then choose "Clone Partition," and click "Next." 3. Select your SD card as the source partition and choose a new disk partition as the destination. 4. Click "Execute Task."

One is to manually copy and paste everything in the SD card to another volume or device:

1. Connect the SD card to your computer.
2. Press the Windows key + E to open File Explorer, and locate and open the SD card on your PC.
3. Find and right-click to copy all existing files on the SD card.
4. Locate a new device or location where you want to copy the SD card content, open the device, right-click on an empty space, and choose "Paste."

Here are the translations for the provided text:
• To clone your Android SD card, you need to connect the SD card to your PC first.
Connect your Android SD card to your computer using a card reader or adapter.
• Then, launch tools Partition Master, select "Clone" and choose "Clone Partition."
Launch the tools Partition Master software on your PC, navigate to the "Clone" option, and select "Clone Partition."
• Select the SD card volume as the source volume and click "Next."
In the software, choose the SD card volume as the source drive and click "Next" to proceed.
• Select a new partition on your PC as the target volume, then click "Next."
Select a new, empty partition on your computer's hard drive as the destination for the cloned data, and then click "Next."
• Click "Execute Task" to finish the process.
Finally, click "Execute Task" to start and complete the cloning process. Make sure to review the settings before proceeding.

3. Can you transfer files from one SD card to another? Yes, you can transfer files from one SD card to another using various methods. Here's a simple step-by-step guide: 1. **Get the necessary tools**: You'll need a computer or a smartphone with a card reader slot, and possibly an adapter if your SD cards are different sizes (e.g., microSD to full-size SD). 2. **Insert the SD cards**: Insert the first SD card into your computer or smartphone's card reader. If needed, use an adapter for the second SD card. 3. **Access the files**: On your computer or smartphone, open the file manager application. Locate the files you want to transfer from the first SD card. 4. **Copy the files**: Select the files you wish to transfer by clicking on them or using keyboard shortcuts (e.g., Ctrl+A for all files). Right-click and choose "Copy" or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+C. 5. **Paste the files**: Eject or remove the first SD card safely (if using a computer, right-click on the drive and select "Eject"). Now, insert the second SD card. In the file manager, navigate to the location where you want to paste the files (e.g., the root directory or a specific folder). Right-click and choose "Paste" or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+V. 6. **Wait for the transfer**: The transfer process may take some time depending on the size of the files and the speed of your card reader. Do not remove the SD card while the transfer is in progress. 7. **Verify the transfer**: Once the transfer is complete, eject or safely remove the second SD card. Insert it back into your device and check if the files have been transferred correctly. This method should work for both Windows and macOS computers, as well as most smartphones with built-in SD card support.

Yes, of course. You can manually copy and paste files from one SD card to another. Alternatively, you can use a reliable SD card cloning software to efficiently clone and transfer the entire content of an SD card to another SD card with just a few clicks.