5 Best Operating System Cloning Software Recommendations and Free Downloads (UTF-8)

Updated by

Tracy King 

Last updated on May 10, 2024

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Key Points for Operating System Cloning Software in 2024:

• 1. Operating system cloning software can be either free or paid, depending on the software provider.
• 2. Using a reliable operating system cloning tool can save you a great deal of time and effort when cloning your OS to a new disk and upgrading.

On this page, we will list and recommend you 5 top system cloning software that you can't miss when cloning operating system or migrating system on your Windows 11/10/8.1/7 and Windows Vista/XP computers.

Operating System Cloning Software

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So, how do I get a reliable free system cloning software download? In the next section, we'll round up the top 5 best OS cloning tools, where you can dig into all the features of each software and choose the one that best suits your needs.

The Top 5 Best OS Cloning Software for Free Download in 2024

Here's a checklist you can use to evaluate and choose the right tool for cloning your OS on a PC:

When you find a cloning tool that meets all these criteria, you can use it immediately to clone and upgrade your operating system disks.

Here, we have compiled a list of the 5 best system cloning software that you can choose from:

1. Tool: Partition Master 2. Tool: Todo Backup 3. Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office 4. Macrium Reflect 5. Clonezilla

A quick glance at this comparison table will show you how to choose an OS cloning tool for your Windows PC:

Feel free to share this list of the top 5 best OS cloning software to help more friends online who need assistance with OS migration:

As you can see from the table above, both Partition Master and Todo Backup have free versions that allow users to clone a disk. But which one should you choose?

• For flexible OS cloning, you can use the assistance of a partition manager tool.
• For an all-around system cloning solution, give the Todo Backup tool a try.
• If you need a 100% free and open-source cloning software, give Clonezilla a shot.

Tool editing options:

Merely migrating the OS or cloning system to a new disk is not enough. We recommend using the Partition Master tool for assistance. It can not only help you clone or migrate the OS to a new disk or computer but also optimize disk performance on both old and new computers with its disk management features.

#1. Tool - Partition Master

Flexible Operating System Cloning Software

AOMEI Partition Assistant is not only a reliable partition manager, but also provides system and partition clone features for regular Windows users, allowing you to clone and upgrade your OS disk with just a few simple clicks. In addition to cloning or migrating your OS, you can also use this software to reallocate and make the most of your disk space on your computer.

Software Download:

Pros and Cons:

Guidelines to clone an operating system using Partition Master Tool:

Step 1. Launch AOMEI Partition Assistant, go to "Disk Clone" tab, choose "Clone System Disk" and then click "Next".

Select the system disk to clone

Step 2: Select the new drive you want to clone your system to, then click 'Next'.

Click “Yes” to confirm you want to proceed with the system disk cloning process.

Step 3: Review the disk layout, and then click Start to begin the operating system cloning process.

Step 4: When it's done, you'll see a confirmation message asking if you want to boot from the clone disk.

• Restart Now: Restart your computer immediately and set it to boot the operating system from the new disk.
• Finish: You want to make the changes later.

Confirm cloning the system to the new hard drive.

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#Clone System#System Clone Software#OS Migration#Windows

#2. Tool: Todo Backup

Reliable system cloning software

Todo Backup is a file backup software specifically designed for Windows users, allowing you to easily create a full backup of your Windows computer with just one click. This software also offers a system cloning feature that helps beginners effortlessly clone the operating system to a new disk.

Software Download:

Pros and cons:

A guide to using Todo Backup to clone your operating system:

Step 1. On the homepage, find and click on "Tools", where system clones and other utilities are located.

Step 2. Todo Backup will automatically select the system and boot partitions. Select the target disk and click “Next”.

* System Clone will wipe all data. Cloning from MBR disk to GPT or vice versa is not supported. Please ensure the partition style of the source and target disks are the same.

If the target disk is an SSD, check “Optimize for SSD” in the advanced options.

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Step 4: Click Proceed to start the clone.

#3. Acronis True Image Cyber Protection Home Edition

Reliable operating systems and computer backup software

This is a screenshot of Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office.

Originally designed as a file backup utility for Windows PCs, Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office – previously known as Acronis True Image – has evolved into more of a computer security tool that lets you back up, protect, archive, and even synchronize your computer's contents in various ways.

Software Download:

Just open this link in your browser, and you'll see it: https://www.acronis.com/en-us/products/true-image/.

Pros and cons.

Guidelines for cloning your operating system with Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office:

Step 1. Launch Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office and click Backup.

Step 2: Select "My Disk", and then choose the system disk which you want to back up.

Step 3. Choose the destination disk to which you want to back up your operating system and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

Step 4: Click “Restore” and select the backup image you want to restore.

5. Select the new disk as the target location, then restore the system backup disk image to the new disk.

Follow the instructions on the screen.

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#Clone Operating System#System Disk Cloning Software#Windows

#4. Macrium Reflect

Famous disk cloning software used for cloning operating systems

Similar to Partition Master, Macrium Reflect offers disk cloning features that help Windows users migrate and upgrade their operating system disks to new ones. It also boasts flexible functionalities for creating backup images of a running Windows operating system.

Software Download:

# Macrium Reflect Home Edition ## Protect Your Files and Photos with Macrium Reflect! [Get Started Now](https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree) ### Features - **Disk Imaging** - Create an exact backup of your hard disk or individual partitions. - **Ease of Use** - Intuitive interface for simple and straightforward backup and recovery. - **Scheduler** - Automate backups to run at specific times or events. - **Bootable Rescue Media** - Recover your system even if it won't boot. - **Cloud Backup** - Store your backups securely in the cloud. - **Cloning** - Clone your hard drive for easy migration to new hardware. - **Email Notifications** - Receive alerts when backups complete or fail. ### Why Choose Macrium Reflect? - **Reliable** - Trusted by millions of home users and businesses worldwide. - **Affordable** - Great value for personal use, with a free version available. - **Support** - Excellent customer support to assist you every step of the way. - **Compatibility** - Works with all major operating systems, including Windows 10 & 11. ### Testimonials > "Macrium Reflect has saved me on several occasions. It's easy to use, reliable, and a must-have for anyone who values their data." — John D. > "I've been using Macrium Reflect for years and have never had a problem. It's the best backup software out there, hands down." — Sarah M. ### Get Your Copy Today! [Buy Now](https://www.macrium.com/buy) | [Free Download](https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree) --- Please note that website content may be updated, and the above translation is based on the current webpage content.

Pros and Cons:

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Guide to Cloning an Operating System Disk with Macrium Reflect:

Step 1. Connect the new disk to your computer and launch Macrium Reflect.

Step 2. Click "Backup," then under "Create a Backup," select the source disk, and click "Clone this disk..."

Step 3: Select the new disk as the target and drag the system partition from the source OS disk to the new one. Then click “Next”.

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Step 4. Click “OK” to start the cloning process.

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#Clone Operating System#Clone System Disk#Windows

#5. Clonezilla

Open-source & Free Disk Cloning Software

Clonezilla is an open source disk cloning software that you can use for free to perform operating system disk cloning operations on your computers.

Download the software: https://clonezilla.org/downloads.php

Pros and Cons:

A guide to using Clonezilla for cloning an operating system:

Step 1. Connect the new hard drive to your computer and install and run Clonezilla.

Step two: In Clonezilla, choose “新手模式” and then select the option to create a precise clone of the source disk, including the operating system and data partitions.

Step 3. Alternatively, you can choose to clone the entire disk and set exact parameters.

Step 4: After the clone is complete, have the computer restart or shut down.

Just be patient and wait for Clonezilla to finish the hard drive cloning process.

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#Clone operating system to new hard drive#System disk cloning#Windows

Additional tip: Make the cloned operating system bootable on the new disk

To ensure the system boots after cloning to the new disk, follow this guide to make the operating system bootable from the new disk.

1. Install and connect a brand new hard drive with the cloned operating system to your computer.
2. Boot into your computer's BIOS settings, go to the Boot menu, and set the new hard drive as the boot drive.
3. Save the changes and restart your computer.

If you need a more detailed guide, please refer to this page for assistance:

How to Boot from SSD After Cloning

Follow this step-by-step guide to learn why your computer fails to boot from the cloned SSD and get a full guide on how to boot from SSD after cloning in Windows 10/8/7 yourself.

What is an operating system cloning software?

In simple terms, an OS cloning software can be defined as a system cloning tool specifically designed for Windows users to create a clone or replica of the operating system for backup or OS disk upgrading purposes. It can be either free or paid, catering to users who wish to clone their system on Windows computers.

How does an operating system cloning software work? Here's a general workflow of how an OS cloning tool operates: 1. **Prepare the Source System**: First, you need a functioning operating system with all the settings, applications, and data you want to replicate. This is called the "source system." 2. **Choose a Cloning Software**: Select a reliable OS cloning tool such as Acronis True Image, Clonezilla, or AOMEI Backupper, among others. 3. **Install and Launch**: Download and install the chosen cloning software, then launch it according to the instructions. Some tools might require booting from a USB or DVD drive. 4. **Create a Clone Destination**: Determine where you want to clone to. This could be another hard drive, an external storage device, or an image file. 5. **Initiate the Cloning Process**: Within the software, choose the "Clone" or "System Copy" option. Follow the wizard prompts to specify the source drive (your current OS) and the target drive or image file. 6. **Cloning Process**: The software will start copying all contents of the source system to the target location. This may take some time, depending on the size of the source system and the speed of the target device. 7. **Verify the Clone**: After cloning, the software might prompt you to verify the clone's integrity. This is a crucial step to ensure the cloned system can boot and run properly. 8. **Restore or Switch**: If your aim is to replace the hard drive or create a backup, you can now disconnect the source drive, connect the target drive, and boot from the cloned system. If it's just a backup, keep the original drive connected for future use. That's the basic principle and steps involved in an operating system cloning software. Note that different cloning software might have specific interfaces and procedures, but the fundamental concept remains similar.

• Phrase 1: Inspect and scan the operating system disk, identifying both the operating system partition and data partitions.
• Phrase 2: Manage the sequence for cloning the operating system on the target computer.
• Phrase 3: Detect the new target disk and create an exact replica of the operating system from the source disk to the new disk drive.

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#Operating System Cloning Software#Clone Windows#Windows Cloning

Benefits of using an operating system cloning software:

Below is a list of benefits and advantages that will help you understand why OS cloning software is so popular and important for most regular users.

• Saves time
• Easy to use
• Safe – won't harm your existing operating system or data
• Efficiently clone or upgrade your operating system to a new disk or computer

In this section, we will primarily address two questions:

What can a disk cloning program do for you?

Most operating-system cloning tools will let you do all of the following:

• Clone OS and system related files and settings to the new disk. • Migrate OS from HDD to SSD, even M.2/NVMe SSD without reinstallation. • Upgrade OS disk on the old OS, like upgrading Windows 8/7/Vista/XP OS disk. • Offer System Clone Service to copy operating system and apply the clone to multiple computers.

When do you need an operating system cloning software?

Here are some scenarios where you might want to use a reliable or free system cloning software to clone your operating system:

• The operating system runs slowly.
• The system disk is running out of space with very little free space left.
• The computer's hard drive is full and has no remaining storage capacity.
• The operating system is outdated and no longer receives security updates or technical support.
• The operating system disk is too old or takes too long to boot up.

Final Award

On this page, we gather the 5 best free and paid OS cloning software for Windows users to easily clone and migrate operating system to a new disk.

Of the five, Partition Master or Todo Backup would be the most suitable for novices new to Windows.

For the most flexible OS cloning operations, don't miss the Partition Master tool with features to “Migrate OS to HDD/SSD,” “Clone System Disk,” and “Copy Partition.”

Frequently Asked Questions about Operating System Cloning Tools

Here, we've also gathered other popular topics. If you're interested, feel free to explore and find the answers here:

1. Does Windows 10 have cloning software? Yes, Windows 10 comes with some built-in backup and cloning tools. For instance, you can use "File History" to back up your personal files or create a system repair disk with the "Create a recovery drive" tool. However, these utilities might not be suitable for a full hard drive clone. For cloning an entire hard drive, you might need third-party software such as Clonezilla, Acronis True Image, or Macrium Reflect. These professional cloning tools offer more advanced features that allow for a complete duplication of one hard drive to another.

No, Windows 10 does not have a built-in cloning software. It has a built-in backup tool called "Backup and Restore" (in Windows 7), which is designed to create system restore points to protect the operating system from catastrophic failures. If you need to clone a hard drive or system, you would typically use third-party software like Acronis True Image or Clonezilla.

2. Are there any free cloning tools?

Indeed, if you search for “free cloning software” online, you'll find many programs that can clone disks, partitions, and even operating systems. Among them, the Partition Master Free tool stands out for its ability to duplicate data disks and clone partitions, allowing you to fully clone anything on your Windows computer with just a few simple steps.

3. How do I clone my system disk?

• Install the new hard drive into your computer and launch the Partition Master tool.
• Go to "Disk Clone" and select "Clone the entire OS disk."
• Select the target new disk, then click "Execute Task."
• Wait for the cloning process to finish.

4. Can you clone your operating system?

Certainly, and you'll need to use a reliable OS cloning software recommended on this page to help you with that. That's because the Windows operating system doesn't have a built-in system cloning tool.

This is when you'll need to use a third-party OS cloning tool like the ones recommended above, such as Partition Master.