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The safest way to move PowerToys settings is PowerToys’ built-in Back up & restore tool. Create a backup on the old PC, copy its backup file or folder to a reachable location, install a compatible PowerToys release on the new PC, and restore the backup from PowerToys Settings > General > Back up & restore.
What the PowerToys backup includes
The feature is designed to preserve PowerToys configuration, including enabled utilities, keyboard shortcuts, remapped keys, utility-specific paths, and other module settings. It is not a Windows system image: it does not move installed applications, documents, licenses, or every Windows preference.
Microsoft also says PowerToys saves settings.json and other configuration files before an automatic update, then restores them automatically if the update detects corruption. That automatic update protection is separate from the migration backup you create yourself.
Back up PowerToys on the old PC
- Install or update PowerToys on the old computer.
- Open PowerToys Settings and select General.
- Scroll to Back up & restore.
- Choose a backup location that will remain accessible after you stop using the old PC.
- Create the backup and wait for PowerToys to confirm completion.
- Identify the generated backup file or folder and leave the original untouched until the new PC has been checked.
Move the backup to the new PC
Copy the generated backup to any location the destination computer can access. Suitable choices include a USB flash drive, portable SSD, network share, or cloud-synced folder. The transfer medium does not change what the backup contains; it only determines how you carry the file or folder between computers.
#1 Best Overall
- Easily store and access 2TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Restore the settings
- Install a compatible PowerToys release on the new PC.
- Open PowerToys Settings > General.
- Open Back up & restore.
- Select the backup file or folder you copied from the old computer.
- Choose Restore and wait for the operation to finish.
- Reopen PowerToys if the interface does not immediately show the restored values.
PowerToys backup versus Windows Backup
| Approach | Scope | Portability | Verification effort |
|---|---|---|---|
| PowerToys Back up & restore | PowerToys configuration only | Backup file or folder on removable storage, a network path, or cloud-synced storage | Check utilities, shortcuts, paths, and administrator choices |
| Windows Backup | Broader Windows items and new-PC setup restoration | Uses Microsoft’s Windows Backup workflow and the same Microsoft account for available restore options | Still verify PowerToys modules because Windows Backup is not a substitute for a PowerToys configuration backup |
Use Windows Backup when you need broader Windows migration. Use PowerToys’ own backup when the specific goal is reproducing PowerToys settings.
Verify the transfer before retiring the old PC
- Confirm that the expected PowerToys version is installed.
- Make sure you selected the intended backup rather than an older file or folder.
- Check that every required utility is enabled.
- Test keyboard shortcuts, remapped keys, and other hotkeys for conflicts.
- Review utility-specific file and folder paths; paths that exist only on the old PC may need to be changed.
- Confirm any administrator-mode choices and test features that require elevation.
- Keep the original backup until these checks pass.
If restore does not apply the expected settings
A Microsoft PowerToys issue report describes a case where the normal Restore action did not apply the earlier configuration. That report is evidence of a possible failure mode, not a claim that every restore fails. First confirm the installed version and the selected backup, then reopen PowerToys. Preserve the backup while checking the release notes and issue tracker for the version installed on the new PC.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Plug-and-play expandability
- SuperSpeed USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps)
Rank #4
- Easily store and access 4TB of content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive.Specific uses: Personal
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Rank #3
- Easily store and access 1TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive.Specific uses: Personal
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop. Reformatting may be required for Mac
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Rank #2
- Easily store and access 5TB of content on the go with the Seagate portable drive, a USB external hard Drive
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
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