How to move files to another drive

💡 Need to know

• Check the new drive's space availability first—moving files won't work if you're short on storage.
• Dragging files between drives creates a copy. To move a file, hold the Shift key on Windows or the Command key on Mac.
• Transferring files to an external drive or cloud storage frees up space on your primary drive without deleting critical data.

You're typing away on your computer when a dreaded message appears. Only 10% of space is left on your hard drive. You need to free up space if you're going to save additional documents, photos, and apps. Can you move files to another drive?

Asurion Experts keep your favorite tech devices running smoothly. Whether you need to upgrade your hard drive or back up your personal data, count on us for a straightforward solution. Here's how to move files from one drive to another, whether you're on a Windows PC or a Mac®. 

How to move files between internal drives

Can you move files from one drive to another, such as from the C drive to the D drive? Absolutely—try either of these methods to quickly transfer files.

The drag and drop method

This technique is simple to use and works for Mac and Windows computers. The only difference is the key you hold to move the files. 

To transfer files from the C to the D drive, click on the file you want to move. Press and hold the Shift button on Windows devices or the Command Key on Mac. Use your mouse to drag the file to its new home on the D drive. 

The cut-and-paste method

If you want to move program files to another drive using keyboard shortcuts, try this solution. 

Click on the file you want to move. Press the Control (or Command on Mac) and X buttons to cut the file. Open the location in the D drive you want to move the file to, then press and hold the Control (or Command on Mac) and V buttons to paste it to its new location. 

Transferring data to an external hard drive or USB

To transfer files from your Mac or Windows computer or laptop to an external SSD hard drive or USB flash drive, take these steps:

1. Connect the external drive to your device using its cable or USB connector.
2. Select the files you want to move from your computer.
3. Use the drag-and-drop or cut-and-paste method to transfer your files.

To safely remove the external hard drive after copying files, take these steps:

1. Open Finder on Mac or File Explorer on Windows.
2. Locate the external drive from the list of options.
   • Mac: Click the Eject icon next to the drive.
   • Windows: Right-click the drive. Select Eject.
3. Disconnect the external drive from your computer.

Verify the files are fully transferred before removing the drive to avoid data corruption or loss. 

Moving files between cloud storage drives or accounts

What if you want to move files between two different cloud storage solutions, such as OneDrive® and Google Drive™? While possible, it requires a few extra steps. That's because most cloud storage solutions don't have a direct link that allows you to automatically transfer files. 

Here's how to move files to another drive when using cloud storage:

1. Download the files from the cloud storage solution to your computer or an external hard drive.
2. Log in to the cloud storage service you want to transfer the files to.
3. Upload the files to the cloud storage solution. 
4. Verify the files are fully transferred before deleting the originals from your computer and the previous cloud storage provider.

If you're backing up lots of files, you can save time by batching them into a zip file. To do this, select the files you want to transfer and right-click. Select Compress from the list of options. This creates a zipped file that contains your original files but takes up less storage space. 

OneDrive has a unique feature that allows you to move or copy files to a SharePoint site. To use it, log into your OneDrive account and take these steps:

1. Select the files or folders you want to move.
2. Click on the three-dot menu.
3. Click Move to. 
4. Choose where you want to move the file from the list in the Quick Access menu.
5. Click Move here to start the transfer. 

Common transfer errors and how to fix them

You may encounter problems moving files if you don't have the right permissions. Trying to transfer Windows or Apple-specific OS applications can lead to this error. In such cases, it may be impossible to move the file.

External drive formatting can also cause transfer errors. For example, if you're using a FAT32 external drive, it limits transfers to 4GB per file. You can format an external hard drive to NTFS to bypass this restriction.