{"id":138423,"date":"2023-06-19T06:15:01","date_gmt":"2023-06-19T10:15:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pureinfotech.com\/?p=138423"},"modified":"2023-06-19T08:54:19","modified_gmt":"2023-06-19T12:54:19","slug":"copy-files-fast-network-robocopy-windows-11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pureinfotech.com\/copy-files-fast-network-robocopy-windows-11\/","title":{"rendered":"How to copy files fast over network using Robocopy on Windows 11"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you have a new computer with the latest version of Windows 11<\/a>, you may still need to transfer your files from the old computer. Usually, the easiest way is to copy the files to a USB external storage to move them to the new device, but you can also transfer them over the network.<\/p>\n

The only problem with this last option is that if you use the File Explorer copy option, the process could take a long time and cause many issues. However, you could use the Robocopy (Robust File Copy) command-line tool, which offers the fastest way to copy files over the network between an old and new Windows 11 computer.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This guide<\/a> will teach you how to use Robocopy to quickly transfer vast amounts of files over the network on Windows 11.<\/p>\n

Copy files over network fast on Windows 11 using Robocopy<\/h2>\n

Although Robocopy lets you copy files faster than File Explorer, a wired connection is always recommended for the best results. The time to complete the transfer will depend on the connection, type of files, and hard drive performance.<\/p>\n

The copy process includes two steps. You first need to set up file sharing on the source computer and then use Robocopy in the destination computer to transfer the files.<\/p>\n

1. Enable file sharing on Windows 11 (source)<\/h3>\n

To share files on the network with the express settings, use these steps:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \n

    Open File Explorer <\/strong>on Windows 11.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  2. \n

    Open the folder with the files to migrate.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  3. \n

    Right-click the folder and select the Properties<\/strong> option.<\/p>\n

    \"Open<\/li>\n

  4. \n

    Click the Sharing<\/strong> tab.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  5. \n

    Click the Share<\/strong> button.<\/p>\n

    \"Share<\/li>\n

  6. \n

    Select the user or group to share files from the drop-down menu.<\/p>\n

    \"Select<\/p>\n

    Quick tip:<\/strong> If you have connection issues, it’s best to use your source account to share the folder instead of the “Everyone” group and sign in with your account on the destination device.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n
  7. \n

    Click the Add<\/strong> button.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  8. \n

    Under the “Permission Level” section, select the sharing permissions for the folder. For instance, you can select Read<\/strong> (default) if you only want users to view and open files. If you select Read\/Write<\/strong>, users can view, open, modify, and delete the content in your shared folder.<\/p>\n

    \"File<\/li>\n

  9. \n

    Click the Share<\/strong> button.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  10. \n

    Right-click the path and select the Copy Link<\/strong> to copy the network path.<\/p>\n

    \"Copy<\/li>\n

  11. \n

    Click the Done <\/strong>button.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  12. \n

    Click the\u00a0Close<\/strong>\u00a0button.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    After you complete the steps, note the folder path and the IP address of the source computer. You can quickly find your IP address on Settings<\/strong> > Network & Internet<\/strong>, click “Wi-Fi”<\/strong> or “Ethernet,”<\/strong> and click the connection to view the information.<\/p>\n

    If you use a Microsoft account to sign in to Windows, you may run into issues trying to access the files remotely. Creating a temporary local account in the source computer is recommended to sign in remotely with Robocopy from the destination device. Alternatively, you can switch from a Microsoft account to a local account on the source computer and then switch back to a Microsoft account. The process will fix the issue of signing in with a Microsoft account from a remote computer.<\/p>\n

    2. Copy files fast over network on Windows 11 (destination)<\/h3>\n

    After configuring file sharing on the source computer, you can copy the files from the destination computer with the Robocopy command-line tool.<\/p>\n

    To transfer files fast over the network with Robocopy on Windows 11, use these steps:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. \n

      Open Start<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    2. \n

      Search for Command Prompt<\/strong>, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator <\/strong>option.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    3. \n

      Type the following command to add a network user and password to Windows 11 and press Enter<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

      cmdkey \/add:COMPUTER-OR-DOMAIN \/user:COMPUTER-OR-DOMAIN\\USERNAME \/pass:PASSWORD<\/pre>\n
      In the command, replace “COMPUTER-OR-DOMAIN”<\/strong> with the target computer, IP address, or domain, “COMPUTER-OR-DOMAIN\\USERNAME”<\/strong> for the target device and username, and “PASSWORD”<\/strong> for the account password.<\/p>\n
      This example adds the entry in Credential Manager for the “admin01” user available in the source computer that Robocopy can use to access the shared folder:<\/p>\n
      cmdkey \/add:office-pc \/user:office-pc\\admin01 \/pass:password<\/pre>\n<\/li>\n
    4. \n
      Type the following command to copy the files over the network and press Enter<\/strong>:<\/p>\n
      robocopy \\\\source-device-ip\\path\\to\\sharefolder C:\\destination-device\\path\\to\\storefiles<\/strong> \/E \/Z \/ZB \/R:5 \/W:5 \/TBD \/NP \/V \/MT:16 \/compress<\/pre>\n
      This example speeds up file copy between two computers in the network:<\/p>\n
      robocopy \\\\10.1.4.181\\Users\\USER\\OneDrive\\Desktop\\MyShareFiles C:\\Users\\USER\\Documents<\/strong> \/E \/Z \/ZB \/R:5 \/W:5 \/TBD \/NP \/V \/MT:16 \/compress<\/pre>\n
      \"Robocopy<\/p>\n
      In the above command, change the source and destination paths with your configuration.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
      Robocopy options details<\/h4>\n
      On Windows 11, Robocopy provides a slew of features, and in this guide, we use the following options to transfer files faster and reliably.<\/p>\n