How To Move Files Faster in Windows 10 or 11

Windows 10 users can experience slow file transfers when moving files between two internal drives, between an internal drive and an external drive, or when moving data over the network between two PCs. The confusing thing is that there’s nothing wrong with the computer, as any other task could be completed without issue.

Disk fragmentation, file system errors, out-of-date drivers, antivirus configurations, and a few other Windows features are the most frequent issues. If you’re experiencing a similar problem, try some of the methods outlined below to resolve it.

Fixing System Errors May Be Helpful

If the copy speed on Windows 10 is extremely slow, you might have a corrupted file system. This can prevent, disable, or even interfere with file transfer. The System Maintenance Troubleshooter can be used to correct any incorrect files in the following ways:

1. In the Windows search box, enter “Control Panel.”
   
2. Select “Large Icons” from the dropdown menu next to “View by.”
   
3. Select “Troubleshooting” from the list of available options.
   
4. Under “System and Security” select “Run maintenance tasks.”
   

The options are displayed on the screen. You can now locate and remove unused shortcuts and files, which will allow you to fix the problem.

Look for Any Corrupted Areas on Your Hard Drive or USB

Your Windows 10 slow file transfer speed may be due to corrupted areas on the hard disk drive or USB. You don’t need to be concerned if there are corrupted sectors. Windows 10 has a built-in feature to check drives and even USBs for any corrupted areas. Here’s how it’s done:

1. Open “File Explorer.”
   
2. From the menu bar, right-click the USB drive and select “Properties.”
   
3. Select the “Tools tab” from the “Properties” section.
   
4. Select “Check” under “Error Checking.”
   

Turn Off the Windows Search Service

Disabling Windows Search can temporarily speed up file transfers in Windows 10 for some users. Re-enable this service if you start to experience a new problem.

1. To launch the Run window, press “Windows key” + R. Enter “Services.msc.”
   
2. Scroll to the bottom until you come across “Windows Search.”
   
3. When you right-click on it, choose “Properties.”
   
4. Find the “Startup type” under the “General” tab.
   
5. Choose “Disabled” in the “Start type” dropdown.
   
6. Click “Apply”, then “OK.”
   

Try Robocopy

The Robocopy in Windows 10 can be a fantastic solution for slow file transfers. This is a built-in option that speeds up file copying, not a piece of third-party software. Using the Command Prompt is the way to go.

1. Type “cmd” in the search box beside the “Windows key.”
   
2. On the right side, select “Run as administrator.”
   
3. Enter “robocopy/?” in the Command Prompt window when it appears. Then click “Enter.” As soon as you hit “Enter”, a few shortcuts for copying will appear.
   

Copying should go much more quickly with these shortcuts. But once more, this is a complex option, so beginner users should avoid it.

Think About Purchasing a Solid State Drive (SSD)

Put simply, the more modern SSDs are faster than HDDs (Hard Disk Drives). Naturally, moving files on an HDD will result in a slower data transfer than moving files on an SSD. The USB version that the HDD or flash drive is using is something else you might think about. For quicker file transfers, we advise using USB 3.0.

Activate Drive Defragmentation Optimization

This method is particularly effective for those who have recently upgraded from Windows 7 to Windows 10 and are experiencing slow copy speeds.

1. Open the “Run” window by pressing “Windows” + R and typing “services.msc.” To access “Service Manager”, click “OK.”
   
2. Select “Optimize drives” to open “Properties.”
   
3. Change the “Start Type” to “Automatic” and click “Start” under “Service status.”
   
4. Press “Apply” then “OK” to save the settings.
   

When you begin transferring data between drives, this service will start defragmenting and assist the system in cleaning up bad sectors.

How to Transfer Files Faster in Windows 11

For Windows 11, some of the solutions are the same as for Windows 10. You can also try fixing systems errors, choosing drive defragmentation, or even using Robocopy. In addition, you can try some alternative methods.

Turn Off Windows Auto Tuning

The autotuning tool is important if you’re copying data across a network. In some cases, entirely deactivating Windows Auto Tuning has resulted in faster network copy speeds.

1. Use the Windows search bar to look up the “Command Prompt.” Run as administrator by performing a right-click on the option.
   
2. To run the following command, type “netsh int tcp set global autotuninglevel=disabled” and hit “Enter”. Try once more to transfer the file.
   

Make sure you toggle Auto Tuning back to normal mode if turning it off didn’t solve the problem.

Additional Tips

To make your life easier, here are a few other tips for moving and copying your files.

Useful Keyboard Shortcuts for Quicker File Copying

Using keyboard shortcuts can help you work more quickly and effectively. You should learn some standard keyboard shortcuts so that you can move, paste, and copy files at the desired speed. The standard cut, copy, and paste operations are the most significant.

• To cut a file, press Ctrl + X. The file is transferred to your clipboard, so you can paste it somewhere else. A cut file is moved from its original location when pasted.
• Press Ctrl + C to copy. Copying is similar to cutting, but after you paste a copy, the original file is still there.
• The shortcut for pasting is Ctrl + V. Use this to duplicate a copied file or move a cut file to a different location.

Useful Mouse Shortcuts

No matter where they are on the website, you can select all of the files you click while holding down the Ctrl key. Click the first file, then while holding Shift, click the final one to select many files in a row. This enables you to quickly select several files for copying or cutting. Files can be moved to their new location by clicking and dragging them with the left mouse button. However, if you click and move them with the right mouse button, a tiny menu will be displayed. If, for some reason, you aren’t using keyboard shortcuts, this allows you to decide whether to copy or transfer the files.

Compress Your Files

This method can be used to move a large number of small files. Archiving them with WinRAR or 7zip for a higher compression ratio makes them easier to transfer. Your data is compressed in a matter of minutes, leaving you with a large single file that copies very quickly. The default Windows compression tool performs a decent job at compressing text files, but it sometimes falls short when it comes to compressing photos and movies.

Windows Freezes While Transferring

Attempting to transfer a large number of files in Windows can occasionally cause Windows to freeze in the middle of the copying process. As the copying procedure is so slow, you may have other apps operating at the same time. Closing all other open apps is the best way to stop freezing problems. Pause your antivirus program as well, because these programs are known to occasionally consume resources, especially during scans. Additionally, if the freezing happens frequently, think about switching to a copying tool. These use fewer resources than the built-in copy feature on Windows.

Transfer Faster

There are various ways to transfer files faster. Whether it’s fixing errors and changing software or using some file transferring utilities and investing in your equipment, it’s up to you to decide. Now that you’re aware of many potential solutions, you shouldn’t experience any more problems with file transfer speeds.

Have you ever experienced difficulties with file transfer speeds? Which of the mentioned methods resolved the issue? Let us know in the comments section below.