Cloning a hard drive is the most reliable way to create a complete, bootable copy of your storage device. It includes the operating system, applications, settings, and files in one seamless process. This is important when upgrading to a larger or faster drive and for protecting data against loss. It also minimizes downtime if your current drive fails.
While the core idea is the same, the cloning process varies slightly depending on whether you are using Windows, Mac, or Linux. Each operating system relies on different built-in tools or third-party software. The drive type also matters, since cloning an HDD versus an SSD affects speed and partition alignment, but the result is still a fully functional duplicate.
It is important to note that cloning differs from a standard backup. Backups allow you to restore selected files or images, while a clone creates an immediately usable replacement drive.
To clone a hard drive on Windows, follow the 11 steps below.
Connect both the source drive with your data and the target drive that will receive the clone. DiskGenius requires simultaneous access to both drives to copy system data and files.
Download DiskGenius from its official website and install it. Since Windows does not include a built-in cloning tool, DiskGenius provides the functions needed to create an accurate copy.
Open DiskGenius and check its main interface. Confirm that both the source and target drives appear correctly before proceeding.
From the toolbar or main menu, select Tools > Clone Disk to launch the cloning wizard. This prepares DiskGenius to copy your drive.
Choose the source disk you want to copy and the target disk where data will be written. Double-check your choice, as the target drive will be completely overwritten.
Enable the System Migration option if you are cloning your system drive. This ensures that your cloned drive will be fully bootable.
If your new drive has a different capacity, adjust partitions before cloning. Resizing lets you maximize storage space.
Click Start to begin the cloning operation. DiskGenius will copy all data from the source to the target drive.
Before the process begins, confirm your settings. You may be asked to choose between sector-by-sector cloning or file-level cloning. The method you select will affect both speed and accuracy.
Allow DiskGenius to complete the cloning process. Depending on drive size, this may take minutes to hours.
Once done, shut down your PC, disconnect the original drive if replacing it, and test the new drive to confirm it works as expected.
To clone a hard drive on Mac OS, follow the 5 steps below.
Open Disk Utility, the built-in macOS tool for drive management. You can access it via Applications > Utilities or Spotlight search.
Highlight the drive you want to copy data onto, then click Restore. This prepares it to receive the contents of your original drive.
From the drop-down menu, select the drive you want to copy. Double-check your choice, as the destination drive will be completely erased.
Disk Utility will begin cloning. The time required depends on data size and drive speed. Once finished, click Done.
Restart your Mac and boot from the cloned drive by holding the Option (⌥) key and selecting the disk. This confirms that the clone is fully functional.
Hard drive cloning and hard drive backup are two different ways of protecting data.
Usability – A cloned drive can be swapped in and used immediately, but a backup must be restored before use.
