Windows 11 is testing a new wireless PC-to-PC data transfer feature

Back in the older versions of Windows, there used to be a handy feature called Windows Easy Transfer that painlessly guided the process of migrating files and settings from one computer to another. Sadly, it was discontinued with Windows 10 as Microsoft wanted users to start using its OneDrive cloud storage instead.

But it seems like Windows Easy Transfer might be making a comeback, at least in spirit. According to Windows Latest, Microsoft is testing a new feature in Windows Backup that allegedly behaves in a similar way.

Spotted by Twitter user @phantomofearth, the Insider Dev version of Windows 11 now has a “Transfer files to a new PC” option in Windows Backup. This new PC-to-PC transfer method requires both PCs—the sending PC and the receiving PC—to be on the same Wi-Fi network. The sending PC is given a special code to be entered on the receiving PC, which connects the two PCs and allows you to commence the transfer.

The feature allegedly supports the transfer of “files, apps, settings, and credentials over a network connection to speed up PC setup.” You can use it to transfer data to both new and established Windows PCs.

Further reading: The best Windows backup software