Microsoft is Building a New Migration App for Windows 11
Microsoft’s Windows 11 Insider builds don’t always bring flashy new features, and the recently announced Beta Channel build 22635.4945 is no exception. But that doesn’t mean it’s not worth your attention. Often, Windows enthusiasts dive into these builds to uncover hidden clues about what Microsoft is working on behind the scenes. While Beta build 22635.4945 doesn’t offer direct new features, it does hint at something exciting—a new migration app designed to help users transfer data from an old PC to a new one.
What We Know About Microsoft’s Migration App
Currently, there are third-party tools available to help you move files between PCs, but Microsoft seems keen on entering this space with its own solution. Windows enthusiast @phantomofearth recently uncovered hints of this new migration app within the latest Windows Insider Beta update. However, it’s still in its very early stages of development. Only fragments of the app’s user interface (UI) were found, suggesting it’s far from being a fully functional feature.
To give us an idea of what the app might look like, @a_donglee created mockups based on the discovered UI elements. According to these mockups, the Migration app will help Windows 11 users back up their current PCs and transfer files seamlessly to a new one. For this process, both PCs will need to be near each other and connected to the same WiFi network, leveraging Windows 11’s Nearby Sharing feature. The pairing process will require entering a one-time password (OTP) on the new PC to confirm the connection. Before starting the transfer, the app will prompt the user to confirm the destination PC for the files.
When Can We Expect the Migration App?
Since the mockups are just conceptual visualizations, they don’t represent the final design or functionality of the app. This suggests Microsoft still has significant work to do to finalize the app’s features and design. Unfortunately, there’s no word on when this app will be ready for release. It’s likely to go through extensive testing with Windows Insiders before becoming available to the general public.
Need a Quick Way to Share Files?
If you’re looking for an immediate way to share files between Windows 11 PCs, you can use Nearby Sharing. It’s already built into Windows 11 and makes file transfers quick and easy. Check it out while we wait for Microsoft’s new migration app to arrive!
