How to Change Default Drive Windows 10 Easily & Quickly

Want to know how to change primary hard drive Windows 10? In this post, you will learn how to change default hard drive via EaseUS Disk Copy with a step-by-step guide.

Changing the primary hard drive on Windows 10 can be divided into 2 situations: changing & replacing the disk where your Windows is installed to get more storage or enjoy faster boot time, and changing the default hard disk for saving files and installing apps to manage storage more effectively.  This article will tell how to change primary hard drive Windows 10 or how to change default hard drive Windows 10 without reinstalling Windows.

• For those who want to change the default hard drive for saving files & installing apps, go to How to Change Main Hard Drive Windows 10 (from C to D Disk)
• For those who want to replace the HDD with SSD or SSD with a larger SSD as the default hard drive, go to How to Replace Main Hard Drive Windows 10 (Without Reinstalling)

How to Change Main Hard Drive Windows 10 (from C to D Disk)

Setting a Default Drive
by inWindows10

As mentioned in this Reddit post, if your primary drive (usually C drive) is running out of space, but your D drive has much, changing the default hard drive for saving files & installing apps can help manage storage more effectively. Here is how to change default save location Windows 10 or change default installation drive for apps Windows 10:

Step 1. Press Win + I to open Settings.

Step 2. Click System.

Step 3. In the left sidebar, click Storage.

Step 4. Scroll down to the More storage settings section.

Step 5. Click Change where new content is saved.

You can change the default save locations for apps, documents, music, pictures, videos, and offline maps, such as from C to D disk.

Following these steps, you can set a new drive as the default for app installations, downloads, or user files and free up space on the original drive (C drive), thus optimizing storage performance and using a different drive for your default storage.

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How to Replace Main Hard Drive Windows 10 (Without Reinstalling)

If you want to replace an HDD with an SSD or replace an SSD with a larger SSD as the default hard drive, this means you need to change and replace your current main disk. To set a primary hard drive in Windows 10 or set SSD as primary drive, you can clean install Windows on the new drive from a USB, but you need to reinstall Windows and all necessary drivers for the new Windows, which is time-consuming and tedious.

Alternatively, you can swap the primary hard drive by migrating the OS to another disk and replacing the old drive with the cloned disk without reinstalling Windows or losing data. Cloning is much easier and quicker to install Windows because cloning a hard drive can help you transfer data from one hard drive to another without reinstalling OS or losing data and make the target drive bootable.

However, if you prefer the clone method, use third-party disk cloning software, like EaseUS Disk Copy, because Windows does not have built-in cloning settings.

It is a dedicated cloning utility for Windows computers. It can help you clone your disks, systems, etc., and make a new SSD C drive. In addition, it enables you to upgrade to a larger hard drive and clone a hard drive with bad sectors thanks to its sector-by-sector cloning technology.

EaseUS clone software can suit you well if you want to change your boot drive/primary drive. It can help transfer everything from one drive to another in just several simple clicks. Ensure you download it on your PC and use it today.

Video Tutorial on How to Change Primary Hard Drive

Time Stamp:

• 0:15 Method 1. Clone Old Drive to New Drive Using EaseUS Disk Copy
• 3:20 Method 2. Perform a Clean Installation of Windows on the New Drive

A step-by-step guide to changing primary drive using EaseUS Disk Copy:

Step 1: Download, install and run EaseUS Disk Copy on your PC.

Click "Disk Mode" and select the hard drive that you want to copy or clone. Click "Next" to continue.

Step 2: Select the destination disk.

Note: The destination disk should be at least the same big or even larger than the source disk if you want to copy or clone the source hard disk.

Step 3: Check and edit the disk layout.

If your destination disk is an SSD drive, do remember to Check the option if the target is SSD.

Step 4: Click "OK" to confirm if the program asks to erase data on the destination disk.

Step 5: Click "Proceed" to start the hard drive cloning process.

It is worth noting that whether you clone your Windows to a new hard drive or clean install Windows 10 on a new drive, you need to replace the old drive with the new drive and set the target disk as your first boot drive in the BIOS settings. After that, you can successfully boot from the new drive and change your primary/startup disk.

Here is how to boot your Windows from a new cloned hard drive after you replace it:

Step 1. Restart the PC, press the BIOS key (F2, Delete, or F12, Esc) to enter the BIOS.

Step 2. Choose the new disk as the first boot choice.

Step 3. Save the changes and leave BIOS. Then, reboot your PC.

Now, you have changed your primary hard drive on Windows 10, and you can enjoy a faster boot time and a better user experience!

Troubleshooting Tips:

What to Do Before Changing Primary Hard Drive

When you decide to swap your primary hard drive, you must prepare before taking action. You should pay special attention to the following items.

• Back up data on the old drive. You'd better create a data backup on the old drive to avoid data loss risks. To do this, you can use the Windows built-in backup tools or third-party backup tools, like EaseUS Todo Backup, but if you want to enjoy more practical and advanced functions, it is highly recommended to use EaseUS backup software.
• Decide the hard drive type. HDD or SSD? If you pursue large capacity but low price, an HDD will be your priority, while an SSD should be your top choice if you prefer high performance. Moreover, when selecting a new drive, you should ensure the disk interface of the new drive is compatible with your PC. Last, you should consider the storage capacity of your new drive. Generally, 500G is enough for OS installation, data saving, and future updates.

Once you get the new hard drive, you can start to learn how to change primary disk Windows 10.

FAQs about How to Change Default Drive Windows 10

Below are some frequently asked questions about how to change the default drive in Windows 10:

1. How do you change the default hard drive in Windows 10?

To change main hard drive on Windows 10:

• Go to the Control Panel and select System and Security.
• You'll see the Advanced System Settings window. Click Advanced, then click Settings under Startup and Recovery.
• In System Startup, click the Edit button. This will launch the Windows Boot Manager.
• Select the hard drive you want to set as the primary drive, then click Set as Default.
• Finally, click OK, and you have successfully changed your primary hard drive on Windows 10.

Or, to change default hard drive on Windows 10, follow these steps:

• Go to the Settings page.
• Click the System tab.
• Choose the Storage option.
• Select the new drive as the default location.
• Click on the Apply button.

2. Can you replace HDD with SSD without cloning?

Yes, you can replace HDD with SSD without cloning or change the primary hard drive without cloning. It is called clean installation. You must install Windows from scratch, reinstall the required drivers, and install the applications. Additionally, your data won't appear on the new SSD either.

To clean/fresh install Windows 10 on a new hard drive, you need to prepare a USB disk with a capacity of at least 8GB. Then, you need to create a Windows 10 bootable USB. Generally speaking, performing a clean installation of Windows 10 includes 3 parts:

• Creating a Windows 10 bootable USB.
• Booting your PC from the USB.
• Installing Windows 10 on the new drive.

3. Can I change the default drive without reinstalling Windows?

Yes, you can change your default hard drive without reinstalling Windows via cloning. If your default installation drive is full and you need to replace it with a larger one, you can clone your old disk to a new one by cloning it because cloning lets you transfer everything, including data and Windows, to another drive. So you do not need to reinstall your OS.

4. How do I change my default C drive to D drive?

• Step 1. Press Win + I to open Settings.
• Step 2. Click System.
• Step 3. In the left sidebar, click Storage.
• Step 4. Scroll down to the More storage settings section.
• Step 5. Click Change where new content is saved, such as from C drive to D drive.

To Wrap Things Up

This article describes how to change primary hard drive Windows 10 or how to change default hard drive Windows 10. You can pick the method above according to your needs. It is important to point out that cloning is a better way out than performing a clean installation. This is because cloning can help you migrate everything to a new disk without reinstalling OS or apps.

To clone a hard drive, you must utilize professional cloning software, such as EaseUS Disk Copy. Such a tool can let you clone a drive easily and quickly without trouble. It can also help you fix the cloned hard drive showing the wrong size error. Just download it and have a try! You will find how useful it is!