How to Install Windows on SSD via 2 Easy Ways 🏆

Follow the complete guide to install Windows on SSD and set it as the boot drive. You can choose EaseUS Partition Master to migrate Windows 11/10 from HDD to SSD without reinstalling or create a Windows installation media to reinstall Windows 11/10 on SSD.

Stay chill when experiencing a similar issue as the following two examples, EaseUS will assist you in efficiently installing Windows to SSD on your own:

Complete Procedure to Install Windows on SSD

Here is a quick navigation of the complete procedure for installing Windows to SSD, and here we'll take Windows 10 as an example to show you the details:

So, how do I know which method is more suitable for me? Check the selection tips here:

1. ✔️ For Windows beginners and non-technical users, you can easily follow Way 1 to transfer Windows OS to SSD.
2. ✔️ For advanced Windows fans, you can manually follow Way 2 to get Windows installed on SSD by taking a little more effort.

Preparation: Get Everything Ready

Getting everything ready is essential to ensure the installation of Windows to SSD is smooth. Here is a list of tips for you to check：

• Install SSD to your PC correctly via SATA connection cable or SSD slot. 
• Initialize SSD for Windows installation or migration. It's vital that you initialize SSD to MBR or GPT according to the Windows requirements. 
• Back up data to another disk if the SSD stores your personal content.

#1. Migrate Windows to SSD Instead of Installation

• ⏱️Duration: 25-30 minutes
• 🎯Applies to: Switch Windows to SSD, upgrade OS disk to SSD, no system reinstallation.
• 👔Who to Use It: Beginners, non-technical users, and IT service providers.

Whether you upgrade your entire computer disk or migrate Windows 10 OS to the new SSD, it's wise to turn to reliable OS migration software for help instead of using the manual method shown in Way 2. EaseUS Partition Master is the top recommendation of a magic partition tool that you can trust. Its Migrate OS feature lets you safely switch Windows 10 on SSD from HDD/SSD within several clicks.

Here is how to do so:

1. Launch EaseUS Partition Master, go to the Clone section, click "Migrate OS" and click "Next" to continue.

2. Select the target SSD you want to migrate Windows OS to, and click "Next".

3. Click "Yes" to confirm the you want to exceute the operation. 

4. Click "Start" to start migrating your OS to the new SSD.

5. When the process completes, you'll see a confirming message, asking "if you want to start up computer from the clone target disk".

Tick "Adjust the order to boot from the clone target disk" and click the respective button through your demands. 

• Reboot Now means to reboot your PC and configure the computer to boot OS from the new disk immediately.
• Done means you want to make the changes later. 

With this method, you can also install Windows 10 without product key. When the procedure completes, EaseUS Partition Master will prompt notification information to confirm with you whether you want to configure the new SSD as the boot drive. If you click "Yes", the program will order Windows to reboot and load the system information from the new SSD. All you need is to log in with your password when the computer boots up again.

If you're unsure about any aspect of this procedure, our dedicated help desk is available to address your concerns and provide solutions.

This is the easy and simple procedure of switching Windows to SSD without reinstallation. If you like this tool and it did help you accomplish the OS disk upgrade task, share this to help more of your friends online:

And you can also explore more details in the following tutorial video related to setting SSD as the Windows boot drive:

#2. Fresh Install Windows on SSD (Windows 10/11, etc.)

• ⏱️Duration: 30-45 minutes
• 🎯Applies to: Install Windows to a new SSD to gain dual boot OS, change OS disk with a newer Windows system, etc.
• 👔Who to Use It: Experienced and advanced Windows owners

Sometimes, you have to start a fresh install of Windows 10, especially when your current system is crushed or dies. Follow the below guide carefully and prepare all the necessary tools beforehand, you can install and run a fresh OS on the new SSD.

Step 1. Create Windows Installation Media to a USB Drive

First, click the link here to download installation media for Windows. And next, format a USB flash drive to FAT32. Double-click the installation media to create a bootable USB flash drive.

With the bootable installation media at hand, now head to the detailed steps to reinstall Windows 10 on SSD.

Step 2. Configure the Computer to Boot from USB Installation Media

Remove the old HDD and connect the new SSD to your computer. Insert the bootable USB flash drive, reboot the PC, and press F2/Del key to set your computer boot order to the USB drive in BIOS settings. Make sure that you boot the PC from the installation media. The installation should start.

Step 3. Install Windows to SSD 

Click "Install Now" on the Windows Setup screen. During the installation process, skip the steps that ask for a product key and select the option "I am Reinstalling Windows 10 on this PC", and activation will not be an issue. Then, configure "Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)", your PC will have a digital entitlement stored on the Microsoft Servers.

Step 4. Complete Windows Installation Process

Then, follow the onscreen instructions to set Windows and wait for the computer to reboot several times. When you see the Windows logo, it means you've completed the process. And you can enjoy new Windows running on SSD. 

Configure SSD as the Boot Drive

While installing, your system will reboot. If the Windows installation procedure completes, but the OS is still not booting, the possible reason is that you haven't set the computer to load OS from the SSD yet. Here is how to do so:

 

When Windows 10 has finished installing and the desktop appears, you can shut down your system and remove the installation media. The next time you start the computer, your PC will boot Windows 10 from the new SSD.

Read Also: Install Windows 10 on New PC Without Operating System 

Share this article to get others to learn how to install Windows 10 and boot it.

Extended Reading for Fixing Cannot Install Windows on SSD

Chances are that when you choose to use the Windows installation media way to reinstall Windows 10 on SSD, some strange error messages will prevent you from successfully installing the operating system on the selected hard drive.

Read Also: Windows 10 Won't Install on SSD

Error 1. Can't install Windows 10 on a new SSD

For a new SSD that is not initialized at the beginning, you need to:

1. 1. Connect the new SSD to your computer.
2. 2. Open Disk Management and right-click to initialize the SSD.
3. 3. Set the Disk style to MBR or GPT, making it the same as the current OS disk. 
4. 4. Then, you can install Windows OS on SSD. 
5. 5. Last, don't forget to re-enter the BIOS settings and configure Windows to boot from the new SSD.
6. 6. If the PC fails to boot up, reboot PC into BIOS and configure the computer to UEFI mode.

2. Windows cannot be installed on this disk. The selected disk is of the GPT partition style.

Usually, the error message that appears on the screen is Windows cannot be installed onto this disk. This computer's hardware may not support booting to this disk. Ensure the disk's controller is enabled in the computer BIOS menu.

We fixed this problem in the article on how to fix Windows cannot be installed to this disk:

No matter whether the SSD is not being initialized or the selected disk is of GPT partition style, you can easily fix the trouble with the help of EaseUS Partition Master and continue installing Windows 10 on SSD without any hassle.

3. How to Install Windows 10 on New SSD without USB

In the procedure of installing Windows systems, some users would come up with the thought that installing Windows via a USB drive is way too complex for them. And some would need a detailed tutorial guide for installing Windows on a new SSD without using the USB drive. 

If you are one of them, check and go further to accomplish the task here on this tutorial page :

Conclusion

On this page, we collected 2 efficient methods and showed you the complete procedure of how to install or move Windows on SSD. To do so, you should:

• Prepare SSD and backup essential content
• Select a suitable method based on your demand - to migrate or clean install Windows on SSD
• Configure new SSD as boot drive

The process is a bit complex for beginners and make sure you follow the step-by-step guide carefully. If you have further questions, follow to find answers here.

FAQs Of Installing Windows

1. Do I need a license key after installing Windows on SSD?

Yes, sure. Windows operating system limits users from accessing its full features via a license key. It has a 30-day trial feature that you can use the operating system for a try in 30 days. However, to ensure your data and privacy is securely protected, we suggest you activate your Windows with a genuine license key once you finish installing the system on SSD.

2. How do I install Windows on a new SSD without USB?

To install Windows on a new SSD without the USB, you have two options:

• One is to use the Windows system backup image feature to create a system image and restore it to the new SSD.
• The other option is to migrate OS to SSD via reliable system migration software like EaseUS Partition Master. 

3.  How can I install Windows 10 on SSD without removing HDD?

• Install SSD to Windows 10 and initialize SSD to the same disk type as the OS HDD.
• Launch EaseUS Partition Master, go to its Clean feature, and select "Migrate OS".
• Select SSD as the target, and click "Next", and "Yes" to confirm.
• Click "Execute Task" to start the OS migration.
• Then, click "Yes" then the process finishes and the software ask if you want to boot system from the new SSD.