How to Clone Bootable SD Card to Another on Windows 11/10/8/7

A cloned bootable SD card is a great utility that helps you install an operating system onto a storage device, enabling it to boot on a host-compatible device. Whether you are troubleshooting, recovering data, or transferring an OS between devices, learning to clone bootable SD card is essential.

This tutorial from EaseUS will start by outlining the reasons that may demand cloning an SD card. We'll then list the preparations you need to make before initiating the process. After that, you'll learn about the most efficient tool for cloning your SD card to another. Keep reading.

Why to Clone a Bootable SD Card

Cloning a bootable SD card is essential to ensure data integrity, system continuity, and ease of upgrades or replacements. Here's why cloning a bootable SD card is important:

What to Do Before Cloning a Bootable SD Card

To make the cloning process smooth and error-free, you need to prepare. Here's what to do before cloning a bootable SD card:

• Backup data on the destination SD card: Cloning will overwrite all existing data on the destination card. If the card's data contains important information, make a backup so you won't lose it forever.
• Connect both SD cards to your computer: Use built-in or external SD card readers to connect the source and destination SD cards. Confirm that your computer recognizes both cards properly.
• Power supply: Ensure your computer has a stable power source so the cloning process is not interrupted. Disable sleep mode or hibernation to keep it running.
• Check the storage capacity of the destination SD card: Make sure the destination card has enough space to hold all data from the source card. It must match or exceed the storage capacity required by the source card's data.
• Download reliable SD card cloning software: Choose dependable cloning software for this task because Windows lacks built-in cloning features. Disk cloning tools like EaseUS Disk Copy can handle diverse storage devices and file systems, including NTFS, FAT32, and EXT4. Such software is handy for cloning HDDs, SSDs, or SD cards.

Completing these preparatory steps will set the stage for a successful and efficient cloning operation while safeguarding your data and system integrity.

How to Clone Bootable SD Card with EaseUS Disk Copy

EaseUS Disk Copy is the best disk clone software for disk cloning, partition migration, and operating system migration from a source disk. Besides this, it also supports numerous storage devices like hard drives, SSDs, USB drives, and SD cards.

This tool is efficient because it supports the sector-by-sector disk copy of the source SD card to the destination. It keeps the integrity of the data and maintains the bootable attribute. It's perfect for SD card upgrading, backing up, or migrating without file loss. With Disk Copy, you can clone multiple file systems. It even supports cloning a damaged disk and transferring data from the hard drive of a dead computer.

What more? The tool offers an easy interface for beginners and advanced users alike. Get EaseUS Disk Copy now and clone your SD card smoothly. You can get started in very simple steps.

Prior Notice:

• The "Sector by sector copy" asks the size of your destination disk to be at least equal to or larger than that of the source disk. Leave this feature unchecked if you wish to clone a larger hard disk to a smaller hard disk.
• All data on the destination disk will be completely erased, so take care.

Step 1. To start copying/cloning an entire disk to another, choose this disk as the source disk under "Disk Mode" and click "Next".

Step 2. Choose the other disk as the destination disk.

Step 3. Check the disk layout of the two disks. You can manage the disk layout of the destination disk by selecting "Autofit the disk", "Copy as the source" or "Edit disk layout". 

• "Autofit the disk" makes some changes by default on the destination disk layout so that it can work at its best status.
• "Copy as the source"does not change anything on destination disk and the layout is the same as source disk.
• "Edit disk layout" allows you to manually resize/move partition layout on this destination disk.

Tick the "Check the option if the target is SSD" option to put your SSD in its best performance.

A message now appears, warning you that data will be lost. Please confirm this message by clicking "OK" and then click "Next".

Step 4. Click "Proceed" to officially execute the task.

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Bonus Tip: Bootable SD Cards vs USB Drives

Though you can use both devices to store bootable media, they differ in some aspects. Their key similarity is that they support using non-volatile memory in file storage. Now, which is the most suitable one for your storage needs? You can check out the following comparisons to determine the best one: 

● Compatibility: USB Drives are universally compatible, as nearly all devices feature USB ports for direct connection. SD cards require an SD card slot or an external card reader, limiting their versatility if a compatible port is unavailable.

● Transfer Rate: USB 3.0 flash drives are way faster than Class 10 SD cards, but Class 10 SD cards are as fast as older USB 2.0 drives. SD Cards are generally slower unless you use the advanced UHS (Ultra High Speed) cards.

● Device Capacity: SD cards usually offer more storage capacity for the same cost as USB drives, making them more economical for higher-capacity needs. 

You can determine the best storage device for your needs based on these differences.

Conclusion

This article explored how to clone bootable SD card to another. You may want to do this for backup purposes or to expand storage. You can also clone your bootable SD card to another if you've discovered it's getting worn out. Preparation is key before initiating the cloning process. Try EaseUS Disk Copy today to efficiently clone your bootable SD card.

The tool guarantees the safety of your files during and after the SD card cloning process. Its sector-by-sector clone feature ensures you move all files from source to destination. It also supports different SD card brands. Download this tool now to clone your bootable SD card efficiently.

FAQs About Cloning Bootable SD Card

The common FAQs include:

1. Is It Possible to Clone Bootable SD Card?

The answer is YES. You can do that efficiently using a clone tool. Try EaseUS Disk Copy today to efficiently clone your bootable SD card to another. Cloning allows you to move all the contents of your bootable SD card to another without altering anything. 

2. What Are the Uses of a Bootable SD Card?

A bootable SD card is a lifesaver for troubleshooting and system recovery. A bootable SD card lets you boot into a different OS if your main OS is buggy or unresponsive. From there, you can run diagnostics, fix things, or recover important files with minimal downtime.

3. How to Make an SD Card Bootable?

You need special software like Rufus to boot up an SD card. Here's how:

• Step 1. Download your Windows 11/10 ISO file.
• Step 2. Download and run Rufus, the popular tool for creating bootable drives.
• Step 3. Choose the SD card from the list of devices. Pick FAT32 as your preferred file system.
• Step 4. Browse for the downloaded ISO image and select it.
• Step 5. Once you've set up everything, click the Start button to start burning the ISO file on your SD card. Once done, you'll have a bootable SD card.