Note, this blog post includes instructions for accessible PC to {PC data migration. If you are not comfortable performing any of the below actions, consult a professional or send us an email, located at the end of the post.
Welcome, fellow keyboard connoisseurs, to the exciting world of Windows 11! Let’s be honest, Windows 10 is starting to feel a bit like those days of “creative hair cuts,” for instance Windows 10 is like Kid, from “Kid & Play,” with the “high top box hair cut,” which is out of date, by a few decades. In the digital world, a single decade can be only 2 or 3 years, and Windows 10 has ran its course, box hair cut and all! Sure, Windows 10 served its purpose, but it’s time to embrace the sleek, modern lines of Windows 11. And for our screen reader users, the good news is that Microsoft has been working diligently to make this transition as smooth and keyboard friendly as possible. You’ve navigated countless interfaces with precision and grace, and this migration will be no different. You’ve got this!
Microsoft has been rolling out a fantastic built-in “PC to PC migration tool” specifically designed to simplify this process. This isn’t some obscure, buried feature; it’s right there in Windows, making the transfer of your files, settings, and even your app list surprisingly accessible. Imagine a digital convoy carrying all your precious cargo directly from your old PC to your new one! To kick things off, ensure both your Windows 10 source PC and your new Windows 11 destination PC are connected to the same network. On your old Windows 10 PC, your first stop is the Windows Backup app. You can find this by pressing Windows key + S to open Search, typing “Windows Backup,” and pressing Enter when your screen reader announces it. Once the app opens, navigate with Tab until you hear “Transfer to a new PC option,” then press Enter. Follow the prompts, pressing Tab to move to the “Next button,” and Enter to confirm. Your screen reader will announce the PC name displayed.
Now, shift your focus to your new Windows 11 PC. During the initial setup (or by opening Windows Backup later), when prompted with “Do you want to transfer information from another PC?”, navigate with Tab to the “Continue button” and press Enter. Your new PC will now be ready to pair. On this new PC, you’ll be prompted to type the name of your old PC, which your screen reader will have announced previously. Type the name, press Tab to “Next,” and Enter. Next, your new PC will display a one-time code. Listen carefully as your screen reader announces this code, then type it precisely into the old PC. Once the code is entered, the focus will automatically shift to the “Next button” on your old PC; press Enter to confirm and pair the two machines. Your screen reader will announce “What can be transferred,” followed by “Folders” and “Settings.” Use Tab to move between these options. To expand “Folders” and select specific items, press Enter. Then, use arrow keys to navigate the list of folders (e.g., Documents, Pictures, Videos, Music) and press Spacebar to select or deselect each. Once your selections are made, navigate with Tab to the “Start transfer button” and press Enter. You’ll hear “Your transfer has started” on your old PC, and “Transferring files” or similar on your new one. When the transfer is complete, navigate to the “Next button” on your new PC and press Enter to finalize the setup. It’s a surprisingly fluid process that respects your accessibility needs!
Beyond the direct PC-to-PC migration, remember the power of Microsoft’s cloud and backup solutions: OneDrive and Windows Backup. OneDrive is your digital safety deposit box in the sky. If you’ve been diligently saving files to your OneDrive folder on Windows 10, they’re likely already waiting for you on your new Windows 11 machine! Simply sign in with the same Microsoft account. To confirm your folder syncing on Windows 11, press Windows key + I to open Settings, navigate with Tab and arrow keys to “Accounts,” then “Windows backup.” Here, you can verify “OneDrive folder syncing” is enabled. For Windows Backup itself, this integrated feature allows you to back up not just folders (via OneDrive) but also your Windows settings, Wi-Fi networks and passwords, and even remembers the apps you had installed. While applications still need to be reinstalled, this saves you the hassle of manually remembering everything. To access this, press Windows key + S, type “Windows Backup,” and press Enter. Use Tab and Spacebar to toggle on the various backup options, like “Remember my preferences” and “Remember my apps.” During the initial setup of your new Windows 11 PC, you’ll be prompted to restore from a backup, and your screen reader will guide you through confirming your Microsoft account and selecting the backup to restore. With these tools, your transition won’t just be a transfer; it’ll be a seamless continuation of your digital life, proving that you truly are the master of your domain!
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