word documents

1

If you used OneDrive on the old PC to sync your files to the cloud, then on the new PC, if you log into Windows with the same Microsoft account, the files should sync down to the new PC.

2

If not, if you log into OneDrive on this link (https://onedrive.live.com/), do you find your files there available to download to the new PC?

3

If you did not use OneDrive on the old PC, the best and quickest option would be to copy out your files onto a USB from the old PC, then copy them into the new PC.

To get saved Word documents from the old computer onto the new one without using the cloud, copy the files with an external storage device (such as a USB drive or external hard drive), then move them to the new PC.

Follow these steps on the old computer:

1. Connect an external storage device to the old Windows PC.
2. Open File Explorer from the taskbar.
3. Browse to the folders where Word documents are stored (commonly Documents, Desktop, Downloads, or any custom folders).
4. To select multiple files, hold CTRL while clicking each file or folder.
5. With the files/folders selected and the Home tab active, select Organize > Copy to, then choose the external storage device from the list.
6. Wait for the copy to finish.
7. Safely remove the drive by using Eject, then unplug it.

Then on the new computer:

1. Connect the same external storage device to the new Windows PC.
2. Open File Explorer from the taskbar.
3. In the left pane, select This PC, then double‑click the external drive.
4. Open the folder that contains the copied Word documents.
5. To move everything, go to the Home tab and select Select all, or select individual files.
6. In the Home tab, select Copy to, then choose the destination folder on the new PC (for example Documents). You can also select Choose location… to pick another folder.
7. After the copy completes, browse to the chosen folder on the new PC to confirm the documents are there.

Once the files are on the new PC, open Word, use File > Open, and browse to the folder where the documents were copied to start working with them.

References:

• Move your files to a new Windows PC
• Move your files to a new Windows PC using an external storage device
• Word for new users