How to Clone M.2 SSD with Only One Slot [Step-by-Step Guide]

Most laptops nowadays come with an M.2 slot for an SSD. If you want to clone M.2 SSD to another one, normally, you are required to have two M.2 SSD slots. Here we will show you how to clone M.2 SSD with only one slot successfully.

M.2 SSD is the next-generation storage device of the solid-state drive. It's smaller, faster, and more power-efficient than a regular SSD. So most people choose to use it as their hard drives. But with the use time increases, more and more data is stored in the SSD, and it gradually becomes full.

At this time, cloning M.2 SSD to a larger one is the best choice if you don't want to delete any data or reinstall the previous system. Moreover, if your M.2 SSD is going to fail soon, cloning it to another one in advance can avoid any data loss. This guide from EaseUS will offer your an effective way to clone M.2 SSD with only one slot.

Can I Clone M.2 SSD with Only One Slot? - 3 Methods

Most laptops nowadays come with only one M.2 slot for an SSD to meet the lightweight design need. If you want to clone an SSD to another destination disk, you are required to have two M.2 SSD slots to install both the source SSD and the target SSD. But if your PC only has one slot, how can you do it?

Actually, there are ways out. For laptops that have only one M.2 slot, 3 options are available based on users' feedback and our test.

• 1️⃣The first and easiest way to clone an M.2 SSD(SATA or NVMe) is to use an M.2-to-USB adapter/enclosure, which will connect the SSD to your computer via the USB interface. Then, clone the data, and swap to the new drive. Using this way, you need a reliable M.2-to-USB adapter(~$10-$30) and disk cloning software to clone a bootable hard drive, which will copy everything from the source disk to the target disk, including the operating system, boot sector, applications, files, etc.
• 2️⃣Besides, you can use a cloud service to upload the files to the cloud, then swap the drive and download files to the new M.2 SSD. It requires no extra hardware. However, with a very slow speed, this method only transfers files; the operating system and those hidden partitions cannot be copied. So, this way is not ideal for full system cloning.
• 3️⃣Moreover, some users also apply an M.2 SSD duplicator to create a 1-to-1 copy of their disk, which is very easy and fast to operate without using a PC. However, buying a duplicator is somewhat expensive(~$100 - $200), which is only worth it for IT professionals. What's more, M.2 SSD enclosure cloning method has the SSD type compatibility limitation, meaning you can only copy the same type of SSDs.

With three feasible methods, how do you choose the one that suits your situation? Here, we have made a comparison; please refer to it before making your decision.

Methods	1️⃣Use M.2-to-USB Adapter	2️⃣ Use Cloud Service	3️⃣ Use SSD Duplicator
Tools required	M.2-to-USB adapter and disk cloning software	A cloud service like Google Drive, OneDrive, etc	A physical SSD Duplicator
Copy data	Whole disk(OS, files, applications, etc.)	Only files	Whole disk(1:1 copy)
Speed	Fast(~500-1000 MB/s)	Very slow	Very fast (~2000 MB/s)
Cost	$15-$30	Free-$10/month	$100-$200
Best for	Most users	File backup only	IT professionals
Difficulty	Medium	Medium	Easy

Based on the above comparison chart, you can decide which way to make a copy of your M.2 SSD in the situation when your computer has only one M.2 SSD slot. Using a Cloud and SSD duplicator to clone an M.2 SSD can be operated easily by following the instructions. Here we'll mainly explain how to clone M.2 SSD without second slot by using an M.2-to-USB adapter. Let's get started.

Step Guide: How to Clone M.2 SSD with only One Slot

Now, let's dive into the detailed steps guidance to clone M.2 SSD when your device has only one slot.

Part 1. Prepare Cloning Tools

1️⃣USB-to-M.2 Addapter/Enclosure

First of all, you should get a correct adapter. Make it clear what types of M.2 SSD you use, SATA or NVMe. The adapter's price varies from $12-$30.

• For NVMe M.2 SSD enclosure(suitable for Samsung 980/990 Pro, WD Black SN850, Crucial P5, etc): Sabrent USB 3.2 Gen2, Orico USB 3.2 Gen2, UGREEN CM238 USB 3.2 Gen2, Acasis USB4
• For SATA M.2 SSD enclosure(suitable for Samsung 860 EVO、Crucial MX500、WD Blue, etc): Sabrent USB 3.0, ORICO US 3.0, UGREEN USB 3.0

2️⃣Cloning Software

A reliable cloning tool is very necessary when you clone date to the new M.2 SSD. Although Windows OS offers a built-in tool, called Backup and Restore to create a system image, you may encounter various issues while using it, like the Windows backup stuck at 97%, 57%, or 99%, failing to back up, etc. It will also take a lot of time on it.

Therefore, we recommend using professional HDD/SSD cloning software, like EaseUS Disk Copy, to help you. It is an ultimate disk cloning utility for Windows 11/10/8/7 to make the cloning process as easy as possible. Look at the information below to get to know more details about EaseUS Disk Copy:

Based on the above advantages, EaseUS Disk Copy is definitely your best choice to clone SATA/NVMe SSD. Download this awesome disk cloning software to clone M.2 SSD smoothly. 

Part 2. Connect the New M.2 SSD to Computer via Adapter

• With the adapter prepared, open the enclosure, insert the new SSD, and secure it.
• Make sure the new SSD is compatible with the hardware, you can check it in Disk Management.
• Then, connect the adapter to your PC correctly.

⚠️Note that you need to ensure the new M.2 SSD should be larger than the old M.2 SSD, or at least the used space should be less than the overall capacity fo the target SSD.

📖You may be interested: How to Clone SSD to New SSD Without Losing | How to Replace M.2 SSD in PC

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Part 3. Perform M.2 SSD Cloning

Since you have connected the SSD and installed the cloning software, follow the steps below to clone your SSD to M.2 SSD easily. Using EaseUS Disk Copy, 

🎯Key takeaways: How to clone M.2 SSD with only one slot: step-by-step

• 1️⃣Launch EaseUS Disk Copy and select Disk Mode.
• 2️⃣Select the old M.2 SSD as the source disk and click Next.
• 3️⃣Choose the externally connected SSD as the target disk and click Next.
• 4️⃣Adjust the disk layout according to your preference.
• 5️⃣Click Proceed to start the cloning process.

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.

Part 4. Replace the Old SSD with New Cloned SSD

• Power off your computer completely.
• Open the computer, navigate to the old M.2 SSD location.
• Replace it with the cloned one.

Part 5. Boot the Computer from the Clone M.2 SSD

• Restart your computer, and it will automatically boot from the new cloned SSD.

🎞️Video tutorial:

Watch this YouTube video if you prefer a visual guide. It will tell you practical ways to migrate M.2 SSD with only one bay and offer an easier way to clone M.2 SSD using EaseUS Disk Copy.

⌛Time Stamp:

• 00:26 - Prepare Tools and External Adapter
• 01:22 - Cloning M.2 SSD Using EaseUS Disk Copy
• 02:06 - Replace Old SSD and Boot from New SSD
• 02:32 - Using Windows Backup and Restore

📌Further reading: Migrate OS to Samsung M.2 NVMe SSD

Wrapping Up

That's how to clone M.2 SSD with only one slot. Hope this article is helpful to you. If you have any further questions, please real contact us. Also, if you need reliable hard drive cloning software, don't forget to try EaseUS Disk Copy!

⭐ Note: 

When cloning a hard drive with Windows 11/10/8/7 installed, we recommend you clone it to an external hard drive or connect the target disk to your computer via USB-to-SATA cable so that the disk copy program can detect and show it as unallocated space in the main interface. 

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FAQ on Cloning M.2 SSD with Only One Slot

1. Does M.2 slots matter?

The M.2 slot is designed for different applications and supports various widths and lengths. So it depends on what you're using the M.2 SSD for. If you're using it for storage, then any M.2 SSD will work fine. But if you're looking to use the SSD for speed, then ensure you get an M.2 PCIe SSD.

2. How do I clone NVMe SSD to another NVMe SSD?

To clone NVMe SSD to another NVMe SSD, you can use professional disk copy software like EaseUS Disk Copy. It provides two cloning modes for you to clone this type of SSD: clone only OS or used sectors. You can choose one of them according to your needs. 

3. Can you clone an M.2 SSD to a SATA SSD?

Yes. You can clone an M.2 SSD to a SATA SSD as long as the SATA SSD is larger than the used space on your M.2 SSD. And you can use hard drive  cloning software like EaseUS Disk Copy to help you with that.

4. Can I swap M.2 SSD without reinstalling Windows?

Creating a bootable cloned disk will eliminate the hassle of reinstalling the Windows operating systems and programs if you want to save time and money. Of course, you can also clone only OS to the new M.2 SSD if you don't want to move everything from your old drive.