The User State Migration Tool (USMT) is a

command line utility A console application or command-line program is a computer program (application program, applications or utility software, utilities) designed to be used via a text-only user interface. A console application can be used with a computer termina ...

program developed by

Microsoft Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational corporation and technology company, technology conglomerate headquartered in Redmond, Washington. Founded in 1975, the company became influential in the History of personal computers#The ear ...

that allows users comfortable with

scripting language In computing, a script is a relatively short and simple set of instructions that typically automation, automate an otherwise manual process. The act of writing a script is called scripting. A scripting language or script language is a programming ...

s to transfer files and settings between

Windows Windows is a Product lining, product line of Proprietary software, proprietary graphical user interface, graphical operating systems developed and marketed by Microsoft. It is grouped into families and subfamilies that cater to particular sec ...

PCs. This task is also performed by

Windows Easy Transfer Windows Easy Transfer was a specialized file-transfer program developed by Microsoft that allowed users of the Windows operating system to transfer personal files and settings from a computer running an earlier version of Windows to a computer ...

, which was designed for general users but then discontinued with the release of Windows 10, where they instead partnered with Laplink. Starting with Windows 8, many settings and data are now being synchronized in cloud services via a Microsoft Account and

OneDrive Microsoft OneDrive is a file-hosting service operated by Microsoft. First released as SkyDrive in August 2007, it allows registered users to store, share, back-up and synchronize their files. OneDrive also works as the storage Frontend and backe ...

. USMT allows a high-volume, automated deployment of files and settings, and is also useful in migrating user settings and files during OS upgrades. Because USMT has high complexity and a command line interface, there have been several attempts to provide access to its useful functionality by creating

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wrappers for it. 32-bit to 64-bit migrations are supported, but 64-bit to 32-bit are not. USMT 4 is included in the

Windows Automated Installation Kit Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (Windows ADK), formerly Windows Automated Installation Kit (Windows AIK or WAIK), is a collection of tools and technologies produced by Microsoft designed to help deploy Microsoft Windows operating system ima ...

. USMT 5 is included in the

Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (Windows ADK), formerly Windows Automated Installation Kit (Windows AIK or WAIK), is a collection of tools and technologies produced by Microsoft designed to help deploy Microsoft Windows operating system ima ...

(ADK). Versions of the USMT are included in the Windows ADKs for Windows 10, versions 1511 and 1607.

Overview

USMT consists of two separate programs. Scanstate.exe scans the source PC for the data and settings and stores it in a file. Loadstate migrates the data and settings from the file onto the target PC. What to transfer is specified as commandline switches in the configuration XML files migapp.xml, migsys.xml, miguser.xml and other optional Config.xml files. Which Users (and their data) to transfer is controlled by other switches. An example of a "load data on to PC" command could look like this (in one line – newlines and indents added here for readability): loadstate "Y:\temp\Migrationstorage\WS_toolshop1" /i:"Y:\temp\Migrationstorage\WS_toolshop1\migapp.xml" "Y:\temp\Migrationstorage\WS_toolshop1\migsys.xml" /i:"Y:\temp\Migrationstorage\WS_toolshop1\miguser.xml" /ue:*\* /ui:gutte /ui:Lotta /lac /lae /progress:"C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temp\USMTprog.log" /l:"C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temp\USMTscan.log".. /c The "Scanstate" command is similar in complexity. Both commands require strict adherence to syntax.

Supported OSes

What USMT transfers

USMT transfersmore details o
Microsoft Docs
/ref> * Selected User Accounts * Files and folders * E-mail messages, settings, and contacts * Photos, music, and videos * Windows settings * Program data files and settings * Internet settings

GUI wrappers for USMT

Because of the complexity of USMT command-line input, there have been third-party attempts to create GUI front-ends for it. These include (but are not limited to):
Workstation Migration Assistant
(open-source with source code posted o
GitHub
* Super Grate (focus on remote migration: open-source with source code posted o
GitHub

M.U.S.T. - Move User's Stuff Tool
(free USMT GUI that encapsulates most features of USMT4 plus more)
USMT XML Builder
(focus on editing USMT XML template files)
USMTGUI
(Use advanced USMT features - simply. A "one window GUI" for USMT.) Both ''Workstation Migration Assistant'' and ''USMT XML Builder'' are out of date but there are up to date commercial GUI's for USMT.

References

{{Reflist

External links

User State Migration Tool Technical Reference
at Microsoft Docs
Win User Migration Tool (WUMT) - Migrate user profile to another Windows computer
at ELSATE.com Software features Microsoft software