The User State Migration Tool (USMT) is a command line utility program developed by

Microsoft Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational technology corporation producing computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related services headquartered at the Microsoft Redmond campus located in Redmond, Washing ...

that allows users comfortable with

scripting language A scripting language or script language is a programming language that is used to manipulate, customize, and automate the facilities of an existing system. Scripting languages are usually interpreted at runtime rather than compiled. A scripting ...

s to transfer files and settings between

Windows Windows is a group of several proprietary graphical operating system families developed and marketed by Microsoft. Each family caters to a certain sector of the computing industry. For example, Windows NT for consumers, Windows Server for serv ...

PCs. This task is also performed by

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

, 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. 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

GUI The GUI ( "UI" by itself is still usually pronounced . or ), graphical user interface, is a form of user interface that allows users to interact with electronic devices through graphical icons and audio indicator such as primary notation, inste ...

wrappers for it. 32-bit to 64-bit migrations are supported, but 64-bit to 32-bit are not. USMT 3.0.1 is publicly available. 3.0.2 is a limited private bugfix release on Microsoft Connect for a few affected customers. USMT 4 is included in the Windows Automated Installation Kit. USMT 5 is included in the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK).

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