Full-guide: How to Install Windows 11 on SSD

Learn to install Windows 11 on SSD to get better computer performance with easy operation steps.

Lucas

By Lucas / Updated on October 26, 2023

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After Windows 11 was officially released, some people have already upgraded and some others choose to keep Windows 10 because the hardware requirements of Windows 11 are not easily accessible for some old devices. Now Windows 11 22H2 will come with new features but the basic system requirements are the same.

Windows 11 requirements

Can I install Windows 11 on SSD?

In fact, compared with HDD, SSD is a better choice to be set as your Windows 11 system disk.

▶ Advantages to setting an SSD as the system disk

• Faster speed: Due to the different work ways from HDD, SSD offers faster system boot speed and faster speed of reading & writing data.
• Outstanding performance: No matter physical security like reliability, size, etc., or run performance such as heat, power consumption, and noise, SSD has more excellent performance than HDD.

Preparation- Get a new SSD for installing Windows 11

So far so good, M.2 NVMe SSD might be the most popular and the best choice for many users as the boot disk, for its bandwidth can reach 10GB/S while M.2 SATA SSD only reaches 600 MB/S. You can select an appropriate SSD based on the situation of your device.

M.2 NVMe SSD

Because of the requirements of system firmware of Windows 11, the OS only supports UEFI with Secure Boot, users need to initialize a new SSD in the GPT partition table.

Step 1. Shut down the computer, open the computer case. Then, connect and insert the new SSD into the SSD slot and fasten it with screws. 

Step 2. Boot your computer, press “Windows” + “R” and type “diskmgmt. msc” to open Disk Management.

Step 3. Right-click the SSD, select “Initialize Disk”, and choose “GPT (GUID Partition Table)”, then click “OK” to save your choices.

Initialize SSD

Tip: If you have an extra SSD with MBR partition style but you wish to use it, you need to convert it to a GPT table before installation.

How to install Windows 11 on SSD?

After you set up your SSD, let’s see how to install Windows 11 on your new SSD. We have two methods to introduce you to.

Method 1. Migrate Windows 11 to SSD

This way is for people who may have Windows 11 on another device and wish to move it to an SSD or system update failed. For instance, you’ve installed Windows 11 on HDD or a small SSD but you wish to only transfer OS to your new/larger SSD to make it Windows 11 bootable.

Migrating OS and making sure it can boot successfully are not easy for many people. There are many things you need to pay attention to. Thus, we suggest you choose a professional third-party tool to help you. AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional is a nice one to do this mission for you. Its “Migrate OS to SSD” can only move all OS files and the OS-related partitions to the target disk and ensure it can boot smoothly without any worry of reinstalling.

Download Pro Demo Win 11/10/8.1/8/7/XP
Secure Download

Step 1. Install SSD on your machine. Install and run AOMEI Partition Assistant.

Click "Clone" and “Migrate OS” in the top menu. Click “Next” in the pop-up window.

Migrate OS to SSD

Step 2. Choose SSD as the destination disk space.

Select disk space

Step 3. Resize the partition you plan to store the OS.

You can drag the double-head arrow, or type the amount in the box directly.

Resize

Step 4. Check the note.

You’ll see a Note on how to boot OS from SSD that you need to pay attention to.

Boot note

Step 5. Confirm and apply the operation.

Click “Apply” to execute the pending operations.

Apply

Then, you can shut down your computer, reboot it and enter BIOS to change boot settings.

Method 2. Clean install Windows 11 on SSD from a USB drive

Notes:
1. Please prepare a USB that has 13GB or larger space and make sure it’s empty or you’ve made a backup for your files.
2. Download Windows 11 ISO file, if you want a clean installation.
3. Make a bootable Windows 11 installation USB media.

Step 1. Boot your PC via USB and enter BIOS.

Boot your computer and enter BIOS to set this USB as the boot drive.

Step 2. Enter setting window.

Follow the orders to install OS, and set the language, time, and keyboard, click “Next” to continue.

install Windows 11 from usb

Step 3. Click “Install now”.

Install Windows 11 from USB on SSD

Step 4. Choose “I don’t have a product key”.

Step 5. Select an OS edition.

You can choose a suitable OS to install and click “Next”.

Install Windows 11 on SSD

Step 6. Choose type of installation.

Accept the License Term and click “Next”, click “Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)” in the next window.

Install Windows 11 only

Step 7. Choose OS installation location.

Choose the SSD as the system disk, then click “Next”.

Install Windows 11 select SSD

Now please wait for the process and your PC will reboot.

Wait for installation of WIndows 11

Step 8. Enter BIOS to set this SSD as the boot drive.

Click “Boot”, and set “UEFI Hard Disk” as the boot drive.

UEFI boot order

Boot Windows

After you save the changes and exit, your PC will restart and boot in Windows 11 system.

Ending words

With this detailed full guide, hope you can successfully install Windows 11 on SSD and enjoy the new OS.

AOMEI Partition Assistant can not only migrate OS and create bootable media, as a multifunctional disk manager, it can also convert MBR system disk to GPT, clone disk/partition, and move installed programs to another drive/disk to release free space… Its Server edition can perfectly help Server users easily manage their disks.

FAQs about how to install Windows 11 on SSD

Should I format SSD before installing Windows 11?
Yes, before installing the operating system, you must format the disk or partition. You have the option of formatting the SSD now or later during the Windows installation process. Before formatting the SSD, make sure you've backed up any vital files.

Do I need to initialize SSD before installing Windows?
Before you can use your new SSD you have to initialize and partition it. If you are performing a clean installation of your operating system, or cloning to your SSD, it is not neccessary to follow these steps. A clean installation of your operating system or cloning to an SSD will initialize and partition the new SSD.

Why is my cloned SSD not booting Windows 11?
After cloning, you need to go into BIOS and set the Boot Order to Make SSD Bootable as the Boot Disk. Your machine will not start from the cloned SSD if it is not specified to be the first boot option in BIOS. As a result, you must enter BIOS and alter the boot order to make the SSD the boot drive.

Lucas
Lucas · Staff Editor
I prefer peaceful and quiet life during vacation,but sometimes I watch football match if my favorite club performs brilliantly in that season. And I love reading, painting and calligraphy, thus I send my friends festival handwriting cards every year.