User State Migration Tool

The User State Migration Tool (USMT) is a Microsoft command line utility program intended to allow advanced users, comfortable with Scripting languages, to transfer files and settings between PCs. This task is also performed by Windows Easy Transfer, recommended for general users. USMT supports the high-volume, automated deployment of files and settings from Microsoft Windows versions 2000, XP, Vista and Windows 7 and is useful in migrating user settings and files during OS upgrades. 32-bit to 64-bit migrations are supported, but 64-bit to 32-bit are not.

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 wrappers for it.

USMT 3.0.1 and 2.6.2 are available publicly. USMT 3.0.2 is a limited private release on Microsoft Connect for select affected customers. USMT 4 is included in the Windows Automated Installation Kit. USMT 5 and later versions are included in the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK).

USMT transfers

USMT was designed to move settings and data from one Windows-based computer to another. It is a command-line tool designed for system administrators and is an alternative to other GUI tools (e.g. Files and Settings Transfer Wizard and Windows Easy Transfer). USMT is designed to perform mass migrations and allows customizations designed for corporate environments.

With Windows 8, many settings and data are now being synchronized in cloud services via a Microsoft Account and Skydrive.

USMT consists of two separate programs. Scanstate.exe scans the source PC for the data and settings and stores it in a .MIG file. Loadstate migrates the data and settings from the .MIG 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):

The "Scanstate" command is similar in complexity. Both commands require strict adherence to syntax.

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