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Clone a drive or card, byte for byte

Disk Cloner copies everything on a card or drive, including the parts a normal copy skips. Save it as an image file, write an image back, or copy one drive straight onto another.

Download for Mac Download for Windows How it works

Free in AMWT Desktop · macOS 13 or later · Windows 10 and 11 (early access)

Coming in the next version of AMWT Desktop. The download today is version 1.0.0, which has Data Recovery; it updates itself when the new version is out.

Disk Cloner in AMWT Desktop: three ways to copy, then the drives to copy from.

Disk Cloner

What it does

  • Drive to an image fileA complete copy as one file on your computer. The best first step with a card that may be failing: it is read once, gently, and everything after reads the copy.
  • Image file to a driveWrite a backup you made, or an installer image (.img, .iso), onto a card or USB stick.
  • Drive to driveCopy one card or drive straight onto another that is at least as big, then check that the copy matches.

How it works

Disk Cloner in three steps

  1. Choose what to copy

    Drive to image, image to drive, or drive to drive.

  2. Choose where it goes

    The target must be at least as big. Everything on a target drive is replaced.

  3. Type REPLACE to confirm

    Both drives are unmounted while they are copied. Stopping part way leaves the target unfinished.

Good to know

What it can and can't do

  • This version copies external drives, cards and image files. Your computer's own drive can't be the source or the target.
  • Parts of the source that can't be read are copied as blank space and counted, so you know the copy has gaps. If there are many, back up to an image file first.
  • On a bigger target, the space after the copy is left as it is, so the drive looks the same size as the source until you format it.
  • Compressed Apple disk images (.dmg) can't be written to a drive; use a raw image (.img, .dd, .iso).

Questions

Questions about Disk Cloner

How do I clone a hard drive on a Mac?
Connect both drives, open Disk Cloner, choose Drive to drive, then the source and the target, and type REPLACE. Tick the check afterwards to compare the copy with the source.
What is the difference between cloning and copying files?
Copying files copies what the file system lists. Cloning copies every block, so deleted files that could still be recovered, the partition layout and the file system all come across.
Can I clone a failing SD card?
Yes, and it is the safest thing to do first. Drive to an image file reads it once, retries bad spots gently, and stops if the card is clearly dying. Then scan or copy from the image.
Does the target need to be the same size?
It needs to be at least as big as the source.
Is it free?
Yes. Disk Cloner is free in AMWT Desktop.

Copy a drive onto a new one