To keep your Windows installation when upgrading a handheld PC’s internal SSD, clone the existing drive to the replacement SSD with both drives connected to a compatible enclosure or adapter, then swap the drives. First confirm your handheld’s exact model, operating system, and SSD size: the right hardware and recovery steps differ by device. Back up important files and find your BitLocker recovery key before you begin.
Check that this guide fits your handheld
This process is for a handheld gaming PC running Windows with a user-replaceable internal SSD. Check the manufacturer’s instructions for your exact model before buying a drive or opening the case. A device that looks similar may use a different SSD size or have a different teardown.
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For the Ally models covered in ASUS’s guide dated October 15, 2025, the documented SSD sizes are:
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| Handheld | Documented internal SSD |
|---|---|
| Original ROG Ally | 2230 M.2 NVMe |
| ROG Ally X | 2280 M.2 NVMe |
| ROG Xbox Ally | 2280 M.2 NVMe |
| ROG Xbox Ally X | 2280 M.2 NVMe |
These sizes are not universal across handheld PCs. ASUS says users can clone an Ally’s current drive with an external SSD enclosure, but its guide does not provide cloning-software steps. See ASUS’s model-specific SSD upgrade guide for its hardware procedure.
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Choose cloning or a factory recovery
Cloning copies the current Windows installation and aims to retain files, apps, game installations, and configuration. It requires a compatible enclosure or adapter and cloning software. The exact cloning steps, partition behavior, and boot prompts depend on the tool and device, so follow the software maker’s current instructions rather than assuming every tool uses the same options.
Factory recovery is a different route: it reinstalls the manufacturer’s software rather than preserving your current setup. On supported ASUS devices, Cloud Recovery restores the OS storage device to its original state and erases its data. It requires Wi-Fi or LAN and power; ASUS estimates about 1–3 hours depending on network quality and system configuration. Details are in ASUS’s Cloud Recovery FAQ, updated February 24, 2026.
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If the handheld runs SteamOS, do not follow Windows cloning or recovery steps as though they were interchangeable. Use the device maker’s OS-specific documentation; Valve provides a separate SteamOS Installation and Repair route.
Prepare the replacement drive and protect your data
- Confirm the replacement SSD’s physical M.2 size and NVMe interface against the exact handheld model.
- Choose an external enclosure or adapter that supports both that physical size and NVMe. Not every M.2 enclosure supports every M.2 drive.
- Back up important files independently. Do not treat the original SSD as your only copy.
- If BitLocker is enabled, locate the recovery key before starting. ASUS says encrypted files must be unlocked with the key to back them up. Do not assume cloning will produce a particular BitLocker prompt or outcome.
- Use a currently supported cloning tool and read its instructions for source selection, target selection, partition handling, and completion checks. The existing internal SSD must be the source; the new SSD must be the target. Reversing them can overwrite the drive you meant to keep.
Clone the existing SSD
- Connect the new SSD. Put the replacement drive in a compatible NVMe enclosure or connect it with a compatible adapter, then attach it to the handheld. Confirm the cloning program identifies both drives correctly.
- Select the copy direction. Choose the current internal SSD as the source and the replacement SSD as the destination. Check the drive identities and capacities before confirming; selecting the wrong destination can erase data.
- Handle partitions as the tool directs. Follow its current instructions for copying the required partitions and using the destination’s available capacity. Partition expansion and other options vary by tool; do not guess if an option is unclear.
- Wait for the tool to report completion. Do not disconnect the enclosure or shut down while cloning is in progress. Use the tool’s completion checks, but treat them as an initial confirmation rather than proof that the new drive boots correctly.
- Shut down fully. Once the cloning program reports completion, power the handheld off before opening it or disconnecting the external drive.
Install the cloned SSD using the exact model’s hardware guide
Opening a handheld is model-specific. Follow the manufacturer’s teardown for your exact model, including how to disconnect the battery and any internal cables. For the Ally family covered by ASUS’s guide, ASUS says to discharge the battery to 25% or below and remove microSD cards before opening the unit. It calls for disconnecting the battery before replacing the SSD and warns that a back-panel ribbon cable on some models can tear if pulled carelessly. ASUS lists a size 0 Phillips screwdriver and a thin plastic pick for its procedure. Do not substitute a teardown for a visually similar model.
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Boot and verify before reusing the old SSD
Start the handheld with the replacement installed, then check that the cloned system behaves as expected. Keep the original SSD untouched until these checks are complete:
- Windows starts successfully, including after a full shutdown and restart.
- Your important files, game libraries, apps, and settings are present.
- The expected partitions appear and Windows recognizes the replacement drive’s capacity. A clone may require a tool-specific step to use unallocated space; consult that tool’s instructions if the reported capacity is smaller than expected.
- Windows Update and the handheld’s essential controls, such as buttons, sticks, and wireless connectivity, work.
- If Windows asks for a BitLocker recovery key, use the key you located before the upgrade. The exact post-clone BitLocker behavior depends on the device and cloning tool.
Only erase or repurpose the original SSD after the replacement has passed your checks and you have a separate backup of anything important.
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If cloning is not suitable or does not work
For a supported ASUS model, Cloud Recovery is one possible fallback, but it erases the OS storage device and restores it to factory state; it does not preserve the previous Windows setup. It needs a network connection and power, and ASUS’s estimate is approximately 1–3 hours depending on network quality and system configuration. If the new drive does not boot after cloning, keep the original drive intact while you consult the cloning tool’s instructions and the handheld manufacturer’s model-specific support guidance.
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