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Windows · Backup & Disk Imaging

Clonezilla for Windows

Free, open-source disk cloning and imaging tool that boots from USB or CD to clone or restore entire drives and partitions.

Updated August 9, 2026 · Reviewed by SoftNexi Editorial Team, Software research and documentation

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Overview

Clonezilla is a free, open-source disk imaging and cloning tool built on Debian Live and the DRBL project. It runs as bootable media rather than a Windows application: you boot the target machine from a Clonezilla USB or CD, then clone a drive to another drive, or save a partition/disk image to a file for later restoration.

It supports most common file systems (NTFS, ext4, and many others) and can clone disk-to-disk directly, or create compressed images stored on a local drive, network share, or server. The 'Live' edition is meant for single-machine use; a separate server edition (Clonezilla SE) supports imaging many machines over a network at once, aimed at IT deployment.

The interface is entirely text-menu driven — there's no graphical drag-and-drop — which makes it fast and lightweight but less approachable for users who've never used a boot-menu tool before. It's a favorite among IT technicians and enthusiasts for exactly that reason: it's scriptable, reliable, and free of any licensing restriction.

For a friendlier, Windows-native alternative with a graphical interface, Macrium Reflect or AOMEI Backupper cover similar ground with more hand-holding, at the cost of not being free for every feature.

Key features

  • Disk-to-disk cloning and disk/partition image creation and restore
  • Support for a wide range of file systems including NTFS, ext4, and more
  • Images can be saved locally, to a network share, or to a server
  • Multicast server edition (Clonezilla SE) for imaging many machines at once
  • Command-line-driven interface suited to scripting and automation
  • Runs as bootable media, independent of the installed operating system

System requirements

Boot method
Boots from USB, CD/DVD, or PXE network boot — not installed inside Windows
Target support
Clones and images most common file systems, including NTFS and ext4
Media creation
Requires a USB drive or blank disc to create bootable Clonezilla media

How to install Clonezilla

  1. 1. Download the ISO

    Get the stable or alternative ISO from clonezilla.org/downloads.php.

  2. 2. Create bootable media

    Use a tool like Rufus or Ventoy to write the ISO to a USB drive.

  3. 3. Boot the target machine from it

    Restart the machine, enter its boot menu, and select the Clonezilla USB drive to boot into the tool.

How to use it

  1. 1. Choose device-to-device or device-to-image

    At the main menu, pick whether you're cloning directly between two drives or creating/restoring an image file.

  2. 2. Select source and destination carefully

    Clonezilla will list detected drives by device name (like sda, sdb) rather than Windows drive letters — verify sizes and labels before confirming.

  3. 3. Save images to external storage

    For image mode, point Clonezilla at a USB drive or network share with enough free space to hold the compressed image.

  4. 4. Restore from an image

    Boot from the same Clonezilla media, choose restore mode, and select the saved image and the target drive.

Safety and privacy

  • Download only from clonezilla.org; the ISO is also mirrored on SourceForge from the same project.
  • Clonezilla is open source, and its Debian Live base is a widely used, well-reviewed foundation.
Bundled software
The official ISO contains no bundled third-party software.
Privacy
Runs entirely offline from bootable media; no account or telemetry is involved.

Known risks

  • Cloning to the wrong target drive overwrites it with no confirmation beyond the on-screen prompt — double-check source and destination drive letters before proceeding.
  • The text-menu interface has a learning curve; misreading a step can lead to an unintended full-disk overwrite.

What's new

  • Current stable and alternative branches

    Clonezilla publishes both a stable and a testing/alternative branch built on newer Debian bases. Check the developer's downloads page for the current branch versions and release notes.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Completely free and open source, including the multicast server edition
  • Reliable, scriptable, and widely used in IT environments
  • Broad file system support
  • Not tied to any single operating system for imaging

Cons

  • Text-menu interface has a real learning curve for first-time users
  • No live Windows application — always requires a boot from external media
  • Easy to select the wrong drive if you're not careful about device naming

Verdict

Clonezilla remains the standard free tool for disk cloning and imaging outside of Windows itself, especially for anyone comfortable with a boot-menu workflow. Users who want a graphical, Windows-native experience will likely prefer Macrium Reflect or AOMEI Backupper instead.

Frequently asked questions

Is Clonezilla free?

Yes, it's completely free and open source, including the network multicast server edition.

Does Clonezilla run inside Windows?

No, it boots from a USB drive or CD independently of any installed operating system, so it can clone the Windows drive itself while it's not in use.

Is Clonezilla beginner-friendly?

It has a real learning curve because of its text-menu interface. A graphical tool like Macrium Reflect or AOMEI Backupper may suit first-time users better.

Can Clonezilla clone a Windows drive to a different-sized drive?

It supports cloning to larger or, with care, smaller destination drives depending on used space, but you should read the on-screen prompts carefully during that step.