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SPECIFICTION
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MigrationMerlin

github.com

Free plan Windows
Visit github.com
Spec score 8.0 #5 of 26 in PC Migration Software

What it is

MigrationMerlin is a free Windows tool for moving user state between PCs, aimed at sysadmins and power users. It wraps Microsoft’s User State Migration Tool, including scanstate.exe and loadstate.exe, and provides an arrow-key-driven text interface plus numbered batch wrappers for step-by-step migration. Both source and destination PCs must run Windows 10 or Windows 11, have administrator privileges, and be reachable on the same network with SMB port 445 open. The tool can configure an SMB transfer share on the destination PC, including a firewall rule. IncludeUsers and ExcludeUsers options let users select profiles. ExtraData can include taskbar pins, Wi-Fi profiles, power plans, and items covered by custom migration XML. Migration stores can be encrypted with AES-256, but the README says there is no recovery path if the key is lost. During capture and restore, the tool displays progress, file counts, and throughput. It writes transcript logs to the migration folder’s Logs directory and masks credentials in those logs. The project is MIT-licensed and distributes downloadable ZIP artifacts through rolling GitHub releases.

Spec sheet

Purpose
MigrationMerlin is a PC-to-PC user-state migration tool for Windows sysadmins and power users.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com
License
The repository links to an MIT license.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com
Maker
The linked GitHub profile identifies the maker as Mariana, username supermarsx.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com
Access controls
Optional settings can restrict share access to a source user and scope the firewall rule to a source IP address.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com
Distribution
The project describes itself as a rolling release and says downloadable ZIP artifacts are attached to GitHub releases.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com
Downloads
The project publishes downloadable ZIP artifacts on GitHub Releases as rolling releases.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com
Encryption
It can encrypt the migration store with AES-256, and the README says there is no recovery path if the encryption key is lost.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com
Extra data
An ExtraData option can include taskbar pins, Wi-Fi profiles, power plans, and items covered by the custom migration XML configuration.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com
Interface
It provides an interactive, arrow-key-driven TUI and numbered batch wrappers for a step-by-step migration.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com
Logging
The toolkit writes transcript logs to the migration folder's Logs directory and masks credentials in those logs.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com
Migration engine
It wraps Microsoft's User State Migration Tool, including scanstate.exe and loadstate.exe.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com
Migration extras
Its ExtraData option can include taskbar pins, Wi-Fi profiles, power plans, and configured rules for browsers, developer tools, SSH, Git, and VSCode.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com
Profile selection
IncludeUsers and ExcludeUsers options let users choose which profiles to migrate.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com
Progress and logs
It displays live progress, file counts, and throughput during capture and restore, and writes transcript logs with credential masking to the migration folder's Logs directory.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com
Requirements
Both PCs need administrator privileges and must be reachable on the same network with SMB port 445 open between them.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com
Support and testing
The repository documents a Pester v5 test suite with an expected baseline of 645 passed, 0 failed, and 2 environment-gated skipped tests.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com
Supported Windows versions
The source and destination PCs must run Windows 10 or Windows 11.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com
Testing
The README describes a Pester v5 test suite with about 645 tests and an expected baseline of 645 passed, 0 failed, and 2 skipped.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com
Transfer
The toolkit can automatically set up an SMB transfer share on the destination PC, including a firewall rule.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com
Transfer setup
It can automatically configure an SMB transfer share on the destination PC, including a firewall rule.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com
USMT wrapper
It wraps Microsoft's User State Migration Tool, including scanstate.exe and loadstate.exe, with an interactive text UI and batch wrappers.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com

Plans and prices

MigrationMerlin Free MIT-licensed software · Windows 10/11 · Administrator privileges on both PCs · Both PCs must share a network with SMB port 445 open Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com

Every MigrationMerlin plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Selective profile migration with IncludeUsers and ExcludeUsers
  • Can configure an SMB share on the destination
  • AES-256 encryption for migration stores
  • Shows progress, file counts, and throughput

Limits

  • Both PCs must run Windows 10 or Windows 11
  • Administrator privileges required on both PCs
  • Lost encryption keys have no recovery path

Who it suits

MigrationMerlin suits Windows sysadmins and power users moving profiles and settings between PCs. It requires administrator access and a shared network with SMB port 445 open.

Verdict

MigrationMerlin provides a free, selective Windows migration workflow with progress displays and optional encryption. Confirm network prerequisites first, and preserve any encryption key because there is no recovery path.

Where Specifiction places it

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