Moss biocrusts are a promising biomaterial for dryland restoration, but conventional inoculation methods are often constrained by limited propagules, complex implementation, and slow establishment. Employing a "greenhouse cultivation to ex-situ transplantation" strategy, this study transplanted prefabricated moss biocrust carpets to the Mu Us Sandland to evaluate their short-term physiological responses and ecological benefits. Within 90 days posttransplantation, the moss biocrust carpets successfully established. Despite initial stress and reduced coverage, they recovered quickly, a resilience enabled by the rapid adjustment of their photosynthetic and antioxidant enzyme systems. The established carpets yielded immediate ecological benefits, significantly reducing surface wind erosion by 69.07% and increasing soil water content in the underlying 0-10 cm soil layer by 16.11%. Notably, the carpets significantly shifted microbial community structures; additionally, bacterial Chao1 and Shannon indices increased by 27.41% and 7.53%, respectively (p < 0.05). Regarding functional potential, bacterial functional profiles were broadly enriched, whereas the fungal community exhibited an enrichment of potential plant pathogens and an inhibition of key decomposers. At the network level, the carpets enhanced the complexity and cooperativity of both microbial networks, with the proportion of positive correlations increasing to 69.0% and 73.3%, respectively. This research validates prefabricated moss biocrust carpets as a feasible strategy for rapid sand stabilization, overcoming the limitations of traditional in situ inoculation. Their immediate benefits are driven by the rapid amelioration of the soil environment and initial shifts in microbial communities, highlighting their immense potential for restoring desertified lands.