[2021] Three Ways to Convert MBR to GPT Disk on Windows 10

To convert the drive without losing data in your other partitions, you can use the built-in Windows feature called "Disk Management" or a third-party tool like Qiling Disk Master or Acronis True Image.

If you're overwhelmed with search results about converting MBR to GPT, this article will help you cut through the noise and provide a clear solution. We'll explore three methods to convert MBR to GPT, including using a third-party partition tool, the built-in disk management feature, and the diskpart command. This will give you a straightforward guide to making the conversion process easier.

If you choose the Windows built-in tool, you'll need to delete existing disk volumes, which can result in data loss. To avoid this, it's recommended to use Qiling Partition Master, which allows you to change the partition style in just 3 easy steps.

PAGE CONTENT:

When Do You Need to Convert MBR to GPT
Method 1. Change MBR to GPT with Reliable Partition Tool (Recommended)
Method 2. Convert MBR to GPT Disk with Disk Management
Method 3. Convert MBR Disk to GPT Disk Using DiskPart

When Do You Need to Convert MBR to GPT

Both MBR and GPT are partition styles used by Windows to access data on a disk. While you can typically use your disk without issues regardless of the partition style, there are situations where converting from MBR to GPT or vice versa may be necessary.

You want more partitions on your hard drive

MBR disks allow only four primary partitions, requiring an extended partition for additional partitions beyond that limit.

Your hard drive is larger than 2TB

The GPT partition style is more robust and allows for volumes bigger than 2TB, making it a better choice for hard drives over 2TB.

You want to perform system clone

When cloning Windows or migrating an OS, it's essential to ensure that both the source and target disks have the same partition style to ensure smooth booting. MBR disks support BIOS mode, while GPT disks support UEFI mode, so matching these boot modes is crucial for a successful transfer.

3 Ways to Convert MBR to GPT Without Data Loss in Windows 10

You can convert an MBR disk to a GPT disk using three methods: Disk Management, DiskPart command, or third-party software. These options provide a straightforward way to transition from the older MBR partitioning scheme to the more modern and flexible GPT scheme, allowing for larger disk sizes and improved partition management.

Method 1. Change MBR to GPT with Reliable Partition Tool (Recommended)

If you use the Windows built-To convert a MBR disk to GPT disk without losing data, you need to back up the entire disk first, which can be time-consuming due to the large amount of data stored on a typical disk. This is because utilities like Disk Management or diskPart require deleting all existing volumes on the disk before converting it to GPT format.

To convert an MBR disk to a GPT disk, try using Qiling Partition Master, a reliable partition tool that allows direct conversion without data loss. Simply select the disk and choose "Convert to GPT" in the software, eliminating the need to delete disk volumes as with Disk Management or DiskPart.

Important

If your disk is a data drive, you can convert it from MBR to GPT directly, but if it's a system disk, ensure your OS and motherboard support UEFI boot mode before converting the disk to GPT, as GPT system disks can only be booted from UEFI mode.

Free Download

To convert MBR to GPT:

Step 1. Download and launch Qiling Partition Master on your Windows computer.

Step 2. Click the MBR disk that you want to convert.

Step 3. Click "More..." and click "MBR -> GPT" to convert partition.

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MBR to GPT: How to Convert MBR to GPT in Windows 10/8/7 [2021 New]

Here are three ways to convert MBR to GPT in Windows 10/8/7, removing the 'Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk has an MBR partition table' error. You can use the built-in Disk Management tool, a third-party software like AOMEI Partition Assistant, or a command-line utility like MBR2GPT in Windows 10. These methods are straightforward and effective, allowing you to convert your disk from MBR to GPT without losing any data.

Method 2. Convert MBR to GPT Disk with Disk Management

To convert a disk from MBR to GPT, you must first delete all volumes on the hard drive, as the "Convert to GPT Disk" option is greyed out in Disk Management otherwise. This means you'll need to back up any existing files on the disk before proceeding. While manually copying files and folders can be done, it's a time-consuming process. A faster alternative is to use Qiling Backup, a free backup software that can efficiently make a backup of your disk. Once the backup is complete, you can safely delete all volumes on the hard drive, allowing you to convert the disk to GPT.

To convert your MBR disk to a GPT disk, start by keeping your data safe. Once that's done, you can follow the steps outlined in Disk Management to make the conversion.

Step 1. Right-click on "This PC", choose "Manage", then head to "Disk Management".

Step 2. If you accidentally deleted a volume in Disk Management, you can recover the partition and the files on it. To do this, right-click the volumes on your target disk and choose "Delete Volume...".

Step 3. When your disk becomes empty (shows as unallocated space), right-click your disk and choose "Convert to GPT Disk".

Now that the MBR disk has been converted to a GPT disk, you can proceed to create new volumes on the disk to utilize it for data storage. This step is unnecessary if you're using the Qiling partition tool, as you can directly use it after the conversion.

Step 1. Right-click the unallocated space and choose "Create New Simple Volume..."

Step 2. Then you will see the "New Simple Volume Wizard" dialog box, click "Next" to continue.

Step 3. To create a new partition on a disk, follow the wizard to specify the volume size, assign a drive letter or path, and format the partition. This will create a new simple volume. The process can be repeated to create additional partitions on the disk.

Step 4. You can copy the files you have backed up back to your disk according to your needs.

Method 3. Convert MBR Disk to GPT Disk Using DiskPart

DiskPart is a command-A line utility in Windows can be used to manage disk or disk partitions, allowing you to convert a MBR to GPT disk. However, this process requires deleting the volumes on the disk first, necessitating data backup if you prefer this method.

Step 1. Click the "Start" button and type cmd.

Step 2. Right-click "Command Prompt" and choose "Run as administrator".

Step 3. When you see a dialog box asking you for permission, click "Yes".

Step 4. Enter the following commands one by one to delete the volumes on the disk:

diskpart
list disk
select disk 1
clean

If you mistakenly cleaned a partition, you can undo DiskPart clean to retrieve your files.

Step 5. After deleting the partitions on your disk, you can now convert MBR to GPT:

list disk
select disk 1
convert gpt
exit

The Bottom Line

The main difference between using Windows built-in utilities and third-party software is whether to delete disk volumes. Using a third-party tool like Qiling partition software, which can convert MBR to GPT, is the easiest way to make this change, and can also perform additional tasks such as cloning disks and migrating OS. This approach is recommended if you want to convert a system disk from MBR to GPT.