How to Fix Extend Volume Greyed Out in Windows 11?
If you have a PC or laptop that is running on Windows 11, it might give you a low disk space warning when you don't have sufficient space to save new files and programs. In such a scenario, you can consider extending the partition in order to manage your data. For this, Microsoft has added an "Extend Volume" feature in the built-in Disk Management utility.
It means you can use the Disk Management option to enlarge a partition in your Windows 11 PC or laptop. This tool is widely used for managing disk partitions. However, many users can feel a little disappointed when they find the option of extend volume greyed out windows 11.
If you are amongst them, you don't need to worry anymore. In this post, you will learn why Extend Volume option goes grey on your Windows 11 computer and an alternative method to fix the same issue. So, let's begin right away!
Why Extend Volume Greyed Out
When Windows 11 system drive is entirely full, you can shift or transfer your files and programs to free up some disk space. You can extend it with unallocated on the hard drive. But, here is the deal. The "Extend Volume" option under the Disk Management tool is only active when there is adjoining unallocated space available in the volume you wish to extend. Thus, the option of extend volume greyed out windows 11 due to the following reasons:
- When no unallocated space is available on dynamic disks
- There is no contiguous unallocated space behind the primary partition that you want to extent
- The hard drive partition that you want to enlarge is not an NTFS file system partition. It is because Microsoft enables the Extend Volume feature in the Disk Management Utility when there is RAW or NTFS partition
How to Fix Extend Volume Greyed Out
In order to fix the issue of extend volume greyed out windows 11, you can use two methods. Now, let's discuss them one by one.
Option 1: Free Up Space Next to Drive
Option 2: Fix Extend Volume Greyed Out Windows 11 with "Shrink Volume"
Option 3: Fix Extend Volume Greyed Out Windows 11 with No Adjacent Unallocated Space
Option 1: Free Up Space Next to Drive
If you want to extend C drive volume but you find that extend volume is greyed out in Windows 11, that's because there is no free or unallocated space after the drive C partition. Thus, you need to delete a blank or useless partition. It will leave free space or unallocated space next to the primary volume. So, to get rid of the issue of extend volume greyed out windows 11 with Disk Management Utility, follow the below mentioned instructions:
Step 1: Press the combination of "Windows + X" keys and click on the "Disk Management" option.
Step 2: Right-click on the empty or useless partition next to the primary volume. Click on the "Delete Volume" option.
Note: Go with the delete option only if it doesn't have your data, or you can move the files of the partition to another one before deleting.
Step 3: Click on the "Yes" option on the warning message. You'll see that the partition has free space.
Step 4: Click on the "Delete Partition" option once more.
With this, you will be able to extend the volume of the primary partition. Moreover, you will not face the issue of extend volume greyed out windows 11.
Option 2: Fix Extend Volume Greyed Out Windows 11 with "Shrink Volume"
If you do not wish to use the "Delete Volume" option under the Disk Management utility, then you can shrink the volume of the partition in order to get free or allocated space. It will solve your issue of how to fix extend volume greyed out windows 11. Here is what you are required to follow:
Step 1: With the "Windows + X" keys, click on the "Disk Management" option.
Step 2: Right-click on the neighboring partition that has sufficient space and click on the "Shrink Volume" option.
Step 3: Write the amount of space that you want to shrink. Click on the "Shrink" option and hit "Ok" to confirm.
Now, you can extend the volume of the target partition without facing the error of extend volume greyed out windows 11.
Option 3: Fix Extend Volume Greyed Out Windows 11 with No Adjacent Unallocated Space
If you don't have unallocated space right next to your primary volume, then you can solve the issue of extend volume greyed out windows 11 with Qiling Partition Master. It is one of the best, reliable and fast ways to extend partition. You can use the "Resize/Move" feature to add free or unallocated space. The steps to use this professional tool are easy to execute. Thus you don't require any skilled knowledge to use Qiling Partition Master. Below are the instructions that you'll have to follow:
Allocate Space of the E drive for C drive
If you want to merge C drive and the free space of E drive, please do following step.
Step 1. shrink E drive
Select the E drive that want to adjust its size and select "Resize/Move" in the "Disk management" page.
To shrink the E drive, simply drag one of its head to free up unallocated space and click "Proceed" to start resize the partition.
Step 2. Extend C drive
To start extending C drive, you should first select C drive that want to adjust its size and select "Resize/Move" in the "Disk management" page.
To extend the C drive, drag your mouse into the unallocated space and click "Proceed" to start resize the partition.
Conclusion
That's all about solving extend volume greyed out windows 11. All the above-mentioned options will help you in fixing the error of Extend Volume greyed out. But, if you are looking around for a reliable and effective tool, then look no further than Qiling Partition Master tool. With this, you will not have to delete any partition even when you don't have enough allocated space. Moreover, while using this partition master, your data will also remain safe from data loss.
Now download the software and follow the guide below to merge non-adjacent partitions.
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