Resize Partition Windows 11/10: Use 3 Tools to Shrink/Extend Volume in Windows 11/10
To resize a partition in Windows 11/10 without losing any data, you can follow the steps to shrink or extend a volume. This process involves using the built-in Disk Management tool to resize the partition, and it can be done on both 32-bit and 64-bit systems. By shrinking a volume, you can free up unallocated space, and by extending a partition, you can use that unallocated space to increase the size of the partition.
How Do I Resize Partition in Windows 11/10
Question 1 - "How can I change partition size in Windows?"
Question 2 - To increase partition size without formatting in Windows 11/10, you can use the built-in Disk Management tool or a third-party software like Qiling Partition Master. In Disk Management, right-click on the partition you want to resize and select "Extend Volume" to add unallocated space to the partition. Alternatively, you can use Qiling Partition Master to resize the partition by deleting the unallocated space and then extending the partition to fill the freed space.
Question 3 - "How do I increase or shrink space in Windows 11/10?"
Resizing a partition in Windows involves re-allocating disk space to extend or shrink partitions, utilizing unallocated space on a hard drive or SSD. This process can help address issues like low disk space on the C drive by resizing another partition and adding free space to it.
To resize partitions in Windows 11/10/8/7, you can use the built-in Disk Management feature. For example, in Windows 11/10, you can shrink a volume to free up space or extend a partition to increase its size. To do this, go to the Start menu, type "Disk Management" and open it.
3 Best Tools to Resize Partition in Windows 11/10
Here in this part, we'll introduce two user-friendly and powerful partition management tools and one administrators' favoriate tool to help you freely adjust the size of a drive partition.
Here are the top 3 free tools that can resize Windows 11/10 partitions:
#1. Qiling Partition Master - Easiest
#3. DiskPart Command Lines - Hard
These three Windows 11/10 partition resizing tools allow you to resize hard drive partitions under Windows 11/10, both 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems.
If you're a Windows beginner or prefer a one-stop-shop tool, Qiling Partition Master is a great choice for extending and shrinking volumes for free in Windows 11/10.
Comparision: Qiling Partition Master vs. Disk Management vs. Diskpart
Both Disk Management and Diskpart are Windows built-in tools that can be used to shrink a disk volume, such as the system C drive. However, they are not as efficient as third-party partition manager software, like Qiling Partition Master.
When looking for the best partition management tool to resize disk partitions in Windows 11/10/8/7, consider the following options: Qiling Partition Master, MiniTool Partition Wizard, AOMEI Partition Assistant, and DiskGenius. Each tool has its own strengths and weaknesses, such as Qiling's ability to resize partitions without data loss, MiniTool's user-friendly interface, AOMEI's comprehensive partition management features, and DiskGenius's ability to recover deleted partitions.
| Feature Comparison | Qiling Partition Master | Disk Management | Diskpart Command |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extend Volume | √ |
√ (FAT Not Supported) |
√ (FAT Not Supported) |
| Shrink Volume | √ | √(FAT Not Supported) | √ (FAT Not Supported) |
| Resize Dynamic Volume | √ | √(FAT Not Supported) | √(FAT Not Supported) |
|
Resize Partition (from Head and End of a Partition) |
√ | × | × |
Qiling Partition Master offers advanced disk management features in addition to resizing partitions. It also supports other functionalities that you may find useful.
- Partition a Hard Drive for Free
- Convert GPT to MBR
- Migrate OS to SSD/HDD
- Partition Recovery
- Merge partition
- Clone Disk - Upgrade to Bigger HDD/SSD
To resize a partition in Windows 11/10, you can use the built-in Disk Management tool or a third-party partition manager like Qiling Partition Master. First, you need to open the Disk Management tool by searching for it in the Start menu, then select the partition you want to resize and click on the "Shrink" or "Extend" button to adjust its size.
How to Resize Windows 11/10 Partition with Qiling Partition Master
This tool allows you to extend, create, delete, resize/move, copy, merge, split, or format partitions in Windows 11/10/8/7.
Qiling Partition Master is designed for Windows beginners who have no experience in managing disk space, and can be used on all versions of Windows computers.
Your Reliable Choice - Qiling Partition Master
- Extend partition - To maximize computer performance and solve low disk space problems, consider extending the system partition. This can be done by deleting unnecessary files, uninstalling unused programs, and then using a disk management tool to expand the system partition to its full potential.
- Shrink partition - manage disk space better for different usage.
- Move partition - To extend a partition, you need to make the unallocated space behind the partition you want to extend. This involves deleting the partition that is currently occupying the space you want to extend into, and then creating a new partition in the unallocated space.
Step-by-step Guide to Resize Partition
To resize a Windows 11/10 partition using the Qiling partition management tool, follow these steps: shrink volume, extend volume, and resize Windows partition for free. You can use the tool to free up space on your system drive, expand your C drive, or adjust the size of any other partition as needed.
Step 1. Locate the Target Partition
To extend a partition, select the drive/partition you want to adjust and choose "Resize/Move" in the Disk management page.
Step 2. Extend the Target Partition
To shrink a partition, you can resize it by dragging one of its ends to the left to free up some space, then click "Proceed" to start the resizing process. This will allocate the newly freed space as unallocated.
To extend a partition, ensure there is unallocated space available. If not, create some by following previous steps. Then, drag your mouse into the unallocated space and click "Proceed" to begin resizing the partition.
To move a partition, you need to have unallocated space next to the target partition. If there isn't any, free up some space first. Then drag the whole partition left or right to adjust its position and click "Proceed" to start the move.
How to Resize Partition in Windows 11/10 Using Disk Management
For experienced users, manually extending, shrinking volumes, and adjusting partition size in Windows 11/10/8/7 can be done.
Windows 11/10 built-In Disk Management, users can easily resize partitions by shrinking or extending volumes, making it a convenient option for experienced Windows users who are familiar with its interface.
Here are the steps to partition size in Disk Management:
Shrink Volume in Windows 11/10 Disk Management:
Step 1. Press Windows + X, select "Disk Management" from the list.
Step 2. Right-click the target partition and select "Shrink Volume".
Step 3. In the pop-up window, enter the amount of space and click "Shrink" to execute.
Extend Partition in Disk Management on Windows 11/10
To successfully partition a drive, there must be unallocated space behind the target partition. If the target partition is adjacent to another partition and there is no free space behind it, you will need to shrink the adjacent partition to create space for the new partition. This is a requirement for partitioning and cannot be bypassed.
Step 1. Press Windows + X, select "Disk Management" from the list.
Step 2. Right-click the target partition and select "Extend Volume".
Step 3. Click "Next" in the Extend Volume Wizard window.
Step 4. Adjust the space that you need to extend the target volume. Click "Finish" to confirm.
After resizing the Windows 11/10 partition, the operation is complete. You can also repeat the process to perform other actions such as formatting, deleting the volume, or changing the drive letter and paths.
How to Shrink/Extend Volume Windows 11/10 with Diskpart
Windows administrators can use the built-in Disk Management tool to resize partitions, shrink or extend volumes in Windows 11/10. This feature allows for adjustments to be made to the size of partitions and volumes, making it a useful tool for managing disk space.
Windows Command Prompt is an administrator tool that IT managers use to adjust computer settings, and also allows adjusting partition size, including extending or shrinking, deleting, formatting, and cleaning the hard drive.
If you're willing to challenge yourself and try to shrink partitions using this way, you can follow the steps below. First, you'll need to boot from a live CD or USB, then you'll need to select the correct drive to shrink in the GParted partition editor.
Shrink Volume using Diskpart in Windows 11/10
Step 1. Press Windows + R to bring up the Run box.
Step 2.Type diskpart and hit Enter.
Step 3. Type the following command lines and hit Enter each time:
- list volume. (Note the number of the volume you want to shrink.)
- select volume X ("x" refers to the target volume number.)
- shrink desired
Step 4.Type exit to finish and close Diskpart.
Extend Volume in Windows 10 Using Diskpart
There must be enough unallocated space behind your target partition, so if not, shrink one right next to your target volume.
Step 1. Press Windows + R to bring up the Run box.
Step 2. Type diskpart and hit Enter.
Step 3. Type the following command lines and hit Enter each time:
- list volume. (Note the number of the volume you want to shrink.)
- select volume X ("x" refers to the target volume number.)
- extend size
Step 4.Type exitto close Diskpart.
Besides formatting partitions, deleting volumes, and cleaning a hard drive, Diskpart can also be used to perform various other tasks with cmd lines.
The Bottom Line
For Windows 11/10/8/7 users, we recommend the following three partition resizing tools for disk partition management: MiniTool Partition Wizard, AOMEI Partition Assistant, and Qiling Partition Master. Among these options, Qiling Partition Master is particularly suitable for beginners.
Disk Management and Diskpart are advanced tools that are not recommended for beginners. Disk Management is geared towards experienced users, while Diskpart requires administrator privileges and can be complex and difficult to use, with potential serious consequences if used incorrectly.
If you have further questions about resizing Windows 11/10 partitions, you can check out the FAQs below for more information.
People Also Ask - Windows 11/10 Resize Partition FAQs
1. Can Partition Magic resize Windows 11/10 partition?
Partition Magic, a popular disk partitioning software, is no longer supported on newer versions of Microsoft Windows, including Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2012, Windows 8, and Windows 11/10. It was previously compatible with Windows 98, Me, NT, 2000, and XP.
2. What is shrinking a volume?
The shrink operation involves reducing the size of a hard drive partition to create unallocated space, which can then be used to add space to another partition, create a new partition with a drive letter, or for other purposes.
3. Does shrinking a volume erase data?
Shrinking the volume creates unallocated space without affecting existing data, regardless of whether you use Disk Management, Qiling Partition Master, or the DiskPart command. This process does not result in data loss.
4. Cannot shrink partition not enough space
If you're trying to shrink a disk volume that contains unmovable files, and those files are located in the middle of the hard disk, you may encounter this error.
5. Cannot shrink a volume beyond the point
When shrinking a partition, files like the paging file or shadow copy storage area can't be automatically moved, so the allocated space can't be decreased beyond where these unmovable files are located.
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