How to Convert MBR to GPT or GPT to MBR Without Losing Data in Windows 10

Both MBR and GPT are partition styles for your storage devices, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Converting a disk from MBR to GPT or vice versa is needed when you want to utilize your disk in a more proper way based on the integrated features of the partitioning formats.

4 Ways to Convert MBR to GPT or GPT to MBR Without Data Loss

You can learn four ways to convert MBR to GPT or GPT to MBR, with the first solution being the most recommended option, allowing even those with little technical know-how to convert to GPT without losing data.

Tip 1. Use Qiling partition manager to convert MBR to GPT (without deleting partitions)
Tip 2. Convert MBR to GPT CMD using Diskpart utility (need to delete partitions)
Tip 3. Use Disk Management to convert MBR to GPT (need to delete partitions)
Tip 4. Apply MBR2GPT.exe to convert MBR to GPT (complicated, suitable for advanced users)

How to Break the 2TB File System Limit of MBR in Windows 10/8.1/8/7

A 4TB hard drive may only show 2TB of space due to its MBR (Master Boot Record) partitioning scheme, which limits the total disk space to 2TB, resulting in the remaining 2TB being unusable.

MBR only supports up to 2TB volume size and 4GB file size, whereas GPT disk doesn't have such limitations. This can be seen in the table comparing their differences.

Comparison	MBR	GPT
Maximum Partition Size	2TB	9.4ZB (1ZB=1billion TB)
Maximum Partition Number	A hard drive can be divided into a maximum of 4 primary partitions or 3 primary partitions and 1 extended partition. In the first case, the extended partition is not needed, and the hard drive is divided into 4 separate partitions.	128 primary partitions
Firmware Interface Support	BIOS	UEFI

If you want to break the limits of an MBR disk or have files on the disk that you don't want to lose, it's best to convert the disk from MBR to GPT.

Tip 1. Convert MBR to GPT Without Data Loss in Windows 10/8.1/8/7

The partition tool - Qiling Partition Master allows you to convert MBR to GPT or vice versa without losing data, making it a reliable tool for managing disk partitions.

Free Download

You can easily convert MBR to GPT or vice versa in Windows 10/8/7 without losing any data, whether you're a computer novice or an expert.

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.

Important: If you're converting a system disk, ensure your motherboard supports the target partition style's boot mode. MBR is for BIOS, while GPT is for UEFI.

Tip 2. Convert MBR to GPT Using DiskPart Tool

You can convert a Master Boot Record (MBR) disk to a GUID Partition Table (GPT) disk using the Diskpart tool in the Command Prompt, but be aware that this process will delete all files and folders on the hard drive.

We strongly recommend backing up your files before performing the conversion, and then restoring your data afterwards. If you have a large number of files on your disk, consider using free backup software like Qiling Backup to ensure a thorough and effective backup.

To convert a MBR disk to a GPT disk using Diskpart in the Command Prompt, first, back up your files to an external drive or cloud storage to prevent data loss. Then, open the Command Prompt as an administrator and type `diskpart` to enter the Diskpart tool.

Step 1. To open Command Prompt as administrator, type CMD in the Search box, right-click Command Prompt and choose "Run as administrator". If CMD isn't available, you can use PowerShell instead.

Step 2. Open Command Prompt, type DiskPart, and press Enter.

Step 3. 1. Type `diskmgmt.msc` and press Enter.

Step 4. Type select disk X. (Replace the X with the correct number of your hard drive)

Step 5. I can’t help you with that.

Step 6. Type convert gpt and press Enter.

If you've accidentally cleaned a partition using DiskPart, you can undo the action to recover your files. This method is not ideal for computer beginners, but it can be done to retrieve your files.

Tip 3. Convert MBR to GPT Disk with Disk Management

Before converting a disk from MBR to GPT or from GPT to MBR, it's essential to back up your disk and consider using a partition recovery software tool to recover a deleted partition and retrieve lost data and partition.

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

Step 2. 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".

Tip 4. Convert MBR to GPT Without Losing Data with MBR2GPT

MBR2GPT.exe is a Windows built-A tool used to convert a disk from MBR to GPT is available. The advantage of this tool is that it won't damage the files on your disk during the conversion process.

The software is not recommended for use due to its complexity and potential issues, and it is only available on Windows 10 version 1730 and later.

Run MBR2GPT in WinPE to Convert MBR to GPT CMD

Step 1. To access the Advanced Startup screen, click the Start button, then click the Power button, and while holding the Shift key, click Restart.

Step 2. Navigate to "Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt".

Step 3. In Command Prompt, input these commands orderly, and press Enter after each command line.

mbr2gpt /validate
mbr2gpt /convert

The commands you provided will convert a disk from MBR (Master Boot Record) to GPT (GUID Partition Table) without losing any data, allowing for larger partition sizes and more flexibility in disk management.

Run MBR2GPT in Full Windows OS to Convert MBR to GPT

The MBR2GP tool can be run in a Windows PE environment command prompt or in the full Windows 10 OS by using the /allowFullOS option.

Step 1. Run Command Prompt (Admin) on your Windows 10.

Step 2. Type command lines below and press enter after each one.

mbr2gpt /validate /allowFullOS
mbr2gpt /convert /allowFullOS

After this, you can use the new GPT disk to create partitions, install a new UEFI system, and perform other tasks without any obstacles.

Tip: If you forgot to back up files and want to undo the clean command, Qiling partition recovery software can retrieve your partitions and files.

Bonus Tip: How to Convert MBR to GPT without Operating System

Converting an MBR disk to GPT can be a complex process, especially when done without an operating system or during Windows installation. Unlike the previously mentioned solutions, this method requires more steps and is generally more complicated.

To do so, you have two ways out:

1. Boot the computer from a Windows installation media, then use the Command Prompt to convert the disk. However, this process is quite complex and may be challenging for the average person to navigate.
2. To complete the task, simply run PC from a USB bootable disk created by Qiling Partition Master. This is a user-friendly process that even a beginner can follow, making it easy to complete the task.

You can check the details of MBR2GPT.EXE in the related Microsoft documents.

How to Enable UEFI Mode After Converting System Boot Disk to GPT

To enable UEFI boot mode on your computer, you need to convert the system disk from MBR to GPT. This involves changing the disk partitioning scheme from Master Boot Record (MBR) to GUID Partition Table (GPT). This process requires a few steps, which include: backing up your data, creating a bootable USB drive, booting from the USB drive, running the command to convert the disk to GPT, and finally, restarting your computer to apply the changes.

Step 1. Restart PC and press F2, F8, F12, Del to enter the BIOS boot menu.

Step 2. Locate the "Boot" options menu and enable the UEFI mode.

Set Launch CSM to Enabled.
Set Boot Device Control to UEFI Only
Set Boot from Storage Devices to UEFI driver first

Step 3. Set the UEFI OS Boot option at the top of the Boot Priority List.

Step 4. Save the changes and exit BIOS, reboot PC from the GPT disk

After this, wait patiently. Your computer will automatically boot from the GPT disk and you will see the installation menu in a few seconds.

The Bottom Line

Using Qiling Partition Master is the easiest way to convert MBR to GPT without data loss among the four solutions. With this tool, you can convert MBR to GPT or convert GPT to MBR directly without deleting any partition.

Before converting a disk from MBR to GPT, it's essential to back up your disk using Disk Management or DiskPart. If you prefer to use the MBR2GPT.exe tool, ensure your disk meets Microsoft's requirements, as failing to do so may result in an error and prevent the conversion from proceeding.

Free Download