Resize Partition Windows 11/10: Use 3 Tools to Shrink/Extend Volume in Windows 11/10
This page introduces how to resize partition Windows 11/10 (32bit and 64bit) without losing any data. Follow to learn how to shrink volume as well as how to extend partition with unallocated space in Windows 11/10 on your own.
How Do I Resize Partition in Windows 11/10
Question 1 - "How can I change partition size in Windows?"
Question 2 - "How can I increase partition size without formatting in Windows 11/10?"
Question 3 - "How do I increase or shrink space in Windows 11/10?"
Resizing partition is a process to re-allocate the disk space in Windows PC so as to extend or shrink partitions, making full use of unallocated spaces on a hard drive or SSD. For example, when the C drive is out of space, you need to resize another partition and add free space into C drive so as to fix this issue.
So how to resize partitions in Windows 11/10/8/7? In the next, we'll take Windows 11/10 as an example to show you how to manage partition size, including shrink volume and extend partition in Windows 11/10/8/7.
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 3 best tools that work to resize Windows 11/10 partitions for free:
#1. Qiling Partition Master - Easiest
#3. DiskPart Command Lines - Hard
These three Windows 11/10 partition resizing tool allows you to resize hard drive partitions under Windows 11/10 32 bit and 64 bit OS.
If you are a Windows beginner or prefer an all-in-one tool that helps to extend and shrink volume for free in Windows 11/10, pick as Qiling Partition Master as your best choice.
Comparision: Qiling Partition Master vs. Disk Management vs. Diskpart
Both Disk Management and Diskpart are Windows built-in tools that work to shrink a disk volume, like the system C drive. But they are not as efficient as third-party partition manager software - Qiling Partition Master
Here is a brief comparison table that will help you to pick up the best partition management tool for resizing disk partitions in Windows 11/10/8/7:
| 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) |
√ | × | × |
Besides resizing partition, Qiling Partition Master also supports some advanced disk management features that you may interest in. For example:
- 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
Now, you can pick up the desired tool and follow the specific tutorials to adjust your partition size in Windows 11/10.
How to Resize Windows 11/10 Partition with Qiling Partition Master
Applies to: Extend system partition, create, delete, resize/move, copy, merge, split, or format partition in Windows 11/10/8/7.
Qiling Partition Master is designed for Windows beginners who have no experience in managing disk space on all versions of Windows computers.
Your Reliable Choice - Qiling Partition Master
- Extend partition - extend system partition to maximize computer performance, solve low disk space problems.
- Shrink partition - manage disk space better for different usage.
- Move partition - make the unallocated space behind the partition you want to extend.
Step-by-step Guide to Resize Partition
Now, see the following steps to resize Windows 11/10 partition, including shrink volume and extend volume, with the Qiling partition management tool for free:
Step 1. Locate the Target Partition
To start extending partition, you should first select the drive/partition that want to adjust its size and select "Resize/Move" in the "Disk management" page.
Step 2. Extend the Target Partition
To shrink the partition, simply drag one of its ends to free up unallocated space and click "Proceed" to start resize the partition.
To extend the partition, make sure that there is unallocated space aside (if there isn't, follow the above steps to create some). In the same way, drag your mouse into the unallocated space and click "Proceed" to start resize the partition.
To move a partition position, you need to leave unallocated space next to the target partition. If no, free up some unallocated space first. Then drag the whole partition left or right to adjust its position and click "Proceed" to start move the partition.
How to Resize Partition in Windows 11/10 Using Disk Management
Applies to: Manually extend, shrink volumes, adjust partition size in Windows 11/10/8/7 for experienced users.
Windows 11/10 built-in Disk Management has the ability to shrink volume and extend volume. For experienced Windows users who know well how to use Disk Management, it's easy to resize partitions in using this tool.
Here are the steps to just 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
Limit: There must be unallocated space behind your target partition. If not, shrink one right next to your target volume.
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.
Then Windows 11/10 partition resizing operation is done. You can also repeat the process above to right-click a volume and select "Format", "Delete Volume", "Change Drive Letter and Paths...", etc., to execute more operations on your Windows 11/10 partitions.
How to Shrink/Extend Volume Windows 11/10 with Diskpart
Applies to: Resize partitions, shrink or extend volume in Windows 11/10 among Windows administrators.
Windows Comand Prompt is usually not seen by most of our users unless they know how to access it. It's an administrator tool for IT managers to adjust computer settings. It also works to adjust partition size, including extend or shrink partition, delete partition, format partition, and clean hard drive, etc.
If you're willing to challenge yourself and try to shrink partitions using this way, here's the full guide.
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
Limit: There must be enough unallocated space behind your target partition. 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 this, you can also apply Diskpart to format partitions, delete volumes, and even clean a whole hard drive with cmd lines.
The Bottom Line
On this page, we collected 3 best partition resizing tools for Windows 11/10/8/7 users to apply for disk partition management. Among the above three tools, Qiling Partition Master is beginners' best shot.
Disk Management is for experienced users. As for Diskpart, if you are not an administrator, we don't recommend you to try it. It's hard and not user-friendly. Any mistake may cause serious results.
If you have further questions in resizing Windows 11/10 partitions, check out the FAQs below.
People Also Ask - Windows 11/10 Resize Partition FAQs
1. Can Partition Magic resize Windows 11/10 partition?
Not anymore. Partition Magic runs on Microsoft Windows 98, Me, NT, 2000, and XP, but Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2012, Windows 8, and Windows 11/10 are not supported by Norton Partition Magic.
2. What is shrinking a volume?
The shrink operation means the practice of trying to decrease the size of one hard drive partition to create unallocated space which you can use it for many purposes. You can add the unallocated space to the other partition which needs more space or simply create a new partition with a drive letter on the unallocated space.
3. Does shrinking a volume erase data?
As explained, shrinking the volume is to create unallocated space, but it won't affect the existing data. No matter you are using the Disk Management, Qiling Partition Master, or DiskPart command, basically no data loss will occur.
4. Cannot shrink partition not enough space
If the disk volume you're trying to shrink contains unmovable files and those unmovable files are happen to be in the middle of the hard disk, you are likely to receive this error.
5. Cannot shrink a volume beyond the point
When you shrink a partition, certain files like the paging file or shadow copy storage area cannot be automatically relocated, so you cannot decrease the allocated space beyond the point where the unmovable files are located.
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