How to Resize Partitions on a Hard Drive in Windows 10/11 [Step-by-Step Guide]

Updated by

Sherly 

Written by

Cici 

Updated on April 22, 2024

The need for larger capacities and enhanced efficiency is unparalleled in digital storage. Knowing how to repartition a hard drive can be beneficial for acquiring extra storage space or optimizing your system's performance.

By rearranging data allocation, you can create separate partitions for different purposes. These include isolating the operating system from personal files, setting up dedicated backup storage, or organizing data for dual-booting multiple operating systems. The available tools provide a comprehensive guide on how to repartition a hard drive.

What Does Repartition Mean? Repartition, in the context of data processing and analytics, refers to the act of redistributing or reshaping a dataset across different partitions or storage units. This is commonly used in distributed computing systems, such as Apache Spark or Hadoop, where large datasets are processed in parallel across multiple nodes. When you repartition a dataset, you're essentially changing the way data is organized and stored. There are two primary reasons for repartitioning: 1. **Load balancing**: If a dataset is unevenly distributed, some partitions may contain more data than others. Repartitioning helps balance the load by distributing data more evenly among the partitions. This can improve processing speed and efficiency, as each node can work on roughly the same amount of data. 2. **Data locality**: Repartitioning can also optimize data locality, which means ensuring that related data is stored together. When processing large datasets, it's beneficial to have the data colocated to minimize network traffic. By repartitioning, you can group related data items on the same node, reducing the need for data transfer between nodes. Repartitioning typically involves a shuffle operation, where data is read from its current partition, processed, and then written to a new partition based on a specified key or criteria. This can be a computationally expensive process, so it's important to carefully consider when and how to repartition data to avoid unnecessary overhead. In summary, repartitioning is a crucial technique in big data processing that allows for better data distribution, load balancing, and optimization of compute resources.

Repartitioning refers to the process of dividing the storage capacity of a hard drive into multiple segments or partitions. These partitions function as independent units within the drive, enabling improved organization and management of data. Each partition behaves as a distinct entity within the drive, appearing separately to both the operating system and the user.

By performing a hard disk partition, you can allocate storage space for various purposes, creating logical divisions that facilitate more efficient organization and management of your data. Each partition functions as an independent storage unit with its own file system, permissions, and allocation mechanisms. This segregation offers several benefits, including better data organization, improved system performance, and greater flexibility in handling your digital content.

Next, we will continue to introduce more methods to repartition a hard drive. If you find this guide helpful, please click the social sharing buttons and share it with others who might need it.

How to Repartition a Hard Drive

Now that we have a solid grasp of repartitioning and its advantages, let's delve into the practical aspects. This section will present you with comprehensive approaches for repartitioning a hard drive. Here are the top three methods for repartitioning a hard drive:

Please provide the list of languages you need translated, I'll translate them one by one into American English for you.

As you can see, AOMEI Partition Assistant has more features and is suitable for more people. If you are not familiar with computers or command prompts, a third-party tool is a good option.

Repartition Hard Drives via Third-Party Tool

Repartitioning a hard drive can be achieved using various third-party software tools, and one popular option is the tools Partition Master. This powerful and user-friendly partition management software offers comprehensive features to help you effortlessly repartition your hard drive. It enables you to easily create, extend, delete, and resize partitions:

Repartitioning your hard drives is a breeze with tools like Partition Master. Here's how to repartition a hard drive in just minutes:

Extend Partition:

Option 1: Extend the System C drive with unallocated space

1. Right-click on the System C: drive and select "Resize/Move". 2. Drag the system partition end into the unallocated space to add it to the C: drive, then click "OK". 3. Click "Execute Task" and "Apply" to perform the operations and expand the C drive.

Option 2. Extend System C drive without unallocated space This option refers to expanding the System C drive (typically the primary partition where the operating system is installed) even if there is no contiguous unallocated space available on the hard disk. In this scenario, you would use a tool or utility that can move and merge partitions to free up space and then extend the C drive into that newly freed space. Some disk management software, such as Windows' built-in Disk Management tool or third-party applications, may have this capability.

1. Right-click on a large partition with sufficient free space on the system disk, and select "Allocate Space." 2. At the "Allocate Space From (*) To" section, select the system drive, then drag the end of the System C drive into the unallocated space. Click "OK" to confirm. 3. Click "Execute Task." It will display the pending operations. Click "Apply" to save the changes and extend the C drive.

0:00-0:26 Extend the System Drive with Unallocated Space; 0:27-0:58 Extend the System Drive without Unallocated Space.

Resize Partition:

Step 1: Locate and select the target drive/partition

Launch AOMEI Partition Assistant and go to Partition Manager, then select the target drive/partition to resize and right-click on it, choose "Resize/Move Partition".

Select the partition to translate:

Step 2: Resize or move the partition

1. To shrink the partition, simply drag one of its ends to free up unallocated space. When finished, click “OK”.

2. To extend the partition, make sure there is unallocated space beside it (if not, follow the above steps to create some). Similarly, drag your mouse into the unallocated space, then click "OK".

3. To move a partition, you need to have unallocated space next to the target partition. If not, free up some unallocated space first.

Right-click the target partition and select “Resize/Move”. Then drag the partition left or right to change its location. Click “OK” to confirm.

Step 3: Confirm the result and apply changes

Here, you'll see the new disk partition information and the graph.

To save the changes, click the "Execute Task" button and then "Apply".

For more information about managing hard drive partitions:

Repartition Hard Drives via Disk Management

You can use Windows's built-in Disk Management tool to perform hard drive repartitioning. With its basic partition management functions, Disk Management negates the need for external software. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to repartition a hard drive using Disk Management in Windows. Simply follow these instructions to successfully complete the process:

Step 1: To access Disk Management, press the "Win + X" keys and select "Disk Management" from the Power User menu. From the list, identify the hard drive you want to repartition.

Step 2: To create unallocated space for a new partition, you'll need to shrink an existing partition. Right-click the target partition you want to shrink and choose "Shrink Volume." Now specify the amount by which you want to reduce the volume. This can't be more than half of the volume's size.

Step 3: After shrinking the partition, you'll have unallocated space. Right-click on the target space and select "New Simple Volume" from the context menu.

Step 4: The New Simple Volume Wizard will walk you through the process. Follow the prompts to specify the size of the new partition, assign a drive letter or mount point, and format the partition with a desired file system (such as NTFS).

Create Partition

Note: If the "New Simple Volume" option is greyed out, it might be due to MBR limitations or other reasons. In such cases, you can utilize tools like Partition Master for resolution.

Repartition Hard Drives via Command Prompt

Command Prompt or CMD is another method for repartitioning a hard drive. While this approach necessitates some technical knowledge, it presents a command-line interface for managing hard drive partitions. It offers more control and flexibility for advanced users.

Remember that repartitioning a hard drive using CMD involves executing specific commands and requires administrator privileges. Learn how to repartition a hard drive using these simplified steps:

Step 1: Firstly, search for 'Command Prompt' using the Windows search bar. Upon locating it, right-click and select "Run as administrator." When the Command Prompt interface appears, type "diskpart" and hit Enter. This will initiate the Diskpart tool.

Step 2: Now run the "list volume" command to get a detailed list of all the volumes available on your system. Afterward, choose the specific volume you want to shrink using the "select volume X" command, where 'X' represents the volume number.

Step 3: Shrink the volume using the "shrink desired = V" command, where V stands for the volume you want to shrink. Following that, use the "create volume simple size = V" command to create the new volume on your hard drive.

CMD is a powerful tool for managing your hard drives. If you want to learn more about its functions, click the blue buttons for more information.

When Do We Need to Repartition a Hard Drive? -------------------------------------------- There are several reasons why you might need to repartition a hard drive, whether it's a traditional spinning disk (HDD) or a solid-state drive (SSD). Here are some common scenarios: 1. **Creating More Space**: If your primary partition is running out of space, you may want to shrink an existing partition and create a new one to store different types of files or accommodate another operating system. 2. **Optimizing Performance**: Installing the operating system on a separate partition can improve boot times and overall performance. This is especially true for dual-boot systems where each OS has its own partition. 3. **Data Organization**: Keeping personal files, applications, and system files on separate partitions can help with organization and make backups easier. 4. **Security**: Partitioning can provide an additional layer of security by isolating sensitive data in a separate partition that can be encrypted or password-protected. 5. **Upgrading Hardware**: If you're replacing an old hard drive with a new one, you might choose to recreate the original partition layout to ensure compatibility with your software and configurations. 6. **Resizing Partitions**: Sometimes, you may want to adjust the size of a partition without losing data, either to free up space or to allocate more storage to a specific purpose. Remember that repartitioning a hard drive involves modifying its underlying structure, which can lead to data loss if not done correctly. Always back up important data before proceeding with any changes.

Repartitioning a hard drive can be a beneficial solution in various situations where the current partition setup no longer suits your requirements. Here are several scenarios where you might consider repartitioning your hard drive: 1. **Running out of space**: If you find that one partition is full while others have unused space, repartitioning can help you redistribute the available space and create more room for the partition that needs it. 2. **Installing a new operating system**: When you want to dual-boot two different operating systems, such as Windows and Linux, repartitioning is necessary to allocate separate partitions for each OS. 3. **Optimizing performance**: You might need to repartition if you want to separate system files from user data to improve overall system performance or to dedicate specific partitions for specific tasks (e.g., a separate partition for programs). 4. **Data organization**: If you want better organization of your files and data, creating separate partitions for work, personal files, or media can be helpful. 5. **Backup and recovery**: Having separate partitions can simplify backup and recovery processes, as you can back up individual partitions instead of the entire drive. 6. **Upgrading to a larger hard drive**: When upgrading to a bigger hard drive, repartitioning can help you take full advantage of the increased storage capacity. 7. **Resolving disk errors**: In some cases, repartitioning can be a solution to fix disk errors or logical issues on the drive. Remember that repartitioning involves modifying the drive's structure, which can lead to potential data loss. Therefore, it's crucial to back up your important data before proceeding with any repartitioning operation.

Here are the translations into English:
• Performance Optimization: Creating separate partitions for the operating system and frequently accessed files can boost SSD read/write speeds and minimize disk fragmentation. Additionally, repartitioning ensures that system-related tasks, like virtual memory or temporary file storage, have dedicated partitions for optimal performance.
• Lack of Storage Space: By resizing current partitions or creating new ones, you can allocate more space to specific drives where it's needed most.
• Converting Disk Type: Dynamic disks enable advanced features, such as creating spanned or mirrored volumes, which necessitate repartitioning. Conversely, repartitioning is required if you want to convert a dynamic disk back to a basic disk, removing the dynamic disk configuration.
• Solving Partition-related Issues: Repartitioning can resolve issues related to partitions, including corruption, file system errors, or incompatible partition formats.

Conclusion

Learning how to partition a hard drive is an essential skill. It enables you to optimize storage space, arrange data efficiently, and boost system performance. This article has delved into various repartitioning techniques, such as Disk Management and the Command Prompt (CMD). However, in terms of user-friendliness, versatility, and advanced functionalities, Partition Master emerges as the top choice for managing hard drive partitions.

tools Partition Master provides a user-friendly interface that simplifies the partitioning process, making it accessible for both non-technical and experienced users. Key features include extending system partitions, merging partitions, wiping partitions, and checking for file system errors, offering comprehensive partition management options.

Frequently Asked Questions About How to Repartition a Hard Drive

It's natural to have questions and concerns when carrying out operations like repartitioning on your hard drive. In this section, we'll address some commonly asked questions about how to repartition a hard drive:

**1. Can I repartition the hard drive without losing data?** Yeah, you can repartition a hard drive without losing data, but it depends on the specifics and the tools you use. Here are some tips and ways to do it: - **Back up important stuff:** Before touching your hard drive, it's smart to backup key files in case anything goes south during the repartition. - **Use disk management tools:** On Windows, you got the built-in Disk Management tool. It lets you shrink an existing partition to make free space, then use that space to make a new partition. Usually, this won't wipe data, but backups are still a good idea. - **Third-party apps:** Tools like tools Partition Master, MiniTool Partition Wizard, or AOMEI Partition Assistant give you more advanced options and a safer way to repartition. They usually have a "resize" or "move" option that helps you adjust space without losing data. Just remember, fiddling with partitions always has some risk. Proceed carefully and have a backup plan ready.

Yes, it is possible to repartition a hard drive without losing your data. To achieve this, you would need a reliable and robust tool such as tools Partition Master. This tool can safely redistribute the partitions on your computer's hard drive without causing data loss. Additionally, this utility is available for free download and usage.

2. How to un-partition the hard drive?

To un-partition a hard drive means to eliminate the existing partitions and return the drive to a single partition or unallocated space. Here are the general steps to un-partition a hard drive in English: 1. **Backup Data**: Before making any changes, ensure you have backed up all important files from the hard drive as the process may result in data loss. 2. **Launch Disk Management**: On Windows, you can access this by right-clicking on the Start button, selecting "Disk Management," or searching for it in the Windows search bar. 3. **Identify the Partition**: In the Disk Management window, locate the hard drive you want to un-partition. It will be listed under "Disks." 4. **Shrink the Partition**: If you have multiple partitions on the drive, you may need to shrink the last one to create unallocated space. Right-click on the partition and select "Shrink Volume." Follow the prompts to free up the desired amount of space. 5. **Delete Partitions**: To remove individual partitions, right-click on each partition you want to delete and choose "Delete Volume." Confirm the action when prompted. 6. **Merge Unallocated Space**: After deleting all partitions, you'll have unallocated space. To merge this into a single partition, right-click on the unallocated space and select "New Simple Volume." Follow the wizard to create a new partition using the entire space. 7. **Format the Partition**: Once the new partition is created, you'll need to format it. Right-click on the partition and choose "Format." Select the file system (e.g., NTFS) and allocation unit size, then click "OK." The formatting process may take some time. 8. **Verify**: After formatting, verify that the hard drive now appears as a single partition in Disk Management. Your hard drive is now un-partitioned. Remember that these steps apply mainly to Windows operating systems. The process might differ slightly on macOS or Linux systems.

Step 1: Open Disk Management and locate the drive you wish to un-partition. Right-click on each partition on the drive and choose "Delete Volume."

Step 2: Confirm the deletion when prompted. Repeat this step for all partitions on the drive. Once all partitions are deleted, right-click the unallocated space and select "New Simple Volume."

3. How to partition a 1TB hard drive? To partition a 1TB (terabyte) hard drive, you can follow these general steps using the built-in disk management tools on Windows or macOS. Here's a guide for both operating systems: **Windows:** 1. **Open Disk Management:** - Press `Win + X` and choose "Disk Management" or search for it in the Start menu. 2. **Find your 1TB drive:** - Locate the 1TB hard drive in the list of disks. It might be labeled "Disk 1" or something similar. 3. **Create a new partition:** - Right-click on the unallocated space or right-click on the existing partition and select "Extend Volume" if you want to expand an existing one. - Choose "New Simple Volume" from the context menu, then click "Next" to proceed with the wizard. 4. **Set partition size:** - In the "New Simple Volume Size" window, enter the desired size for the partition (in MB or leave it default to use all available space). - Click "Next." 5. **Assign a letter:** - Select a drive letter for the new partition or keep the default one suggested. - Click "Next." 6. **Format the partition:** - Choose the file system (usually NTFS for Windows), set the allocation unit size (default is fine), and give it a label if desired. - Check the "Perform a quick format" box, then click "Next." 7. **Finish:** - Click "Finish" to create the partition. Windows will format and apply the changes. **macOS:** 1. **Open Disk Utility:** - Search for "Disk Utility" in Spotlight or find it in Applications > Utilities. 2. **Select the hard drive:** - In the left sidebar, select the 1TB hard drive, not a specific partition. 3. **Partition the drive:** - Click the "Partition" button at the top of the window. 4. **Add a partition:** - Click the "+" button at the bottom to add a new partition. - Name the partition, choose a format (e.g., macOS Extended [Journaled] or APFS), and set the size by dragging the divider or entering a custom size. 5. **Apply changes:** - Click "Apply" or "OK" to create the partition. Remember that resizing or creating partitions may result in data loss, so always back up important files before proceeding.

Partitioning a 1TB hard drive involves dividing the storage capacity into multiple sections or partitions. Here's a general step-by-step guide on how to do it: 1. **Connect the Hard Drive**: Connect the 1TB hard drive to your computer, either internally or externally, depending on your setup. 2. **Open Disk Management**: On Windows, press `Win + X` and choose "Disk Management" from the menu. On macOS, open "Disk Utility" which can be found in the "Utilities" folder within "Applications." 3. **Initialize the Drive (if necessary)**: If the hard drive is new or not yet formatted, you'll need to initialize it before creating partitions. In Windows, select the drive and click "Initialize Disk." Choose the appropriate partition style (MBR for older systems or GPT for newer ones). On macOS, select the drive and click "Continue" in the "Format" window. 4. **Create a Primary Partition**: - **Windows**: Right-click the unallocated space and select "New Simple Volume." Follow the wizard, assigning a drive letter, file system (usually NTFS), and allocation unit size. Keep in mind that you may want to leave some unallocated space for future partitions. - **macOS**: In Disk Utility, click the "+" button under "Volumes" to create a new partition. Name the volume, choose the format (usually "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" or "APFS"), and click "Apply." 5. **Resize Partitions (optional)**: If you want to adjust the size of the partitions later, you can use the "Extend Volume" option in Windows or the "-" button in macOS's Disk Utility to shrink or grow an existing partition. 6. **Format the Partition(s)**: After creating the partition, you'll need to format it with a file system. In Windows, right-click the new volume and choose "Format." For macOS, this is typically done during the creation process in Disk Utility. 7. **Wait for the Process to Complete**: Formatting might take some time, especially for a large hard drive like 1TB. Be patient and don't interrupt the process. 8. **Confirm and Use the Partitions**: Once completed, you should see the new partitions in your computer's file explorer. You can now use them to store data as needed. Remember that partitioning strategies vary based on individual needs. It's essential to consider factors such as data organization, backup requirements, and potential future usage when deciding on partition sizes.

Step 1: Upon opening Disk Management, select the 1TB drive. Right-click on the partition, choose "Shrink Volume," and specify the desired size for the new partition.

Step 2: Right-click on the unallocated space and choose "New Simple Volume." Proceed with the wizard to set the size, assign a drive letter, and format the new partition.