How to Convert Dynamic Disk to Basic Disk in Windows 11

Updated by

Sherly 

Written by

Tracy King 

Last updated on April 22, 2024

Why Convert Dynamic Disk to Basic Disk?

Converting a dynamic disk to a basic disk in Windows 11 offers a more stable partition layout. When you convert a dynamic disk, it becomes a basic disk. This means that the partitions on the disk are no longer a single contiguous storage area. Instead, each disk partition has its own partition table and operates as an independent volume.

The primary reason for converting a Dynamic Disk to a Basic Disk in Windows 11 is that Basic Disks support multiple boot configurations. They are also compatible with older versions of the Windows operating system. In most scenarios, people opt to convert a Dynamic Disk to a Basic Disk when formatting such a hard drive, mainly due to compatibility issues and better performance.

There can be various reasons to switch between different disk configurations in Windows 10. For instance, you might need to change the disk type when moving from a complex storage setup to a simpler one. Or, you might have to convert a dynamic disk to a basic one due to system errors or corruption.

How to convert dynamic disk to basic disk in Windows 11 without data loss?

There are two main ways to convert dynamic disk to basic disk. One is to convert dynamic disk to basic disk in Disk Management, but it's not recommended. The other way is to use a tool like Partition Master, which allows you to perform the conversion directly without losing any data and keeping all volumes.

Converting a dynamic disk to basic or vice versa with Partition Master is not difficult. The program offers a user-friendly wizard that lets you perform the transition directly, without losing any data on your Windows 11 laptop or computer.

Download this program now and take control of your hard drive easily.

Step 1: Install and launch Partition Master, and then go to “Disk Management”.

Step 2. Choose the disk conversion mode that suits your needs:

• Convert Basic to Dynamic: Convert a basic disk to a dynamic disk. • Convert Dynamic to Basic: Convert a dynamic disk to a basic disk.

Step 3: Choose the destination disk type - Basic or Dynamic. Check if you have selected the right disk and then click on "Convert" to start the conversion.

0:00 - 0:18 Convert a basic disk to a dynamic disk; 0:19 - 0:36 convert a dynamic disk back to a basic disk.

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What else can Partition Master do for you?

AOMEI Partition Assistant streamlines complex disk partition operations into a few simple steps, ensuring safe and successful execution of advanced disk management tasks.

• Quick disk formatting
• Resize partitions
• HDD migration
• Support for MBR and GUID partition tables
• Rebuild MBR
• Migrate the operating system from HDD to SSD without data loss

How to Convert Dynamic Disk to Basic Disk with Disk Management

It is not recommended to convert a dynamic disk to a basic disk in Disk Management on Windows.

The reason is simple: when you convert a dynamic disk to a basic disk, all data on dynamic volumes is deleted. This means that if the disk contains any important data, make sure you back it up to an external location before proceeding.

Use the Disk Management tool in Windows 11 to convert a dynamic disk to a basic disk. This is a straightforward task that can be accomplished with the following steps:

1. Press the Windows key, search for "Disk Management," and press Enter to open the Disk Management tool in Windows 11.

Step 2. Right-click the dynamic disk volume and select "Delete Volume".

Do this for each volume on the hard drive.

Delete volume in "Disk Management"

Note: After you delete all volumes on a dynamic disk, you cannot recover any information from the volumes on the disk.

How to convert dynamic disk to basic disk using Command Prompt

Please note that when you convert a dynamic disk to a basic disk, all data on the disk will be deleted without any warning. If you are sure it's the right time to convert a dynamic disk to a basic one, make sure you have backed up all your data before proceeding. Never convert a basic disk that contains the operating system or any applications needed for daily tasks.

Step 1: Open the Search box and type diskpart.

Step 2. Type list disk and note the number of the disk that has the volume you want to convert to a basic disk, as shown below:

• List Disks.
• Select Disk 2 (replace 2 with the number of your dynamic disk)
• Details Disk.
• Select Volume 5 (replace 5 with the number of the dynamic disk volume you want to delete)
• Delete Volume 5

To convert a disk from Dynamic to Basic, you must delete all the volumes on the disk.

Step 4. After you have deleted all volumes, run the following commands, pressing Enter after each one.

1. Select Disk 1 (press Enter)
2. Convert to Basic Disk (press Enter)
3. Select Disk 2 (press Enter)
4. Convert to Basic Disk (press Enter)

Convert dynamic disk to basic via cmd:

Repeat these commands for any number of disks you have until all volumes on your Windows 11 system are converted from Dynamic to Basic.

Step 5: After converting the dynamic disk to basic, type exit and press Enter.

It's easier to use a third-party disk utility than the Command Prompt. If you really want to convert a dynamic disk back to basic, we recommend using a third-party disk management tool like Partition Master.

Conclusion

AOMEI Partition Assistant provides you with the most efficient disk management solutions to optimize your PC's performance. With its Dynamic Disk Converter feature, you can freely convert dynamic disks to basic disks on Windows 11.

AOMEI Partition Assistant is a reliable partition manager that provides an economical, secure, and all-in-one solution for managing your hard disk, including resizing/moving partitions, copying partitions, cloning partitions, shrinking partitions, and easily merging partitions! Manage your hard disk space with ease using AOMEI Partition Assistant!

Frequently Asked Questions About Converting Dynamic Disks to Basic Disks in Windows 11 (UTF-8)

If you have more questions about how to convert dynamic disk to basic disk on Windows 11, keep reading and find the answers to the following issues:

How can I convert a disk from dynamic to basic?

1. Launch Partition Master and go to the "Disk Conversion" section. 2. Select "Convert to Basic Disk," then click "Next." 3. Choose the target dynamic disk you wish to convert, then click "Convert."

< strong > 2. Can I convert dynamic disk to basic disk without losing data?

Yes, of course. You can convert a dynamic disk to a basic disk without losing any data. Whichever method you choose on this page to convert the disk, just remember to back up all existing data on the dynamic disk to another external disk first, and then you can safely convert dynamic disk to basic disk without losing data.

Does Windows 11 support dynamic disks?

Yes, Windows 11 supports using dynamic disks as large storage disks for holding a vast amount of files. However, converting your operating system disk to a dynamic disk might prevent the OS from booting. On the other hand, if you convert a data disk to a dynamic disk, you can utilize it alongside other dynamic disks to create a large storage pool for an unlimited number of files and data.