Do I need an EFI System Partition? Can I delete the EFI partition?

Updated by

Tracy King 

Last updated on April 22, 2024

If you've ever used a partition manager, some users might have noticed an extra partition on their PC, aside from the ones that are visible. It is listed as the first one, right next to the main partition. Many users think of it as an unnecessary partition that takes up space. So, if you're wondering what this partition is for and if you can delete it to free up some space, read on.

Quick navigation:

What is an EFI System Partition?
Does Windows 10 Need an EFI Partition?
Can I Delete the EFI Partition?

What is an EFI System Partition?

An EFI System Partition (ESP) is a hidden storage area on a Windows PC, typically found on computers that use a UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) BIOS. When your computer boots up, the UEFI loads files from the ESP to start the operating system and any other necessary tools.

This partition is created when installing Windows on an UEFI system and contains the following folders: Boot and System Volume Information. The latter holds the bootmgr and Bootsect.back files. Additionally, it includes system utilities, device drivers, bootloaders, and data files.

These files contain the exact information used by the boot manager code and the boot manager database to load Windows.

Aside from that, OEMs also use the EFI System Partition to store other essential components such as drivers and utilities. It uses the scripts in this partition to refresh your PC when you do a clean install or reset it.

Does Windows 10 require an EFI partition?

Yes, you shouldn't. There are several reasons why you shouldn't mess with it. The EFI System Partition is crucial for booting your operating system, and it also contains several other tools that your computer may need in case something goes wrong.

If, for some reason, you do set it incorrectly, you'll prevent yourself from being able to boot into Safe Mode, Automatic Repair, and other advanced startup options. In addition, if you use encryption, BitLocker will need this.

So there is clearly more to be gained by preserving the separation than by erasing it.

Can I delete the EFI partition?

Yes, you can delete it in various ways. However, if you delete the EFI partition, you will lose its functionality and might render your computer unable to boot. The EFI is similar to the MBR but supports more partitions and types of partitions. Thus, if you delete the EFI partition, the boot loader won't be able to find where to start the operating system. Besides, most EFI partitions range in size from 100 MB to 500 MB, so it usually doesn't occupy much space. This is why the option to delete the EFI partition is disabled when using the disk management tool in Windows.

However, it is possible to remove EFI, although it might be needed in certain cases, such as when flashing the BIOS or removing a hard drive from a Mac. You can use a tool like the Partition Master to get rid of it in case you end up with an unbootable computer.

Step 1: Launch Partition Master, right click on the EFI System Partition in the "Partition Management" interface and select "Delete".

2. Click “Yes” to confirm the deletion of the selected disk partition.

Note: This will delete the EFI/UEFI partition, which might cause issues with booting your operating system. Make sure you want to proceed.

Step 3. Click on "Run 1 Task", and then in the new window click "Apply" to completely remove the EFI System Partition.

This tool will help you make sure that your boot records are in order, or recover them if they become corrupted.

Conclusions

Now that you have a full understanding of the EFI partition or System Reserved Partition, its pros and cons are clear. You may have installed multiple operating systems on your computer, and the space taken up by EFI is too much. In this case, you can delete the EFI partition using the Partition Master software. However, always ensure that you back up your data so that in case something goes wrong, you can restore the Windows boot path. If this article was helpful to you, please share it to help more people.