How to fix the Extend Volume grayed out issue in Windows 11?

Updated by

Linda 

Written by

Tracy King 

Last updated on April 22, 2024

If you're running Windows 11 on your desktop or laptop, you might get a low disk space warning when you don't have enough room to save new files and programs. When that happens, you can consider extending the partition to manage your data. To do this, Microsoft has included the “Extend Volume” feature in its built-in Disk Management tool.

This means that you can use the Disk Management option to extend a partition on your Windows 11 computer or laptop. This tool is usually used for managing disk partitions. However, many users might get disappointed when they find the “Extend Volume” option grayed out in Windows 11.

If you're one of them, worry not. In this article, you'll learn why the “Extend Volume” option is grayed out on your Windows 11 computer and alternative ways to fix the same issue, along with learning how to extend C drive space in Windows 11. So, let's get started!

"Why is the Extend Volume option grayed out?"

When your Windows 11 system drive is completely full, you can move or transfer files and programs to free up some disk space. You can use the unallocated space on the hard drive to expand it. However, the issue is that the "Extend Volume" option in the Disk Management tool only activates when there's available unallocated space next to the volume you want to extend. Thus, the "Extend Volume" option in Windows 11 might be grayed out for the following reasons:

• The partition you want to extend is not an NTFS file system partition. Microsoft only enables the Extend Volume feature in Disk Management when there is a RAW or NTFS partition. • There is no contiguous unallocated space behind the primary partition that you want to extend. • There is no available unallocated space on the dynamic disk.

Next, we will discuss some practical solutions to fix the “Extend Volume” grayed out issue. If you find this article helpful, please share it with others by clicking on the social buttons below.

How to Solve the Grayed Out "Extend Volume" Issue

To resolve the issue of the Extend Volume option being grayed out in Windows 11, you can try two methods. Let's discuss them one by one.

Option 1: Fix the Windows 11 Extend Volume Grayed Out Issue with No Adjacent Unallocated Space
Option 2: Free Up Space Next to the Drive
Option 3: Resolve the Windows 11 Extend Volume Grayed Out Issue with "Shrink Volume"

Option 1: Addressing the issue of Windows 11 Extend Volume being grayed out when no adjacent unallocated space is available

If you don't have unallocated space adjacent to the main volume, you can use the Partition Master tool to fix the grayed-out Extend Volume issue in Windows 11. This is one of the best, most reliable, and fastest methods to extend a partition. You can use the "Resize/Move" feature to add free or unallocated space. The steps to use this professional tool are straightforward, so you won't need any special skills to operate Partition Master. Here's what you need to do:

Step 1. Right-click on the D: partition with enough space and select "Extend Volume."

Step 2: Select the target partition - Partition C, then drag the partition panel rightwards to add unallocated space from Partition D to Partition C. Then click “OK” to confirm.

Step 3. Click the "Execute Task" button and then click "Apply" to start the process of moving the free space from Drive D to Drive C.

Isn't it simple to solve the Extend Volume grayed out issue in Windows 11 with Partition Master? Indeed, it is! If you encounter the same error on your Windows 11 computer and can't extend the C drive, don't panic. You can use a partition manager software and follow this tutorial page to successfully fix the issue of unable to extend C drive.

Option 2: Free up disk space next to the drive

If you want to extend the C drive volume but find the “Extend Volume” option grayed out in Windows 11, it's because there is no available or unallocated space after the C drive partition. Therefore, you need to delete an empty or unnecessary partition, which will leave free space or unallocated space next to the primary volume. To resolve the issue of the “Extend Volume” being grayed out in Windows 11 using the Disk Management tool, follow these steps:

Step 1: Press the "Windows + X" keys, and then click on "Disk Management."

Step 2: Right-click on the unallocated or unused partition next to your main drive. Select the “Delete Volume” option.

Click the Delete Volume option.

Note: You should only choose the Delete option if there is no important data on the disk, or you have moved the files from its partitions elsewhere.

Step 3: Click Yes on the warning message. You should now see that the partition has free space available.

Step 4: Click the "Delete Partition" option again.

With this tool, you can extend the primary partition, and you won't run into the issue of the “Extend Volume” option being grayed out in Windows 11.

Option 3: Utilize "Compress Volume" to Address the Grayed Out "Extend Volume" Issue in Windows 11

If you don't want to use the "Delete Volume" option under the "Disk Management" utility, you can shrink the partition to free up or allocate space. This will resolve the issue of the Extend Volume option being grayed out in Windows 11. Here are the steps you need to follow:

Step 1: Press the "Windows + X" keys together and select "Disk Management."

Step 2: Right-click on the adjacent partition that has enough free space and select the “Shrink Volume” option.

Click on the Shrink Volume option:

Step 3: Type in the amount of space you want to shrink. Click on "Shrink" and then "OK" to confirm.

Now, you can extend the target partition's size without encountering the “Extend Volume” option grayed out error in Windows 11.

Conclusions

That's all about how to fix the Extend Volume greyed out issue in Windows 11. All the options above will help you fix the Extend Volume greyed out error. However, if you're looking for a reliable and effective tool, then look no further than the Partition Master Tool. With this tool, you don't need to delete any partition even if there is not enough unallocated space. Plus, your data will be safe from loss when using this Partition Master.