How to Move the Recovery Partition in Windows 10 (Easily & Safely)

Updated by

Sherly 

Written by

Linda 

Updated on April 29, 2024

Running out of space on the C drive is a frequent problem for many users. You can usually fix this by extending the volume using Disk Management. However, what if the Extend Volume option is disabled, and there's a recovery partition between the system partition and unallocated space? How do you move the recovery partition to extend the C drive? Keep reading. This page from tools will provide you with a practical method to move the recovery partition in Windows 10.

"Can I Move the Recovery Partition in Windows 10?"

< strong > Yes, you can move the recovery partition using the appropriate tool. < /strong > Typically, it's a 450MB recovery partition without a drive letter. Designed to restore the system to its factory settings in case of system failure, Windows restricts users from performing actions like formatting or deleting it. Therefore, to relocate the recovery partition, you can try the methods I've outlined below.

How to Move the Recovery Partition in Windows 10

If the system partition and the unallocated space are not contiguous due to the presence of a recovery partition, you'll need to move the recovery partition after the unallocated space to allow for the expansion of the system partition. So, how do you change the position of the recovery partition?

1. #1. Partition Master Tool
2. #2. Command Prompt

#1. Tools Partition Master

Since Windows does not permit moving partitions or expanding volumes with non-contiguous unallocated space, you will require a professional disk and partition management tool to relocate partitions on the disk. One of the best options for its user-friendly interface and straightforward functions is tools Partition Master Professional.

This utility enables you to relocate partitions to any desired location on your drive, thereby allowing you to move unallocated space to the target partition that needs expansion. Here are the detailed steps:

Step 1: Locate and select the target drive/partition This translates to: 第一步：找到并选择目标驱动器/分区

Launch the tool Partition Master and go to Partition Manager. Select the target drive/partition that you wish to adjust its size, right-click on it and choose "Resize/Move".

Step 2: Resize or move the partition Translation: Step 2: Resize or relocate the partition

1. To shrink the partition, simply drag one of its ends to free up unallocated space. Once done, click "OK".

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

3. To move a partition position, you need to have unallocated space adjacent 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 either left or right to adjust its position. Click "OK" to confirm.

Step 3: Confirm the result and apply changes

At this point, you should see the new disk partition information and diagram.

To save the changes, click the "Execute Task" button, followed by "Apply".

As you can see, Partition Master provides an easy method to move unallocated space to the C drive or move the recovery partition to the end of the disk. Apart from moving partitions, it offers additional features to help you adjust partition space. For more information, please refer to the following page.

Resize Partition in Windows 11/10: Shrink/Extend Volume with 3 Methods

If you need to resize partition in Windows 11/10, whether it's to shrink a large partition, expand a small one, or create a new partition, refer to this guide. It offers comprehensive information to assist you.

#2. Command Prompt

If you're not fond of using third-party software, you can also utilize specific command lines in Diskpart to shift the healthy recovery partition. However, this process might be complicated and time-consuming for novices, and entering incorrect commands could lead to potential data loss.

Step 1. Open the Start menu, search for cmd, and select "Run as administrator" to open Command Prompt.

Step 2. First, you need to disable the recovery partition for further actions by typing:

The recovery partition is then stored in "Winre.wim," located at C:\Windows\System32\Recovery (enable the display of hidden system files to view it).

Step 3. Next, enter the following command lines one by one and press "Enter" after each to remove the recovery partition:

保持命令提示符窗口打开，然后转到下一步。

Step 4. Next, search for and open Disk Management in the Start menu search bar. You might now notice that the recovery partition is no longer present in Disk Management.

Step 5. If you want to extend the system partition, right-click on it and select "Extend Volume…"

Step 6. Reduce the resized size by 1024 MB to make room for reactivating the recovery partition.

Step 7. After expanding the system partition, create a new simple volume using the unallocated space to restore the recovery partition. Do not assign a drive letter to this partition!

Step 8. Return to the diskpart utility and enter the following command lines:

Here's the tricky part. The commands differ depending on whether you have an MBR disk or a GPT disk. In the "list disk" command line, an asterisk (*) in the GPT column indicates that the disk is a GPT disk, while a blank means it's an MBR disk.

For GPT disk:

These commands enable Windows to recognize and conceal the recovery partition, designating it as a necessary partition.

For MBR disk:

This command will inform Windows that it is the recovery partition.

Step 9. Next, enter the following commands to enable the Windows recovery partition:

This operation deletes the recovery partition and restores it after expanding the system partition. If you find it hard to follow and worry about losing your data, navigate back to the easier method 1.

Don't forget to share this practical article on your social media to help more users who are encountering the same issue.

Conclusion

This article presents two practical methods to relocate the recovery partition in Windows 10. Both approaches enable you to accomplish the task and effectively expand the system partition. However, the Command Prompt method may not be suitable for everyone due to its complexity and higher risk.

Therefore, to move the recovery partition and expand C drive more easily, Partition Master tool is a better choice. You can download it now and finish the job with just a few simple clicks.

"Move Recovery Partition Windows 10" FAQs

Check here if you have any other doubts about moving the recovery partition in Windows 10.

1. Is it possible to move the recovery partition in Windows 10?

Yes, you can use a professional partition manager tool like Partition Master to easily move the recovery partition on Windows 10.

2. Is it safe to delete the recovery partition?

Yes, it is safe to delete the recovery partition. However, by doing so, you will lose the ability to access the Windows Recovery Environment and perform a factory reset in case of a system malfunction.

3. Why are there three recovery partitions?

If there isn't enough space for the recovery partition, Windows will automatically create an additional recovery partition. This typically occurs after Windows updates or repairs.