How to Resize an Encrypted Partition in Windows 10/11 [Step-by-Step Guide]

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Sherly 

Last updated on April 22, 2024

Confused about how to resize an encrypted partition? Or do you want to resize an encrypted partition in Windows 10? We're here to help! This article will walk you through resizing a BitLocker encrypted partition in detail. First, let's learn more about BitLocker encrypted partitions.

Can I resize an encrypted partition?

Of course, you can. Even if the partition is encrypted, you can still resize it as long as you unlock it. But do you know what an encrypted partition is in Windows? Starting from Windows Vista, Microsoft has provided users with a convenient feature called BitLocker. It protects data by encrypting the entire partition using a Trusted Platform Module.

In other words, an encrypted partition is a division of your hard drive that uses personal encryption to prevent unauthorized access or alteration of your confidential files and documents. But what if you want to resize the encrypted partition? Don't worry; this article will guide you through the specific steps to adjust the size of an encrypted partition.

How to Resize Encrypted Partitions – 2 Methods

Can I resize an encrypted partition without losing data? Yes, you can. In this section, you'll learn two methods to resize an encrypted partition using both a built-in Windows tool and a third-party utility. Here they are:

Method 1: Resize encrypted partition easily with tool Partition Master

Method 2: Resize the Encrypted Partition Using Disk Management (Includes Additional Decryption Steps)

There is a table for you to distinguish these two methods. Obviously, the Professional Edition Partition Master tool is easier to use. You can resize the encrypted partition with just a few simple clicks.

Before using either of these tools, you need to decrypt your partitions. You can directly choose to decrypt with Partition Master for convenience, or you may first choose to decrypt your partition through other means.

Alright, let's proceed with the demonstration on how to resize an encrypted disk partition with Partition Master.

Method 1: Resize encrypted partition easily with Partition Master

With the tool Partition Master, you can easily decrypt a partition with one click. Then, you can directly resize the encrypted partition. This tool is user-friendly and you can adjust the size of the encrypted partition by simply dragging the mouse. Now, let's see how simple the process is.

Download this tool and follow the instructions below.

Step 1: Click "Partition Manager", select the BitLocker encrypted partition and choose "Unlock" option, then type your password to unlock BitLocker.

Step 2: Right-click on the BitLocker partition and select the "Resize/Move" option.

Step 3: Resize BitLocker by dragging the mouse to the unallocated space

Click “Apply” and “OK” to begin partitioning or resizing the BitLocker drive.

Congratulations! You've successfully resized the encrypted partition this way. As a professional disk management tool designed specifically for Windows users, it can do more than just resize partitions. Let's explore further.

《Features of Partition Master Tool》

• Resize C Drive
• Moving and Resize BitLocker Partition
• Format BitLocker Partition in Windows 11
• Extend C Drive to fix the "C Drive is Full" issue
• Format and Reformat Hard Drives and External Hard Drives

Well, go ahead and download Partition Master for a try. You'll love it!

Method 2: Resize the Encrypted Partition with Disk Management [Includes Additional Decryption Steps]

Alternatively, you can first decrypt the BitLocker partition and then use the built-in Disk Management utility in Windows to resize it. What is Disk Management? It's a great tool that helps shrink or expand volumes. Here are the detailed steps.

Guideline 1: Unlock an encrypted partition before resizing

Step 1: Press the Windows key + I to open "Settings," then type "encryption" and select "Manage BitLocker."

Step 2. Scroll down, select the encrypted drive you want to unlock, and click Turn Off BitLocker.

3. Click “Turn Off BitLocker” to confirm.

Now you can use Disk Management to resize your partition.

Guideline 2. Resize an encrypted partition

1. Shrinking the encrypted partition:

Step 1. Click on the search bar and enter the following command to open Disk Management:

Create and format a disk partition

< strong > Step 2: Select the target partition and right-click on it.

Step 3: Select "Shrink volume."

Step 4: Enter the amount of space you want to shrink, then click "Shrink."

2. Resize the Encrypted Partition

Step 1. Right-click the target partition after you have Disk Management up and running.

Step 2: Select "Extend Volume."

Step 3: Follow the Extend Volume Wizard to determine how much space you want to add.

Step 4: Click "Finish".

Sometimes, you might notice that the “Extend Volume” option is grayed out, or you might not be able to shrink or extend a volume. If you encounter such issues, click on the link below for assistance.

Conclusions

Do you know how to resize an encrypted partition? In this article, you will learn what an encrypted partition is and how to easily resize it with tools like Partition Master. With just four simple steps, you can unlock and resize your encrypted partition. By the way, the next section lists some FAQs for your reference. Keep reading if you are interested.

Frequently Asked Questions on Resizing Encrypted Partitions

Resizing an encrypted partition in Windows 10/11 is quite easy, right? Hopefully, you've managed to resolve the issue you were facing. Additionally, I've listed some other concerns you might be interested in. Keep reading.

1. How do I shrink an encrypted partition?

In Windows, you need to turn off BitLocker before you can shrink the encrypted partition. Follow these steps:

1. Step 1. Open Disk Management.
2. Step 2. Find your encrypted partition, then right-click on it.
3. Step 3. Enter the amount of space you want to shrink, then click "Shrink."

2. Can you expand an encrypted drive?

Certainly, but you'll need to unlock the encrypted drive first. If you find the process complicated, you can use tools like Partition Master, which can help you easily unlock and expand partitions with ease.

3. How do I resize a Bitlocker partition?

To resize a BitLocker partition, you need to first unlock the encrypted volume or turn off BitLocker. After that, you can use Disk Management or other tools to shrink or expand the partition.