How can I shrink a Windows 10 partition without losing data? In this post, you will learn both built-in or third-party tools to extend or shrink partitions on Windows 10 or 11 with ease and confidence.
“I use a big single partition on a 1TB platter drive with Windows 10. I would like to shrink the partition down so that I can mirror the drive to a smaller but faster 256GB SSD.
But after a (very time-consuming) defragment/optimize using the Windows 10 tool "Optimize Drives", it seems I can only shrink to ~488GB. How can I shrink a Windows 10 partition?”
Shrinking a Windows 10 partition can be necessary for several reasons, especially when managing disk space efficiently. Here are some common reasons why you might need to shrink a partition:
If you have a single large partition, shrinking it allows you to create a separate partition for storing files, installing another operating system, or organizing data better.
If you plan to install another operating system, such as Linux or an older version of Windows, you’ll need unallocated space on your drive. Shrinking an existing partition helps create that space.
Large partitions can be inefficient for certain tasks. Shrinking a partition lets you divide the disk into multiple sections, making file management easier.
Some users find that splitting a large partition into smaller ones improves system performance, especially when using separate partitions for system files and personal data.
If you run virtual machines, you might need a dedicated partition to store virtual disk files separately.
How can I shrink a Windows 10 partition? Here’s a guide on how to shrink a Windows 10 partition using four different methods:
Managing your disk space effectively is crucial, especially when you're looking to create new partitions, install another operating system, or simply optimize storage. While Windows has a built-in Disk Management tool, it's limited in functionality and may not always shrink partitions the way you want. That’s where AOMEI Partition Assistant comes in.
AOMEI Partition Assistant is a powerful and user-friendly disk partition management tool that works seamlessly on Windows 10/11/8/7. It offers advanced features beyond what the native tools provide, including the ability to shrink partitions safely and precisely without losing data.
Step 1. Download the software, install and launch it. You will see the basic situation of your disk.
Step 2. Right-click the drive you want to shrink the volume. Then choose “Resize/Move Partition”.
Step 3. Drag the border (left side). You can move the partition.
Step 4. Click Apply to submit the whole operation.
Windows 10 has a built-in tool called Disk Management that allows users to shrink partitions without needing any third-party software. It’s a quick and straightforward method,d but may have some limitations, such as not being able to shrink partitions if there is unmovable data.
Step 1. Press "Windows+R", Enter "diskmgmt.msc". On the main page of Disk Management, right-click the volume you want to shrink, and then select "Shrink Volume".
Step 2. Enter the size you want to shrink, and then click "Shrink".
The partition will be shrunk, and you will see unallocated space next to the partition in the Disk Management window.
DiskPart is a command-line tool that provides more advanced disk management capabilities. It allows you to shrink a partition if you’re comfortable using commands.
Step 1. Press “WIN+R”, type “cmd” and press Enter.
Step 2. To shrink volume in Windows 10, type the following commands in sequence and hit ENTER.
● list volume
● select volume 5 (volume number of the partition to shrink)
● shrink desired = 10000 (the amount of space you want to shrink the partition too)
PowerShell is a task automation and configuration management utility developed by Microsoft, combining a command-line interface with a robust scripting language. However, it is not designed specifically for disk or partition management. While it does offer a partition resize function, this capability is minimal and not a core strength of the tool.
Step 1. Open PowerShell, and then enter the following commands one by one and hit ENTER:
● diskpart
● list volume
● select volume 3
● shrink desired = 2048
● exit
Step 2. Hit enter and wait for completion.
In conclusion, shrinking a partition in Windows 10 can be useful for improving disk management, creating new partitions, or boosting system performance. While the built-in tools like Disk Management, DiskPart, and PowerShell are helpful, they may have limitations, especially when dealing with unmovable data.
For more precise and reliable partition resizing, third-party tools like AOMEI Partition Assistant offer enhanced features, ensuring safe and efficient partition management without data loss. It can also delete partitions, clone partitions from one to another, extend C drive, etc.