Knowing how to shrink a volume can help you manage your Windows partitions, making it easier to free up disk space and even create new partitions.
In this guide, we’ll show you the best way to shrink a partition in Windows 10 or 11, maximize your Windows partition management, and offer common troubleshooting fixes for shrinking a volume.
How to shrink a volume in Windows 10
Method 1: Using Disk Management
1. Click Win+X, and choose Disk Management (diskmgmt.msc) from the menu options.
2. Right-click on the partition or volume you want to shrink, then click on Shrink Volume.
💡NOTE: If the Shrink Volume option is grayed out, then it isn’t supported for partitioning.
3. In the pop-up window, enter an integer value of MB by which you wish to shrink the partition/volume. Then, click on Shrink. Remember that you can only shrink a partition if there is enough space.
4. Once complete, you can create a new Simple Volume with the freed-up space.
Method 2: Using Command Prompt (Diskpart Method)
1. Open an elevated command prompt. Ensure you have the proper permissions.
2. Enter the below commands into the CMD one at a time, pressing Enter after each command:
-
- diskpart
- list volume
3. Then, type the following set of commands, once again pressing Enter after each command. Keep in mind that there is a maximum number of reclaimable bytes you can shrink by:
-
- select volume <number>
- shrink querymax
💡NOTE: Substitute <number> with the actual volume number.
4. Type any of the following commands in CMD depending on your intended purposes:
-
- shrink – to shrink by the maximum size allowed
- shrink desired=<size in mb> – to shrink by specific size
5. Once complete, you can create a new Simple Volume with the freed-up space.
Method 3: Using PowerShell
1. Open an elevated PowerShell. Make sure you have the proper permissions to do so.
2. Type the Get-Partition command into the PowerShell, then press Enter, keeping in mind the drive letter of the partition you want to shrink.
3. Enter the following command into PowerShell, and press Enter. You should see the supported minimum size (SizeMin) and maximum size (SizeMax).
- Get-PartitionSupportedSize -DriveLetter <Drive Letter>
4. Enter any of the following commands into the elevated PowerShell depending on the intended purpose:
|
Purpose |
Command |
| To shrink by size in Bytes | Resize-Partition -DriveLetter “<Drive Letter>” -Size <Size> |
| To shrink by size in KB | Resize-Partition -DriveLetter “<Drive Letter>” -Size <Size>KB |
| To shrink by size in MB | Resize-Partition -DriveLetter “<Drive Letter>” -Size <Size>MB |
| To shrink by size in GB | Resize-Partition -DriveLetter “<Drive Letter>” -Size <Size>GB |
| To shrink by size in TB | Resize-Partition -DriveLetter “<Drive Letter>” -Size <Size>TB |
5. When completed, you can close the PowerShell and create a new Simple Volume from the freed-up space.
How does a partition work?
There are three kinds of partitions: primary, extended, and logical partitions. A primary partition is used to save and boot an operating system, which can be set as active so that the computer can identify the operating system that needs to be run. You can set up to four primary partitions, but only one can be visible and active.
On the other hand, an extended partition is a special primary partition that exists to house smaller logical partitions. Logical partitions are similar to primary partitions, but there is no limit to the number of logical partitions you can create.
Once a partition is created, it is formatted with a file system, such as a New Technology File System (NTFS) or FAT32 and exFAT for removable drives. However, to shrink a partition, it must follow the NTFS format.
Common Issues and Troubleshooting
Why the Shrink option might be unavailable
If you try to Shrink a partition and notice that the option is greyed out, it may indicate that the selected partition does not have enough free space. Alternatively, it could also indicate that the partition is not using the NTFS.
To fix this, make sure to free up some space or convert the partition to the NTFS. You can opt to delete any files you don’t need or shrink other partitions to free up some space.
How to deal with unmovable files preventing shrinking
Sometimes, unmovable files can prevent you from freeing up space in the partition and Shrinking it all together. To fix this, you can manually disable Hibernation, Page file, and System protection files. Alternatively, you can use a third-party partition manager that can automatically move the unmovable files.
Alternative third-party partitioning tools
You can opt to use third-party partitioning software to speed up and automate the Shrinking process. They offer functionality such as creating, deleting, shrinking, expanding, splitting, or merging partitions on your storage.
A popular option is the MiniTool Partition Wizard, which, in addition to the functionalities mentioned above, can convert partitions from FAT to NTFS without losing data.
3 Use cases for Shrinking a partition
1. Creating new partitions for dual-boot setups
Shrinking or resizing partitions in Windows can be particularly useful for dual-boot setups. For instance, it may be particularly useful if you continually switch between Windows or Ubuntu operating systems. The standard partition will automatically exist as a system partition, but if several operating systems are available, it could be listed as a boot partition.
Having a boot partition lets you maximize both operating systems without any of them affecting the other’s usage and functionality. It is up to the user to decide which one to use and load. You can even use partitions if you want to use both Windows 7 and Windows 10, for instance.
2. Reallocating space for better disk utilization
Reducing a partition size in Windows can also help you maximize disk space. It can make your file system management much more efficient, which could significantly boost your device processes and system response times.
You can also learn how to partition a hard drive to manage your storage space efficiently.
3. Preparing a system for virtual machines
With Hyper-V, you can also configure GPU partitions and assign one physical GPU device to a virtual machine (VM). This gives each VM only a portion of the GPU rather than the entire unit. This way, the VM can only access GPU resources that are dedicated to them, preventing any unauthorized access by other VMs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can shrinking a partition cause data loss?
Shrinking a partition won’t delete any data. Even if a partition includes unmovable files, the volume can only shrink up to a certain point. It won’t reach any used space with existing data. Whether resizing or moving a partition entirely, it is safe and won’t delete any data.
How much can you shrink a volume?
You cannot shrink a volume more than the maximum number of reclaimable bytes. Running the shrink command under Disk Management will automatically calculate the maximum space that you can shrink.
As shrinking doesn’t delete any data, the size of unmovable files will also affect the volume you can shrink. Make sure to clean up any unnecessary files before shrinking to maximize the shrinkable space.
What happens if the process is interrupted?
Stopping a partitioning process might run the risk of data loss or corruption. Any disturbances to the resizing operation could lead to file system damage and make it harder to recover any lost data.
Are there risks in using third-party partitioning tools?
Like any third-party software, installing partitioning tools carries risks, especially as you will be giving them access to sensitive data. Make sure to invest in reputable partitioning tools, as they can help speed up the process.
Shrink your volume for maximum Windows partition management
Shrinking your volume in Windows can help you fully utilize the disk space on your device, which you can take advantage of by creating boot partitions for multiple operating systems and even use the partition space for VMs.
Effective disk space management can help you organize data and even boost your system performance. Following the best practices mentioned above will ensure that you can safely modify your partitions.
