How to expand or split a hard drive partition in windows

There are two ways to expand or split a hard drive partition in Windows:

1. Using the built-in Disk Management tool.
2. Using a third-party partition manager software.

Using Disk Management

The Disk Management tool is a free and easy-to-use tool that comes with Windows. To use it, follow these steps:

1. 1. Open Disk Management by pressing Windows+R and typing diskmgmt.msc.

Opens in a new windowLifewire

Windows Run dialog box with diskmgmt.msc typed

1. 1. In the Disk Management window, right-click the partition that you want to expand or split and select the appropriate option.

Opens in a new windowMicrosoft Learn

Disk Management window

• To expand a partition, select “Extend Volume”.
• To split a partition, select “Shrink Volume”.

3. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the operation.

Using a third-party partition manager software

There are many third-party partition manager software programs available, such as EaseUS Partition Master, MiniTool Partition Wizard, and Paragon Partition Manager. These programs offer more features and flexibility than the built-in Disk Management tool.

To use a third-party partition manager software, follow these steps:

1. Install and launch the software.
2. Select the partition that you want to expand or split.
3. Click the “Expand” or “Split” button.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the operation.

Note:

• If you are not comfortable using the Disk Management tool or a third-party partition manager software, you can take your computer to a professional for help.