How to merge partitions in Windows

Updated: 05/01/2023 by Computer Hope
Windows 10

Creating partitions can be useful for many reasons. They help organize specific files, such as movies and music, or be used to create a backup copy of Windows in case you need to reformat your computer. However, partitions can also split your drive into sections that are too small for your needs. To learn how to merge partitions in Windows, follow the steps below.

Warning

Deleting a partition permanently erases any data that is presently stored on it.

How to merge partitions in Windows

This section shows the complete process for removing a formatted partition, and then extending another. If you are expanding a partition into an unallocated space, skip to step 7.

  1. Right-click the Start menu icon to open the Power User Tasks Menu. Or, press Win+X (hold down the Windows key and press X).
  2. Select Disk Management.

Power User Tasks Menu, Disk Management option

  1. In the Disk Management window, you will see a list of available hard drives. Hard disk space that is not yet partitioned is labeled as unallocated. If hard disk space has a drive letter associated with it, that space was partitioned.

Disk Management window

  1. Locate the partition you want to delete. In this example, we'll be removing Extra Volume (E:).

Locate the volume you want to delete

  1. Right-click the partition and select Delete Volume from the drop-down menu.

Delete Volume selector in Windows 10

Note

If the Delete Volume option is grayed out when right-clicking, the partition cannot be deleted.

  1. A pop-up message appears to confirm that you want to delete the partition. Click Yes.

Confirmation prompt for deleting a volume in Windows 10

  1. When the partition is deleted, it is listed as Unallocated space.

Unallocated volume

  1. Locate the existing partition that you'd like to extend, and right-click it. In this example, we are extending Example Volume (D:).

Partition in Windows 10

  1. Select Extend Volume from the drop-down menu.

Extend Volume selector in Windows 10

  1. The Extend Volume Wizard will launch. Click the Next Next button in Windows. button.
  2. Select how much of the unallocated space you want to extend the partition by (A), and click the Next button (B).

Extend Volume Wizard in Windows 10

  1. Click the Finish Finish button in Windows. button.
  2. Your partition is extended and displayed in the Disk Management window with its new size.

Windows Disk Management

  1. Close the Disk Management window by clicking Close window icon in Windows 10 in the upper-right corner.