How to Resize Partition with Qiling Disk Master?

Updated on Jun 08, 2024 | by Nick Jones

Overview of Resize Partition

Resizing partition means to change the size of a partition on a hard drive as you like, either extend it or shrink it. But when you shrink a partition, you can at most shrink it to the size of its used space so that you can use the partitions with more flexibility. For example, you can store applications or files on any one of the partitions. If the partition is running out of space, you can extend it with the space shrunk from other partitions on the drive. Besides, you can create new partitions with the room from other partitions.

Here are several situations in which you would like to resize partition:

When you buy a new laptop or PC, it may have been pre-installed with a system and come with a big C drive but small data partitions, or a small C drive but large data partitions. No matter which one it is, you will find it hard to make full use of the whole disk space.

When the computer has been used for a long time, you may have encountered the message: the system drive is running out of space.

If Windows 10 upgrade failed with error "Couldn't update system reserved partition", the most likely cause is the system resvered partition is too small. Then you can extend system reserved partition.

For example, once when I was downloading a player online, following the installation steps without setting the destination, a message came saying that my c disk has not enough space to install the application. Thus, I have to either reset the destination or give up my intention. Therefore, later, I set d or f partition as the destination to avoid such problem following the advice of my friends.

I know I can extend my c drive with Windows self-contained function but I didn’t know how because it seems very difficult. Being neither a computer professional nor a computer lover, I’m usually been caught by problems. It is extremely annoying! But now, I’m not troubled by such problems anymore with Qiling Disk Master. It helps me manage my disks very well with its intuitive interface and simple steps. By the way, it is compatible with Windows 11, 10, Windows 8/8.1, and Windows 7.

How to Resize partition with Partition Assistant

Before you do

Download and install Qiling Disk Master on a Windows computer.
Check the partitions you want to resize and make sure there is no error.
To resize a partition, there must be enough free space on the same drive.
Do not forcibly terminate the tasks or cut off the power otherwise you might lose your data.
Close all running applications on the partitions you want to resize.
For more detailed information, you could view the tutorial "How to Safely Partition?"

Case 1: Extend Partition

To extend partition means to increase partition size. Please note the two points below:

There must be an unallocated space on the same hard disk where the partition to be expanded is located. If there's no unallocated space, you could shrink other partitions on the same drive to generate the unallocated space.

The unallocated space should be adjacent to the partition you want to extend, no matter it is in front of the target partition or behind it. If not, you could use the feature "Move Partition" to adjust the position of it.

1. Install and launch Qiling Disk Master. In the main console you could view the whole partition configuration. In this demonstrator, there is an unallocated space behind C drive. Then, right-click the partition (here is C: partition) you want to extend and select "Resize /Move Partition".

2. In the pop-up window, position the mouse pointer on the right border of the partition and drag the border rightwards to extend partition. Then click "OK". (If there's no unallocated space beside the partition, you could not drag the border).

Tips:

There is an option "Using new mode to resize/move partition in the fastest and safest way.". If you tick this option, it will be safer and faster to resize your partitions, especially for NTFS partitions. Once this option is checked, the data will be intact even if the software ends abruptly or is cancelled during the operation.
If there is no enough space on the C drive, you can use the "App Mover" tool to move programs and folders to another external drive to free up your drive space.

3. You can preview the expand operation by viewing the "Pending Operations". Please click "Proceed" to resize the partition.

Tips:

Qiling Disk Master also allows you to extend a partition even without unallocated space or contiguous unallocated space, please refer to how to allocate free space, how to use extend partition wizard or how to merge partitions.
If you want to extend system reserved partition, you can move the unallocated space to the right side of the system reserved partition and then use the feature Resize Partition.

4. Wait for the operation to be finished. After it is completed successfully, you will find the C: partition has been expanded.

Case 2: Shrink Partition

Shrinking partition could help you release some unused space from one partition and get some unallocated space. After that, you could make new partitions and/or increase other partitions size with the unallocated space.

1. Install and launch Qiling Disk Master. In the main console you could view the whole partition configuration. Then, right-click the partition (here is D:) which you want to shrink and select "Resize Partition".

2. In the pop-up window, position the mouse pointer on either border of the partition and drag the border rightwards or leftwards to shrink partition. Then click "OK".

3. You can preview the shrink operation by viewing the "Pending Operations". Please click "Proceed" to shrink the partition.

4. Wait for the operation to be finished. After it is completed successfully, you will find the D: partition has been shrunk.

Conclusion

Following the above steps, your partitions will be expanded or shrunk successfully. It is a very useful tool to help you manage your disk space in an easier and faster way.

This feature is usually used to expand partitions if one partition has run out of space while there is more free space on other partitions or unallocated space of the drive. For instance, this feature helps you extend your system partition if your computer gets a message of insufficient space.

Furthermore, Partition Assistant also provides more wizards to help you quickly adjust partitions, such as allocate free space, or expand partition wizard, etc.

Notes:

The partition shrinking operation will be performed under PreOS Mode and your computer will reboot when:

Shrink system and/or boot partition.

Shrink a partition on which the page file or Qiling Disk Master installation file is on.

Shrink a partition where applications are running. Qiling Disk Master will suggest you close them or perform partition shrinking operations under PreOS Mode.

For BitLocker encrypted partition, Partition Assistant will first decrypt the BitLocker encryption in advance.

FAQs:

Q: Why the option "Resize Partition" is greyed out?

A: For ReFS, ExT2/3, ExFAT file systems, and other unknown file systems, it is unable to resize. Qiling Disk Master only supports the format, delete, and wipe operations.

Q: Is it possible to resize the exFAT partition?

A: Currently, it is unable to resize the exFAT partition.

Q: How long will it take to resize a partition?

A: It depends on the amount of data. The program will also prompt an estimated time after clicking the "Apply" button.

Q: Is it possible to use the feature "Resize Partition" to extend a partition with space from another hard disk?

A: No, currently, you can only use the feature to extend a partition with space on the same disk.

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