How to Convert MBR to GPT in Windows 10 without Data Loss?
- About MBR and GPT
- Why convert MBR to GPT in Windows 10?
- Convert MBR and GPT via Windows built-in tools (data loss)
- Safest way to convert MBR and GPT without data loss
- Summary
About MBR and GPT
Before diving into converting MBR and GPT disks in Windows 10, it's essential to understand the basics of these two disk types. MBR (Master Boot Record) disks use a 512-byte table to store partition information, whereas GPT (GUID Partition Table) disks utilize a 128-byte header and a 512-byte table to store partition information.
▶ MBR (short for Master Boot Record) The MBR disk allows for a maximum partition size of 2TBs with 4 primary partitions or 3 primary partitions and 1 extended partition. To create more than 4 partitions, create 3 primary partitions and 1 extended partition, which can hold multiple sub-partitions (logical drives).
▶ GPT (short for GUID Partition Table) The GPT system allows for theoretically unlimited partitions and disk sizes, but it can only be used on systems that support UEFI. This means users with UEFI-enabled motherboards can take advantage of GPT's capabilities, but those with older systems or removable media cannot.
Why convert MBR to GPT in Windows 10?
When deciding between MBR and GPT structures for your Windows 10 PC, consider that MBR can only support disks up to 2TBs, making it unsuitable for larger drives. This means any excess space beyond 2TBs will be unallocated and inaccessible. To fully utilize larger hard disks, converting to GPT is necessary. Additionally, if you plan to upgrade to Windows 11, which only boots in UEFI mode, selecting GPT is also required.
Windows XP 32-bit, Windows 2003 32-bit, Windows 2000, and Windows NT4 operating systems cannot support GPT disks, which will show "GPT Protective" partitions, preventing access to data until converted to MBR.
The choice between GPT and MBR partition structures largely depends on the user's specific situation and hardware requirements. While both have their pros and cons, most users will convert between the two depending on their needs.
Convert MBR to GPT in Windows 10 via Windows built-in tools (data loss)
To convert MBR to GPT or GPT to MPT in Windows 11/10/8/7, you can use the native tools, Windows Disk Management and DiskPart.exe, to make the conversion.
Method 1. Convert MBR to GPT via Windows 10 Disk Management
Windows 10 Disk Management is a built-in tool that allows you to manage your disk partitions, but it lacks the ability to convert a disk to GPT or MBR structure. To access Disk Management, open "This PC" and select "Manage" and then "Disk Management". However, the option to convert a disk to GPT or MBR will not be available.
The Disk Management tool can only convert a disk between GPT and MBR when there are no partitions on the disk, so all partitions must be deleted before conversion. This solution only works for non-system disks, as deleting the system partition is not possible within Windows.
Method 2. Convert MBR to GPT in Windows 10 via Command Line
DiskPart is a Windows built-in tool that allows you to convert a disk to MBR or GPT format, but only if there are no partitions on the disk. It is more functional than Disk Management and can convert both system and non-system disks, and can be accessed in WinPE mode to delete the system drive before conversion.
1. Boot from a Windows installation media, then select your language preferences and click Next.
Step 1. To open DiskPart, click on the Start Menu and type "DiskPart" in the search box, then press Enter. A prompt will appear, click "Yes" to open the command prompt.
Step 2. Input "list disk" and press "Enter".
Step 3. To convert a disk to a different format, you need to select the disk you want to convert first. This is done by typing "select disk n" followed by pressing the "Enter" key, where n is the number of the disk you want to convert.
Step 4. Press "Enter" to delete all the partitions on the selected disk. If there are no partitions, proceed to the next step.
Step 5. To convert between GPT and MBR formats, type "convert mbr" or "convert gpt" and press 'Enter'.
Note: To convert a system disk between MBR and GPT using DiskPart, you need to boot your computer from the Windows installation media, access the Command Prompt, and execute the necessary commands to convert the system disk to either MBR or GPT format.
Converting an MBR disk to GPT (or vice versa) requires deleting all partitions beforehand, which can result in data loss. Therefore, it's essential to back up important data before proceeding. Alternatively, you can use third-party software to perform the conversion without deleting partitions.
Safest way to convert MBR and GPT without data loss in Windows 11/10/8/7
To convert a disk from MBR to GPT while keeping your data safe, use Qiling Disk Master Professional Edition, a powerful partition manager that can convert system and data disks to GPT or MBR without deleting partitions. It can even convert a system disk within Windows, as long as you can boot into Windows successfully. A demo version is available for download to see how it works.
Tips:
▸ To convert a system disk between MBR and GPT, you'll need to switch the boot mode from Legacy to UEFI, allowing the system to recognize and boot from the GPT disk successfully.
▸ If you have more than 4 partitions on a GPT disk, you won't be able to convert it to an MBR structure unless you delete some partitions to bring the total to 4 or less.
▸ To prevent data loss due to human error, it's essential to back up all necessary information beforehand.
If you plan to convert GPT to MBR, follow the instruction:
Step 1. Install the program, launch it, and right-click on the disk you want to convert in the main window, then choose the 'Convert to MBR' option.
Step 2. Waiting to perform the convert operations.
To convert a GPT disk to MBR, simply right-click the GPT disk and select the "Convert to MBR" option, then follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process. This will convert the GPT disk to a Master Boot Record (MBR) disk, allowing it to be used with older operating systems that only support MBR.
To successfully boot a PC after converting the system/boot disk from MBR to GPT, switch the boot mode from Legacy BIOS to UEFI mode, and consult your PC or motherboard manual for specific instructions on how to make this change.
If your Windows can't boot up normally or you need to convert MBR to GPT or vice versa during Windows 10 installation, create a Windows PE bootable media via Qiling Disk Master on another working computer, then use it to boot your computer and follow the steps to convert the disk between MBR and GPT without affecting the operating system.
Summary
With three different methods shared, you should now know how to convert MBR to GPT in Windows 10/8/7. Qiling Disk Master Professional offers the securest way to convert a disk between MBR and GPT without deleting partitions, allowing you to safely get around the risk of losing data.
offers many great features, including merging partitions, allocating free space, cloning MBR to GPT and vice versa, and migrating OS to an SSD or other hard disk. To access these features on Windows Server, you can try Qiling Disk Master Server.Qiling Disk Master Server offers many great features, including merging partitions, allocating free space, cloning MBR to GPT and vice versa, and migrating OS to an SSD or other hard disk. To access these features on Windows Server, you can try Qiling Disk Master Server.
Related Articles
- Top 5 Best Free USB Formatter Software for Windows Recommend 2024
What is the best USB formatter for Windows operating systems? Follow this page, and you'll get a list of the top 5 best paid and free USB formatters for Windows users to apply and set up their USB storage devices efficiently. - How Do I Perform Windows Password Reset with USB? 2024 Guide
If you want to reset your Windows password with a USB but don't know how then this article is for you. Continue reading as we share all the methods that you could use to reset your Windows password. - Wyze Cam SD card Format: How to Format SD Card for Wyze Cam?
This article will address two problems - how to choose Wyze Cam SD card format and how to format SD card for Wyze Cam. Stay here and start to format drive from Camera, Windows, and Mac. - How to Run Xbox One SSD Performance Test [Step-by-Step Guide]
Do you want to test your Xbox One SSD performance? Should you upgrade the Xbox One with an SSD? Don't worry; this article gives teaches you to run Xbox One SSD performance efficiently.