[2 Free Ways] How to Merge Partitions on Windows 10 Easily
Why merge partitions on Windows 10 or Windows 11?
Merging partitions refers to merge two partitions into one partition or combine a partition with unallocated space on hard drive to extend the space of a partition.
For example, if your C drive full but D empty, you can merge C with D to extend the space of C drive. Moreover, if there are too many partitions on hard drive, it is inconvenient to manage them; if you store different data on so many different partitions, when you want to open one of them; you may forget where the data are saved. So combing two partitions can help reduce the partition number.
How to merge partitions on Windows 10 with Disk Management
Windows 10 Disk Management can help you merge partitions, but it is only available when there is contiguous unallocated space behind the partition you would like to extend. Or, the "Extend Volume" option will be grayed out.
1. Open Disk Management. (You can type "diskmgmt.msc" in the Run window, or right-click on This PC and then select Manage >Computer Management > Storage > Disk Management.)
2. Locate the two partitions you want to merge and then delete one partition. For example, to combine C: drive and D: drive, you should delete D: drive. Right-click on D: partition and select "Delete Volume".
Tip: Be aware that all data stored on D: drive will be lost. You'd better create a backup before doing it.
3. Next, right-click on the system partition and select the "Extend Volume" option.
4. Follow the Extend Volume wizard and accept the default options to merge two partitions in Windows 10.
As you can see, this function is only available when the unallocated space is adjacent to the partition you want to operate. You are not allowed to combine two partitions directly or merge partition with a non-contiguous unallocated space.
[Data Safe] Alternative to merge partitions on Windows 10 for free
If you want to merge partitions on Windows 10 without losing data, you can try a free partition manager – Qiling Disk Master Standard.
It supports adding non-adjacent unallocated space into one partition or combining two partitions easily without deleting it. Free download it and check out the following guide about how to merge partitions on Windows 10 or Windows 11 without data loss.
1. Install and run it. Right click the partition you need to merge (e.g. Partition D) and choose Advanced > Move/resize Partitions.
2. Choose the partition that you need to be merged (eg. Partition E).
3. In the main interface, after confirming operation, click Proceed to commit it.
- ★Tips:
- Only 2 partitions can be merged at one time, and the two partitions must be adjacent, but merge two or more parts of unallocated space into a partition is available and no matter the unallocated is next to the partition you want to merge or not.
- You can merge data partition into system boot drive, but you cannot merge system boot drive into data partition.
- If you want to combine two partitions in Windows Server, you can try the Qiling Disk Master Server.
Conclusion
Now, surely you have realized how to merge partitions in Windows 10/11. If there is an adjacent unallocated space behind the partition you want to extend. You can combine the partition with the unallocated space within Disk Management. If there is no such unallocated space and you want to merge two partitions like C drive and D drive without data loss, it is recommended to apply Qiling Disk Master Standard.
Apart from merging two drives, Qiling Disk Master Standard can help you to make bootable media, migrate OS to SSD and so on. If you want to experience more advanced functions like converting dynamic disk into basic, recover lost partition, moving applications from one drive to another drive, and converting system MBR disk into GPT, you can upgrade it to Professional version.
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