How to Change the Drive Letter of a USB or Disk in Windows

Sometimes, you may need to change the drive letter of a USB or external disk to avoid conflicts with other devices or for easier access. Windows makes this process simple and requires no special skills. This guide will walk you through changing a drive or USB letter using the built-in Disk Management tool.

Step 1: Open Disk Management

First, you’ll need to open the Disk Management tool. Here are a couple of ways to do it:

  • Press Win + X and select “Disk Management” from the menu that appears.
  • Alternatively, press Win + R to open the Run dialog, type diskmgmt.msc, and press Enter.

Step 2: Locate the Drive

In the Disk Management window, you’ll see a list of all connected disks and partitions. Find the drive or USB you want to change the letter for. USBs and external drives usually appear as removable storage.

Step 3: Change the Drive Letter

Once you’ve located the correct drive, follow these steps:

  1. Right-click on the USB or drive partition and select “Change Drive Letter and Paths…”.
  2. In the dialog that opens, click Change.
  3. In the next window, select a new drive letter from the drop-down list. Ensure that the chosen letter isn’t being used by another device.
  4. Click OK and confirm the action.

Step 4: Restart Your Computer (If Necessary)

The changes usually take effect immediately, and the drive updates with the new letter. If the system doesn’t recognize the change, restart your computer to apply the settings.

What to Do if the “Change” Button is Grayed Out?

If the “Change” button is unavailable, the drive might be in use by a program or application. Close any apps that might be accessing the drive, or disable auto-launch for the device. As a last resort, try disconnecting the drive and reconnecting it.