How to Merge Hard Drive or SSD Partitions in Windows

Merging partitions on a hard drive or SSD can help optimize storage space, especially if you’re running out of space on one partition. This guide covers a straightforward way to merge partitions in Windows using built-in tools as well as some additional software options.

Preparing to Merge Partitions

Before starting, it’s essential to back up any data on both partitions. Merging partitions can lead to data loss on one of the partitions, so be sure to save important files to an external drive or cloud storage.

Steps for Backing Up:

  • Copy files to an external hard drive or USB flash drive.
  • Use cloud storage services like OneDrive or Google Drive.

Method 1: Using the Built-In Disk Management Utility

Windows offers a built-in tool that lets you merge partitions without third-party software. Here’s how to use it:

  1. Right-click the “This PC” icon and select “Manage”.
  2. Go to “Disk Management”.
  3. Find the partition you want to delete to merge with another. Right-click on this partition and select “Delete Volume...”.
  4. Confirm the deletion. Note that all data on this partition will be erased.
  5. You’ll now have unallocated space. Right-click on the partition you want to expand, then select “Extend Volume...”.
  6. Follow the wizard to add the unallocated space to your existing partition.

You’re done! The partitions are now merged, and the space is available in a single drive.

Method 2: Using Third-Party Software

If the built-in Windows tool doesn’t allow you to merge the partitions (for instance, if the partitions aren’t next to each other), you can use third-party software. Some popular programs include:

  • AOMEI Partition Assistant – an intuitive program with a partition merge feature.
  • MiniTool Partition Wizard – another free solution with advanced capabilities.

Download and install one of these programs, open it, and follow the steps to merge partitions. The process is generally similar to the Disk Management utility: you delete one partition first, then merge it with another.