How to Partition a Drive in Windows 10 and Windows 11

If you need to partition a drive for better data organization or to install additional operating systems, Windows 10 and Windows 11 offer built-in tools to help you do it. Follow these simple steps to create a new partition on your hard drive. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process in both Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Benefits of Partitioning a Drive

Partitioning a drive allows you to:

  • Organize files and data by storing them in separate sections;
  • Install a second operating system without affecting your primary partition;
  • Create a dedicated space for data backup or system recovery.

How to Partition a Drive in Windows 10 and Windows 11

To partition a drive in Windows 10 or Windows 11, you don’t need any third-party software. You can perform all operations using the built-in "Disk Management" tool.

Step 1: Open "Disk Management"

In both Windows 10 and Windows 11, follow these steps:

  1. Press Win + X or right-click on the Start button.
  2. Select Disk Management from the menu that appears.

Step 2: Choose the Drive to Shrink

In the "Disk Management" window, you’ll see all available drives and partitions. To create a new partition, you’ll need to free up space on an existing drive first.

  1. Find the drive you want to partition and right-click on it.
  2. Select the Shrink Volume option.

Step 3: Specify the New Partition Size

After selecting "Shrink Volume," Windows will scan for available space. In the pop-up window, you’ll see how much space can be freed up.

  1. Enter the amount of space in megabytes (MB) that you want to shrink from the current partition. The new free space amount will appear below.
  2. Click Shrink to complete the process.

Step 4: Create a New Partition

Once you’ve shrunk the volume, you’ll see "unallocated space" on the drive. To create a partition from this space:

  1. Right-click on the unallocated space and select New Simple Volume.
  2. Follow the instructions in the wizard, selecting the size, drive letter, and file system for the new partition.
  3. Click Finish to complete the creation.