Operating systems now allow you to create separate partitions to store data in an organized manner. However, you may quickly run out of space on a particular partition. As a result, the computer becomes slower because many files must be indexed in a smaller partition. To avoid sluggish operations, you can delete them. This article will show you how to delete a partition on Windows 11/10.
Note:
- This guide will walk you through removing normal partitions on a hard drive. Although the recovery partition can be deleted, doing so makes Windows and the factory default settings inaccessible. Therefore, it is risky to delete the recovery partition unless you create a recovery disk using your USB drive in case you require it after you remove the recovery partition.
- The methods below will erase the data on the partition. So, before you begin, it is best to make a backup of your important data. Then, follow the on-screen instructions to delete unwanted partitions and reallocate disk space in Windows 11/10.
- If you are a Mac user, you can check the guide on how to delete a partition on Mac.
Method 1: Delete Partition Using Disk Management (GUI Tool)
In Windows 11/10, users can use a built-in GUI Disk Management tool to delete a regular partition on a hard drive or any other storage devices. In this method, you can effortlessly delete a partition at a time. Follow the steps below.
Step 1. Right-click Start and choose Disk Management.
Step 2. Locate the drive in the list, right-click on the partition to be deleted and select Delete Volume.
Step 3. To proceed with the deletion process, press Yes.
Method 2: Delete Partitions Using PowerShell (Command-Line Tool)
Using the PowerShell command-line tool, you can delete partitions with and without an assigned drive letter in Windows 11/10. Here are the exact commands to use and how to run them.
Delete Partitions With an Assigned Drive Letter
Step 1. Right-click Start and select Windows PowerShell (Admin).
With this, you can run the PowerShell application as an administrator.
Step 2. Enter this command to list or display a table with all available partitions in the PowerShell window.
Get-Volume
Step 3. To remove a partition, execute the command below.
Remove-Partition -DriveLetter PARTITION-LETTER
Replace the "PARTITION-LETTER" with the drive letter of the partition to be deleted.
Step 4. In the PowerShell window, type Y and press Enter.
This action ensures that you truly want to delete the target partition.
Windows PowerShell will remove the partition and mark it as unallocated as soon as you confirm the action. You can now use the deleted space to create a new partition or expand an existing partition.
Delete Partitions Without an Assigned Drive Letter
Step 1. Click Start and search for PowerShell. Then choose Run as administrator.
Step 2. Enter the following command to get a list of all available drives:
Get-Disk
To get a list of all the available partitions on the drive, type the following command and press Enter:
Get-Partition -DiskNumber DRIVE-NUMBER
Replace "DRIVE-NUMBER" with the number of the drive with the partition you want to erase. For example, this command lists the partitions of drive 2. You’ll type: Get-Partition -DiskNumber 2.
Step 3. To delete the partition and its contents, type the following command and press Enter:
Remove-Partition -DiskNumber DRIVE-NUMBER -PartitionNumber PARTITION-NUMBER
In the command, replace "DRIVE-NUMBER" and "PARTITION-NUMBER" with the number of the drive and partition you want to delete. For example, if this command deletes partition number 1 in drive 2, you’ll type: Remove-Partition -DiskNumber 1 -PartitionNumber 2
To confirm the deletion, type Y and press Enter.
When you finish the steps, the command will remove the partition from your specified hard drive.
Method 3: Delete Partitions Using DiskPart (Command-Line Tool)
Except for the system partition, which runs CMD, you can delete almost any partition. There are two methods for removing a partition using DiskPart (command-line tool).
Delete Partitions With Volume Command
Step 1. Click the Start button and then type cmd into the search box.
Then, right-click the first result and choose Run as administrator.
Step 2. Type diskpart and press Enter.
Then type the list volume command and click Enter.
Step 3. Type select volume volume-number to select the volume you want to delete.
Remember to replace “volume-number” with the partition name you want to delete. Type also the delete volume command and click Enter.
Step 4. Type exit to close the command prompt.
Delete Partitions With Partition Command
Step 1. Press Start and then type cmd into the search box.
Then, right-click and choose Run as administrator.
Step 2. Type diskpart and press Enter.
Type the list disk command and hit Enter. Choose the one where the partition is located based on the disk information, then type select disk disk-number and tap Enter.
Step 3. Enter the list partition command.
Find the partition based on the information provided. Enter select partition partition-number. After selecting the partition, type the delete partition command and click Enter.
Step 4. Exit DiskPart and close the command prompt.
How To Recover Accidentally Deleted or Lost Partition?
It is inevitable to delete partitions by mistake, and it was lost in the same way. If this is your scenario, don’t panic! If the partition is accidentally deleted or lost, you can recover it with a professional recovery program such as Wondershare Recoverit.
Wondershare Recoveirt is a market-leading partition recovery solution and is intended to recover lost partitions in Windows and macOS using a simple step-by-step process that anyone can use.
Recover over 1000 types of data types, like photos, videos, emails, files, audios, etc.
Recover data from numerous scenarios. Be it due to files being overwritten, a system crash, accidental formatting or virus attack, Recoverit is able to make a total recovery.
Support recovery of data from 2000+ storage devices, including computer/laptop, USB flash drive, SD memory card, external hard disk, digital camera, etc.
Ensure 100% data safe and easy operations.
Follow the three simple steps to retrieve your deleted partitions on hard drives quickly with Wondershare Recoverit.
Step 1. Choose Lost Partition
Start Wondershare Recoverit after the installation. Then, select Lost Partition from the Hard Drives and Locations option.
Step 2. Scan the Deleted Partition
Recoverit lost partition recovery software will begin scanning for data from deleted partitions automatically. The results will display on the screen. You can use the multiple filter options to find your desired files or partitions quickly.
Step 3. Partition Data Preview and Recovery
Following the scan, you can preview the files to verify if they are the ones you want. Select your desired files or partitions, and then click Recover to restore them.
Conclusion
You have three free ways to solve to delete a partition in Windows 11/10, and you can use any of them to meet your needs. These processes will delete your data, so make a backup first. If you accidentally delete partitions, you can recover them again by Wondershare Recoverit.