The Download
- There are free disk partition tools that help you organize and manage your computer’s storage space.
- Programs like MiniTool and AOMEI let you resize, merge, and create new partitions on your computer.
- Some features might only be available if you buy the full version of these tools.
Partition management software allows you to create, delete, shrink, expand, split, or merge partitions on your hard drives or other storage devices. Whether you’re looking to make room for a dual-boot OS setup or combine two partitions for new UHD movie files, these are the best free tools I’ve used.
What We Like
Supports lots of common disk partitioning tasks
Lets you extend the system partition without having to restart
Simulates changes before you save them
The program is really easy to use
Works well in all modern versions of Windows
What We Don’t Like
Dealing with dynamic disks is not supported
Some features that look free are only available if you purchase the program
Attempts to add another program to your computer during setup
MiniTool Partition Wizard offers more partition management tools than most similar programs, including some paid ones.
The free version supports regular functions like formatting, deleting, moving, resizing, splitting, merging, and copying partitions. It can also check the file system for errors, conduct a surface test, and wipe and align partitions.
Additionally, MiniTool Partition Wizard can relocate the operating system to another hard drive and recover lost or deleted partitions. It also includes a disk space analyzer and benchmark tool.
One limitation is that it doesn’t support manipulating dynamic disks. Also, unlike the paid version, it won’t recover lost or damaged partitions.
Confirmed supported operating systems include Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP.
What We Like
Includes an easy-to-use, step-by-step wizard
Changes you make are queued and not applied until you specifically apply all of them at once
Lots of useful features are included
Many of the options are readily available without having to sift through menus
What We Don’t Like
Some features are only available if you pay for them
Unable to convert between primary partitions and logical partitions
Can’t convert dynamic disks to basic disks
AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard Edition offers more readily accessible options, as well as those hidden in menus, compared to many other free partition software tools. However, this shouldn’t deter you.
With this program, you can resize, merge, create, and format partitions and copy entire disks and partitions.
Some partition management features are limited to the paid, professional version. One such feature is converting between primary and logical partitions.
Extra features like dynamic to basic disk conversions require payment. The paid versions also support partition splitting and alignment, OS migration, partition recovery, and additional features.
This program is compatible with Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7.
What We Like
Program interface makes it easy to use and understand what you’re doing
Supports common and advanced features
Queues changes until you apply them all at once
Everything you’re able to do is shown outright; no hidden menu options
There’s a portable option
This app’s user interface is exceptionally clean and uncluttered, making it very easy to use. All available operations are listed on the side, with none hidden in menus.
Actions you can perform on a disk include resizing, moving, deleting, copying, formatting, and wiping a volume, along with changing the volume’s label and conducting a surface test. It also supports OS migration and converting dynamic disks to basic disks.
Similar to other partition management software, Macrorit’s program doesn’t make changes to partitions until you apply them with the Commit button.
This program is compatible with Windows 11, 10, and older versions of Windows. A portable edition is available. The Pro version includes additional features like rollback protection and commercial use. To use this with a Windows Server OS, purchase of the Server or Unlimited edition is required.
What We Like
Works no matter what operating system is installed (or even if there isn’t one)
Every change can be applied nearly instantly without a reboot
Lets you hide partitions
Adjusting the size of a partition is really easy
Supports lots of file systems
What We Don’t Like
Takes longer to start up because you have to boot to the software
Partitions are easy to miss because they’re hidden in a menu
Takes much longer to download than most disk partitioning programs
No redo option (just an undo)
GParted operates entirely from a bootable disc or USB device, but it still features a full user interface like a regular program, making it easy to use.
Editing a partition’s size is simple, as you can set the exact size of the free space before and after the partition using a text box or a sliding bar to visualize the size change.
A partition can be formatted in various file system formats, including EXT2/3/4, NTFS, FAT16/32, and XFS.
Changes made by GParted are queued and applied with one click. Since it runs outside the operating system, pending changes don’t require a reboot, allowing faster completion of tasks.
An annoying issue is that it doesn’t list all available partitions on one screen, unlike most other free disk partitioning programs. Each disk must be opened separately from a drop-down menu, which can be easy to miss if you’re unsure where to look.
This download occupies a few hundred megabytes of space, much larger than most programs on this list, so it may take longer to download.
IM-Magic Partition Resizer installs quickly and is super simple to use. You can use it to move, resize (including the active one), and copy partitions, change the drive letter and label, check the partition for errors, delete and format partitions with a custom cluster size, convert NTFS to FAT32, hide partitions, and wipe data.
These actions are easy to find by simply right-clicking the device you want to manipulate. The program updates in real-time as you perform actions, allowing you to see how changes will look when applied.
Once satisfied with the results, use the prominent Apply Changes button to implement them. If a reboot is required, IM-Magic Partition Resizer will notify you.
You can also view a drive’s properties, including its NT object name, GUID, file system, sector size, cluster size, partition number, physical sector number, total number of hidden sectors, and more.
A downside to this program is that some features require upgrading to a paid edition. For instance, creating the bootable media program or working with hard drives larger than 16 TB requires a purchase.
The official list of compatible operating systems includes Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP, and 2000.
What We Like
Easy to understand with lots of useful options
Makes it easy to upgrade the system drive to a larger HDD
Several helpful options and functions
Changes are previewed before they’re applied
The program updates often with improvements and new features
Can convert to MBR and GPT
What We Don’t Like
Doesn’t work for commercial use; only personal
No support for managing dynamic volumes
Features like disk cloning and migrating aren’t free
Shows an ad every time you close the program
Your email address is required to get the download
Managing partition size in EaseUS Partition Master is straightforward with their easy-to-use slider, allowing you to drag left or right to shrink or expand partitions.
Changes applied to a partition with this program aren’t in real time. Modifications exist virtually, providing a preview of the outcome if changes are saved. They only take effect when you click a specific button.
This feature is particularly beneficial, as it allows operations like expanding and copying partitions to be completed in one step, avoiding reboots between actions and saving time. A list of pending operations is displayed on the side for clear visibility of upcoming changes.
You can password-protect EaseUS Partition Master, hide partitions, upgrade the system drive to a larger bootable drive, merge partitions, defragment a drive, and copy Windows to another hard drive.
One downside of this program is that several features are only available in the full, paid version, but remain clickable. This might lead you to inadvertently attempt to open a feature in the free version, only to be prompted to purchase the professional one. OS migration, the WinPE Creator, and system cloning are examples of paid features.
It is compatible with Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7.
What We Like
Queues up all the changes and applies them at the same time
Convert MBR to GPT without data loss
Convert between logical and primary partitions without data loss
Convert NTFS partitions to FAT32 without data loss
NIUBI’s partitioning tool is extremely capable, despite it being the free version. As with most programs on this list, you can manipulate partitions in various ways.
An OS migration wizard and clone disk wizard guide you through the entire process of selecting source and destination locations.
Over 10 operations are listed on the left of the program for easy access. You can resize/move the volume, merge two volumes, delete or format a volume, repair the file system, run a surface test, and more.
As with most of these programs, commercial usage rights and access to the bootable media builder require payment.
This program is compatible with Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP.
What We Like
Supports plenty of basic features
Walks you through a step-by-step wizard
Previews changes before committing to them
Supports common file systems
What We Don’t Like
Missing features found in similar tools
Not everything is free; some features require an upgrade
Not free for business usage
If walking through wizards helps you feel more comfortable making changes to partitions, then you’ll like Paragon Partition Manager. Whether creating a new partition or resizing, deleting, or formatting an existing one, this program guides you through a step-by-step process.
It supports common file systems like NTFS, FAT32, and HFS. Unfortunately, many additional features are disabled and only available in the pro version, including disk backup, OS migration, and data wiping.
Supported operating systems include Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7.
What We Like
It’s really easy to use and understand
Some changes can be restored from a backup
It supports many common disk partitioning tasks
Active@ Partition Manager can create new partitions from unallocated space and manage existing partitions by resizing and formatting them. Simple wizards guide you through these tasks effortlessly.
This tool supports all common file systems, such as FAT, HFS+, NTFS, and EXT2/3/4, making it versatile for any kind of file system you’re using.
Additional features include imaging a whole drive for backup purposes, converting between MBR and GPT, creating FAT32 partitions up to 1 TB, editing boot records, and rolling back changes by automatically backing up partition layouts.
When resizing a partition with Active@ Partition Manager, you can define the custom size in megabytes or sectors.
Unfortunately, it can’t resize locked volumes, preventing changes to the system volume size.
This program works well with Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP, as well as Windows Server 2012, 2008, and 2003.
This software is also able to enlarge the system partition, but, in my testing, I found that it always resulted in a BSOD.
What We Like
Operates on any computer, with or without an OS
It’s easy to create and delete partitions
It can format a drive to many file systems
The download size is really small
What We Don’t Like
Lacks a graphical user interface
Takes a while to start using because you have to boot to the software
Requires entering the exact size of the partition you wish to create
Does not save changes automatically
No option to restart or exit the program
No longer updates
Like GParted, Cute Partition Manager runs independently from the OS. It must be installed on a bootable device such as a disc or flash drive, allowing use even without an installed operating system.
This program allows you to change a disk’s file system and create or delete partitions. Changes are queued and can be undone, as they apply only when saved.
Despite its name, Cute Partition Manager is entirely text-based, requiring keyboard navigation for option selection. However, with few menus, this is not problematic.
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