How to Merge or Combine Partitions in Windows 11

One of the recent trends is to have fewer partitions on a computer hard drive, but do you know how it's achieved? That's right; it leads to the genuine need for merging partitions. Yes, you read that right! You can easily reduce the number of partitions by simply merging adjacent and non-adjacent ones and combining partitions with unallocated space.

Merging partitions refers to the process of combining two partitions into one or merging a partition with unallocated space on a hard drive to expand the capacity of a particular partition. Apart from this, there are several other reasons why you might need to merge partitions, including:

• Increase available space
• Store files more efficiently and make them easier to access
• Find files more quickly

When it comes to how to merge two hard drive partitions in Windows 11, there are mainly two methods that allow you to easily and quickly combine partitions on Windows 11. In this guide, we'll show you how to use both a professional tool and the Disk Management feature to merge partitions in Windows 11.

Let's get started!

Merge partitions without data loss in Windows 11 using a partition tool

tools Partition Master is a top-tier tool that helps you merge partitions quickly and easily on Windows 11. With its numerous features, the Partition Master makes it a breeze to partition your hard drive and make the most of your available disk space. The tool's capabilities allow users to move/resize partitions, merge partitions, copy disks/partitions, clone/create/format or delete partitions within minutes. Additionally, it offers a range of functions to boost disk performance and streamline management efficiency.

When merging partitions in Windows 11, the Partition Master Tool offers you several options to combine partitions, such as:

• Merge adjacent partitions

"Partition Master Tool" is a utility that enables users to effortlessly merge two adjacent or contiguous partitions for efficient management of disk space. This tool serves as an all-in-one partition merger, offering high compatibility with all 32/64-bit Windows operating systems, including Windows Vista, XP, 7, 8, 10, and 11. Most importantly, it can merge two adjacent partitions without causing any data loss. Unlike other tools, it does not require deleting volumes to create free space.

Step 1: Select the target partition

Right-click on the partition that you want to keep and select “Merge”.

Launch the partition manager software

Step 2: Select the adjacent partitions to merge

Merge with a partition adjacent to the previously selected one.

Click "OK" to continue.

Step 3: Perform the operation: Merge partitions

1. Click the "Perform Tasks" button at the top, then click "Apply".
2. The program will then merge the partitions and add the contents of the second partition to the first one.

Select the partitions to merge

• Merge non-contiguous partitions:

If you want to merge two non-contiguous partitions, the Partition Master Tool can meet your needs! The process of using the partition merge tool to combine two non-contiguous partitions will vary depending on the content between the source partition and the target partition.

For example, if there is any unallocated space between the source partition and target partition, you can directly merge partitions with the Partition Master tool. However, if there is any partition/partition between the two volumes to be merged, the “Allocate Space” feature of the Partition Master tool will move all available space from one drive to the other (the data in the old partition still exists) to combine the two partitions without deleting any partition.

Step 1: Right-click on the partition you want to merge and select "Merge".

Select partitions to merge

Step 2: Select a non-adjacent partition to merge and click "OK".

Step 3: Select the target partition where you want to merge the unallocated space and click “OK”.

4. Click the “Execute Task” button and then click “Apply” to start merging partitions.

• Merge partitions with unallocated space

Unallocated space refers to free space that Windows has not assigned a drive letter to. If unassigned, your PC's operating system will not recognize the space and will not allow file writing there. Thus, to make the most of unallocated space on your hard disk, the Partition Master tool lets you merge partitions with unallocated space. This fantastic tool is enough to get you out of clutter and address issues of insufficient disk space, even if there is no available unallocated space to expand the system partition.

Step 1: Shrink the partition to free up space for expansion

If there's enough unallocated space on the hard drive to extend the partition, skip to Step 2. If not, free up some first:

In the "Partition Manager" section, right-click on a partition next to the target one and select "Resize/Move". Drag the partition's boundary to free up space, making sure to leave enough unallocated space behind the target partition, then click "OK".

Step 2: Extend the target partition.

Right-click the partition you want to expand, and select “Resize/Move.”

Drag the target partition handle to the unallocated space to extend the partition.

Step 3: Save all changes.

Click the Run Task button and click Apply to save all changes.

All these partition master tools' features and functionalities make it the go-to option for managing partitions on your Windows 11 computer. Be sure to give it a try! Share this article to let more users know about the tool and learn how to manage their partitions.

How to Merge Partitions in Windows 11 Using Disk Management

Another method related to merging partitions in Windows 11 is by using Disk Management. Regardless of whether the partitions you want to merge are adjacent or not, this feature can combine them in just minutes. Disk Management first requires you to delete the target partition to create unallocated space since it merges partitions by expanding the source partition using the unallocated space.

As this method involves deleting partitions, make sure to back up your data first to avoid any potential loss. To back up your data, you can use any free backup software or manually copy the files. After backing up, follow these steps to merge partitions in Windows 11 using Disk Management:

Step 1: Press "Windows + R" keys simultaneously to open the "Run" box.

Step 2: Type “diskmgmt.msc” in the “Run” dialog box and click “OK” to open the “Disk Management” window.

Step 3: Right-click the target partition and select "Delete Volume." Click "Yes" when prompted.

Step 4: Right-click on the source partition and select the “Extend Volume” option.

Step 5: Click Next in the Extend Volume Wizard.

Step 6: Specify the amount of space you want to allocate, then click “Next.”

Note: You might be confused by the options in the Choose a disk window. For your reference, the Max available space is the total amount of unallocated space on the disk.

Step 7: Click “Next” > “Finish” and wait for the configuration to complete.

"Here's how to merge partitions in Windows 11 using Disk Management! Just remember to back up all your data before trying this."

Merge partitions in Windows 11 without losing data

That's all about how to merge two hard drive partitions in Windows 11 using Partition Master Tool and Disk Management! Whichever method you choose, you'll get a perfect result. However, if you're looking for a more reliable option, Partition Master Tool is a great choice since this tool allows you to merge partitions under three different options without data loss. So, choose Partition Master Tool to get the best partition merging experience on Windows 11.