Last updated on May 10, 2024

Unallocated space refers to the physical space on a computer that hasn't been assigned yet. It's part of the logical space on the hard drive where the operating system can write to. However, no program has currently written files and data to it. Hence, to make better use of your disk, you might want to create a partition from the unallocated space on Windows 10.

Unallocated Space

If you need to learn how to create a partition from unallocated space, this article offers three of the easiest ways to do it, and you can choose the one that best suits your needs.

You may also like:

How to create a partition from unallocated space

This part will teach you three ways to create a partition from unallocated space. There are two built-in Windows tools and one powerful third-party tool for you to choose from to create a partition from unallocated space.

1. Partition Master Tools - User-friendly and suitable for all users

2. Disk Management - More steps, but suitable for experienced users.

3. Diskpart command - Difficult to use and requires computer knowledge

If you don't have much computer knowledge, we highly recommend using the tool - Free Partition Master. It has a user-friendly interface and can safely and efficiently create a partition from unallocated space. Let's see how to do it with these 3 methods.

Method 1: Create a Partition from Unallocated Space - Using Partition Master Tool

AOMEI Partition Assistant is an all-in-one disk management tool that supports all Windows users. It helps you easily create a partition from unallocated space in just three steps. Download it by clicking the button below and start experiencing its convenience and security.

Step 1. Launch Partition Master. On the main interface, right-click on the unallocated space on the hard drive or external storage device and select "Create".

Step 2. Resize the new partition, select a filesystem (if necessary), a label, etc., and click OK to continue.

Step 3. Click the Run 1 Task button, and then create a new partition by clicking Apply.

Watch this video tutorial to learn how to create partitions on an NTFS, FAT, or EXT file system.

This is an HTML code for embedding a YouTube video. On a webpage, it will display an iframe with a width of 700 pixels and a height of 410 pixels, containing the video player. It allows fullscreen playback, autoplay, clipboard writing, encrypted media, gyroscope, and picture-in-picture features. The video ID is "EudhRqo59bU".

Isn't it easy to create partition with Partition Master? As a professional partition tool, it also has other powerful disk partition functions. Let's learn more about its benefits.

If you have any disk-related issues, you can resort to the Partition Master tool.

Method 2: Create a Partition from Unallocated Space - Disk Management

What is Disk Management? It is a utility provided by Windows to manage disks. It supports creating, formatting, extending, deleting, and shrinking partitions. You can create a new simple volume on Windows 10 with unallocated space. Let's see how to create a new partition in Disk Management.

Step 1: Press the "Windows+R" keys, then type "diskmgmt.msc".

Step 2: Right-click on the unallocated space you want to use and select “New Simple Volume.”

Click "New Simple Volume" Select New Simple Volume

Step 3: Select the size for your new partition and click “Next.”

Set the partition size Set the partition size

Step 4. Select a different drive letter for the disk partition, then click “Next.”

Select the drive letter

Step 5. Choose an appropriate file system format, and perform a quick format.

Select Quick Format

Step 6. Click Finish to create the partition from the unallocated space.

Finish creating the partition

Tip:
You may not be able to select "New Simple Volume" when creating a new partition in Disk Management. This is because you cannot use unallocated space to create a new partition on a 3TB hard drive. You will need to convert MBR to GPT during Windows installation. Please click the link below for solutions to the "New Simple Volume" greyed out issue.
Related Articles

How to Fix "New Simple Volume" Grayed Out in Windows Disk Management

Sometimes, the "New Simple Volume" option is grayed out when you try to create a new partition in Disk Management. You may encounter the "New Simple Volume" grayed out issue.

New Simple Volume Grayed Out

Method 3: Create a Partition from Unallocated Space – Diskpart

In this section, you'll learn an advanced method – using Diskpart commands to create a partition from unallocated space. It offers more functionality than the Disk Management utility but the process is more complex. Be careful not to mix up the syntax parameters when using it. If you want to create a partition from unallocated space via CMD, follow these steps.

Step 1: Press the "Windows+R" keys and type in "cmd

Open the Command Prompt

Step 2: Type "diskpart", and press "Enter".

Step 3. Type each of the following commands and press Enter after each one.

list disk - View all disks
select disk 1 - Choose the unallocated space
create partition primary size=20480 - Adjust the appropriate size for the new partition
assign letter=H - Replace 'H' with your preferred new letter
format fs=ntfs quick - Replace 'ntfs' with another suitable file system format

diskpart command

Step 4. Type exit to finalize the creation of the partition from the unallocated space.

Note:
Diskpart is complicated but a useful tool. You can also use Diskpart to delete all partitions or use Diskpart to merge partitions.

Conclusion

Do you know how to create a partition from unallocated space? This guide offers 3 ways. Diskpart is more for advanced users, and Disk Management can be somewhat complicated. That's why I highly recommend the Partition Master Tool, which is very user-friendly for all levels and can meet your more demands. With it, you can manage your disks and partitions better.

The following sections describe some common issues with unallocated space.

Frequently Asked Questions About Creating Partitions 1. What is unallocated space? Unallocated space refers to an area on a hard drive that is not part of any partition. It usually appears as "No Drive Letter" or "Unallocated" and can be used to create new partitions. 2. How do I know how much unallocated space I have? Within your operating system, you can use disk management tools (such as Disk Management in Windows or Disk Utility on a Mac) to view the distribution of space on your hard drive, including both allocated and unallocated spaces. 3. Why would I need to create a partition from unallocated space? Creating new partitions helps you organize and manage your data more effectively. For example, you can create separate partitions for different types of files like work documents, media files, or games. 4. How do I create a partition in Windows? - Open "Disk Management." - Right-click on the unallocated space and select "New Simple Volume." - Follow the wizard's instructions, specifying the partition size, assigning a drive letter, choosing a file system (like NTFS or FAT32), and completing the creation process. 5. How do I do it on a Mac? - Open "Disk Utility." - Select your hard drive and click the "+" button to create a new partition. - Enter a name for the new partition, choose a file system format (like APFS or HFS+), then click "Apply." 6. Can I merge unallocated space into an existing partition? Yes, but you will need third-party disk management software, as this feature is not directly supported by built-in tools in Windows or Mac. 7. Will creating a partition affect my existing data? If you're only creating a new partition from unallocated space, it won't affect your existing data. However, when adjusting partition sizes, always back up important data to avoid potential data loss. 8. How should I determine the partition size? Partition size should be based on your storage needs and usage habits. Larger partitions are suitable for storing large amounts of data, while smaller ones make it easier to manage and find specific types of files.

If you have further questions about today's topic, consider these three that people often ask, which I hope will be helpful.

1. Does unallocated space count as a partition?

No, unallocated space does not belong to any partition. It is not usable because no program can write data to the unallocated space. If you want to use it, you need to create a new partition. Alternatively, you can extend an existing partition into the unallocated space.

How to add unallocated space to the C drive partition?

You can increase the size of the C drive partition by extending it into unallocated space. You can use the Disk Management tool to do this, but the unallocated space must be adjacent to the target volume. Follow these steps: 1. Right-click on the "Start" button in the bottom left corner of your computer screen and select "Disk Management." 2. In the Disk Management window, locate the C drive partition and check if there is unallocated space right next to it. 3. If the unallocated space is on the right side of the C drive, right-click on the C drive and choose "Extend Volume." 4. In the wizard that appears, follow the on-screen instructions to add the unallocated space to the C drive. 5. Once done, the system will automatically resize the C drive. Please note that if the unallocated space is not to the right of the C drive, you might need to adjust other partitions' sizes to move the unallocated space, which could involve data loss. Therefore, make sure to back up important files before proceeding.

Step 1: Open Disk Management by typing "diskmgmt.msc".

Step 2: Right-click on the C drive and select “Extend Volume”.

Step 3: Follow the Wizard instructions, and click Finish.

3. Can't create a partition from unallocated space?

There can be multiple reasons for being unable to create a partition from unallocated space. If an external device is connected, try removing it. You can inspect the disk size and format. If it's of the MBR type, converting it to GPT will allow you to create more partitions.