Fixed: The disk contains the maximum number of partitions

Key points:

This article will delve into the details of how to fix the "The disk contains an maximum number of partitions" error and present three effective solutions.

This article will introduce a simple and user-friendly tool to fix the “The disk already contains the maximum number of partitions” error.

Have you ever encountered the "The disk contains an maximum number of partitions" error? Or do you know how to fix it? Don't worry! This article will help you get rid of this error. But first, we need to figure out what causes this issue.

What causes the "Maximum number of partitions on disk already exists" error?

When you try to create a new volume using the built-in Disk Management tool in Windows, you might receive a warning: “Can't create a new volume in this unallocated space because the disk already contains the maximum number of partitions.”

But what causes this error? Stay tuned to find out.

Reason: MBR disk

This error usually occurs on an MBR disk. But how many partitions can you create on an MBR disk (Master Boot Record)? The partition limit is different between MBR disks and GPT disks. You can only create four primary partitions or three primary partitions plus one extended partition. However, if the maximum number of partitions has been reached, you'll encounter the maximum partition number issue.

If you're interested in the differences between MBR and GPT, click the link below for more information.

However, how to fix the error when the maximum number of partitions has been reached? This article will provide three methods to help you get rid of this error.

Solving the "Disk Contains Maximum Number of Partitions" Error – 3 Ways

As long as you know professional disk management tools like Free Partition Master, it's easy to get rid of this error. This post offers you 3 methods to fix the error that the maximum number of partitions on the disk has been reached.

Solution 1: Convert MBR Disk to GPT

Solution 2: Convert Primary Partition to Logical Partition

Solution 3: Shrink a logical partition to create a new one

Fortunately, once you have the Partition Master tool installed in your computer, you can easily use any of these three methods. The Partition Master tool has several notable features.

So, download it and let's start learning how to use Partition Master to convert MBR to GPT with the first method.

Solution 1: Convert MBR Disk to GPT

The most common solution to this error is to convert MBR to GPT. Don't worry; this process is easy with the help of a tool called MiniTool Partition Wizard. Now, download this tool and follow the guide below.

Fix 2: Convert the primary partition to a logical partition

How to successfully convert the primary partition to a logical partition in the new extended partition? Don't worry; you can also learn more about its powerful features with the help of tools like Partition Master. If you don't understand the specific operations, just follow this step-by-step guide.

Step 1. Download and run Partition Master, then you will get to the "Partition Manager" interface.

Step 2: Right-click the disk partition that you wish to convert, and then click "Advanced". Choose the conversion option:

1. Main to Logic 2. Logic to Main

Step 3: Click the Run 1 Task button and choose Apply to start the conversion.

0:00 - 0:30 Translate the majors into logic; 0:31 - 0:50 translate the logic back into majors.

(This is an embedded code for a YouTube video player displaying a video.)

Solution 3: Shrink the logical partition to create a new one

There is also another solution. If you don't want to convert the disk, you can create a new one by shrinking the logical partition. The Partition Master tool can help you shrink the partition, and with its assistance, you can create a new partition with just a few clicks.

Step 1: Locate and select the partition that you want to shrink.

In the Partition Manager, right-click on the partition you want to shrink and select “Resize/Move”.

Step 2: Resize to Shrink the Partition

Resize the partition by dragging the end of the target partition with your mouse.

You can also adjust the resize bar to shrink the target partition. When you're done, click “OK” to continue.

Third step: Perform the action

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

After you shrink, you'll have unallocated space, and you can create a new partition in that unallocated space, as we'll see in the video.

Conclusions

The disk already contains the maximum number of partitions and you can't create a partition from unallocated space? This article offers 3 solutions to fix this error. Download and install Partition Master, and you can easily make these solutions happen. Below are some FAQs about this topic that might be helpful.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about "The disk contains the maximum number of partitions"

Are you aware of how to fix the “The disk already contains the maximum number of partitions” error? Here, I've listed some other related issues. Read on if you're interested.

1. How many primary partitions can be created on a hard disk?

Usually, if your disk is an MBR disk, you can create up to four primary partitions. Alternatively, you can create three primary partitions and one extended partition to hold logical drives. If your disk is a GPT disk, you can have up to 128 partitions without distinction between "primary" and "logical" ones. By default, all partitions on a GPT disk are primary.

2. How many partitions can a GPT disk have at most? A GPT (GUID Partition Table) disk can have a maximum of 128 partitions.

The space reserved for partition entries in a GPT disk limits the number of partitions that you can have.

3. Can I have more than four partitions on a hard drive?

Yes, GPT disks allow you to create up to 128 partitions, while MBR allows for three primary partitions and one extended partition. Within the extended partition, you can create multiple logical partitions, as long as you have sufficient free space.