How to Extend C Drive in Windows 10 Without Formatting

By Andy Samuel to Partition Manager | 2023-05-22
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On Windows 10/11, the operating system gives users the liberty to manage partitions, including actions like creation and deletion. A partition is a logical division of space on a physical storage disk with a specific file system and settings, and that is shown to the user as a separate drive.

When a space on our drive becomes useless, we may learn how to delete partition to recover the space and increase the size of another partition. This guide will take you through the various steps to delete partition Windows 10 on an internal drive using several in-built Windows utilities and powerful third-party software.

Part 1. Why extend C drive in Windows 10?

Extend c drive windows 10 might be a smart move for several reasons.

Increased Storage Capacity

By extending the C drive, you have more room to fit your expanding library of documents, applications, and data.

Enhanced System Performance

Performance might suffer if capacity on the C drive runs out.

Data preservation

Extending the C disk preserves your current data rather than formatting or reinstalling the operating system.

Saving time and Effort

By extending the C drive, time-consuming activities like formatting or reinstallation are no longer necessary.

Part 2. How to extend C drive space in Windows 10?

1. Extend C Drive in Windows 10 with Windows Built-in Tools

The built-in tools offered by the operating system may be used to extend the available space on your C drive in Windows 10. With the help of these programs, you may extend the C drive without having to format it, which makes it an easy way to manage your disc space. Let's see how to increase c drive space in Windows 10.

Way 1: Extend C Drive Windows 10 with adjacent unallocated space via Disk Management

  • Press Win + X and choose Disk Management from the menu.

    Extend C Drive Windows 10 with Disk Management
  • Right-click the partition next to the C disk that has free space. From the context menu, select "Extend Volume".

    Extend C Drive Windows 10 with Disk Management
  • Click Next in the Extend Volume Wizard.

    Extend C Drive Windows 10 with Disk Management
  • Decide how much space you want to add to the C disk. To finish the procedure, click Next and then Finish.

    Extend C Drive Windows 10 with Disk Management
  • The nearby unallocated space will now be added to the C drive to enlarge it.

Way 2: Increase C Drive Space Windows 10 with contiguous unallocated space via Diskaprt Utility

  • Launch Command Prompt as an administrator. Choose "Command Prompt (Admin)" by pressing Win + X.

    Increase C Drive Space Windows 10 with Diskaprt Utility
  • To start the DiskPart utility, type "diskpart" and click Enter.

    Increase C Drive Space Windows 10 with Diskaprt Utility
  • To view a list of volumes, type "list volume" and hit Enter. Choose the volume for the C drive from the list.

    Increase C Drive Space Windows 10 with Diskaprt Utility
  • Type "select volume X" and hit Enter. Replace X with the volume number of the C drive.

    Increase C Drive Space Windows 10 with Diskaprt Utility
  • Press Enter after typing "extend [size=desired size>]. In the absence of a size specification, it will extend to fill the whole space.

     Increase C Drive Space Windows 10 with Diskaprt Utility
  • Hold off till the procedure is over. Once finished, type "exit" and press Enter to close DiskPart.

2. Extend C Drive in Windows 10 with a third-party--PassFab 4EasyPartition

In Windows 10, PassFab 4EasyPartition is the best option for extending your C drive. It provides a hassle-free experience with its simple UI and strong features. The finest aspect is that you can extend the C drive without having to format, protecting your data and saving you precious time.

PassFab 4EasyPartition, you can quickly optimize your storage space whether you decide to resize/move partitions or add a new hard drive. Now Discover the step-by-step process of how to extend c drive in Windows 10 effortlessly.

Way 1: Extend C Drive Without Formatting Using Resize/Move Partition Option

  • Install PassFab 4EasyPartition on your Windows 10 computer and launch it.

  • From the list of accessible partitions, choose the C drive. Look for and select the "Resize/Move Partition" option.

    Extend C Drive Without Formatting with PassFab 4EasyPartition
  • A window displaying the current size and available space will appear. To assign it to the C drive, drag the partition handle in the direction of the available space.

    Extend C Drive Without Formatting with PassFab 4EasyPartition
  • Check the modifications in the preview window to confirm the C drive is the correct size. Select "ok" or "Apply" by clicking.

    Extend C Drive Without Formatting with PassFab 4EasyPartition

Way 2: Increase C Drive space in Windows 10 without formatting by adding a new hard drive (SSD/HDD)

How to extend c drive space? To increase the C drive space in Windows 10 without formatting by adding a new hard drive (SSD/HDD) using PassFab 4EasyPartition's clone feature, follow these steps:

  • Connect your existing drive and the new hard drive (SSD/HDD). On your Windows 10 machine, start PassFab 4EasyPartition.

  • Select the "Clone Disk" option for the clone feature.

    Extend c drive space with PassFab 4EasyPartition
  • Choose the disk you wish to clone as the destination, and then click "Continue" to continue.

    Extend c drive space with PassFab 4EasyPartition
  • A warning pop-up window about risks will appear. To move on to the following stage, click "Sure".

    Extend c drive space with PassFab 4EasyPartition
  • Review the details about the source disc and the target disc in the preview screen before clicking "Start" to begin the disc cloning process.

    Extend c drive space with PassFab 4EasyPartition
  • Successfully clone your disc. A warning pop-up window will appear. To finish the procedure, click "Finish" after clicking "Reload".

    Extend c drive space with PassFab 4EasyPartition

Part 3. Which Method is Best?

Way 1: Extend C Drive via Disk Management
Advance
  • Easy to use and built-in Windows feature.
  • Can extend the C drive by utilizing adjacent unallocated space.
Disadvance
  • Requires unallocated space adjacent to the C drive.
  • Cannot extend the C drive if there is no adjacent unallocated space.
Way 2: Increase C Drive Space via Diskpart Utility
Advance
  • Provides more flexibility in choosing the unallocated space for extension.
  • Can work even if the unallocated space is not adjacent to the C drive.
Disadvance
  • Requires command-line usage and manual diskpart commands.
  • Involves a higher risk of data loss if not executed correctly.
Way 3/4: Extend C Drive via PassFab 4EasyPartition
Advance
  • Allows you to extend the C drive without formatting or losing data.
  • Provides a graphical interface for ease of use.
  • Provides a significant increase in storage capacity for the C drive.
  • Preserves existing data on the C drive without the need for complex partitioning.
  • Can improve overall system performance by utilizing a new hard drive.
Disadvance
  • Free software options may have limitations or restrictions.
  • Requires purchasing and installing a new hard drive.

Use of third-party partition management software is an option if you're seeking for another way to extend c drive windows 10. You have access to a number of trustworthy and feature-rich solutions that can assist you in completing this work.

Part 4.Extend C drive in Windows 10 FAQs

Q1: What should I do if I accidentally delete necessary files while attempting to free up space on the C disk?

You can try utilizing data recovery software to restore necessary files if you unintentionally erase them while attempting to clear up space on the C disk. Stop using the disk right away to prevent overwriting the erased files, and if necessary, get expert assistance.

Q2: Why I Can't extend c using disk management?

You might not be able to extend C drive using Disk Management for a few reasons. It can be because specific system files are present, the disk is in an incompatible format, or unallocated space is not nearby.

Q3: Suggestions to Reduce the Possibility of C Drive Full

Consider the following recommendations to lessen the probability that the C drive will fill up: regularly clear out temporary files and unnecessary data, uninstall unused programs, move files to other drives or cloud storage, use disk cleanup tools, and monitor disk space usage to address problems as they arise.

Conclusion

In this article, we go through several methods of how to extend c drive in Windows 10 without having to format it. Effective options include Disk Management, Diskpart Utility, and third-party programs like PassFab 4EasyPartition. Users may extend the storage space on their C drive while maintaining the security of their data and the integrity of their system by using the methods suggested using PassFab 4EasyPartition.

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