Windows 10: Convert MBR Disk to GPT Disk in Windows 10

How to: Convert MBR Disk to GPT Disk in Windows 10

How to Convert MBR Disk to GPT Disk in Windows 10


GPT (GUID Partition Table) and MBR (Master Boot Record) are two different partition styles that can be used for a disk.

MBR disks use the standard BIOS partition table. GPT disks use unified extensible firmware interface (UEFI).

For more info, see: Windows and GPT FAQ | Microsoft Docs

This tutorial will show you different ways on how to convert a data disk from MBR to GPT in Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.

You must be signed in as an administrator to convert MBR disk to GPT disk.


MBR vs GPT Basic Comparison:

[table][tr][td]MBR[/td] [td]GPT[/td] [/tr] [tr][td]Older partition style.[/td] [td]Newer partition style.[/td] [/tr] [tr][td]All Windows support as data drive.[/td] [td]Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10 support as data drive.[/td] [/tr] [tr][td]All Windows can boot from.[/td] [td]Windows can't boot from unless installed with 64-bit and How to Clean Install Windows 10[/list][/td] [/tr] [tr][td]Supports up to 4 primary partitions, or 3 primary partitions and 1 extended partition with up to 128 logical volumes.[/td] [td]Supports up to 128 primary partitions.[/td] [/tr] [tr][td]Supports up to 2TB for a partition.[/td] [td]Supports up to 256TB for a partition.[/td] [/tr] [tr][td]Removable media is MBR by default.[/td] [td]Removable media cannot convert to GPT.[/td] [/tr] [/table]

*Warning To be extra safe, it is always recommended to backup anything you do not want to lose first.


CONTENTS:

• Option One: Convert MBR Disk to GPT Disk using MiniTool Partition Wizard Free without Data Loss
• Option Two: Convert MBR Disk to GPT Disk using EaseUS Partition Master Free without Data Loss
• Option Three: Convert MBR Disk to GPT Disk using Disk Management with Data Loss
• Option Four: Convert MBR Disk to GPT Disk using Diskpart command with Data Loss

OPTION ONE [/i] Convert MBR Disk to GPT Disk using MiniTool Partition Wizard Free without Data Loss

1. If you haven't already, you will need to download and install MiniTool Partition Wizard Free Edition.

2. Open MiniTool Partition Wizard, and click/tap on Launch Application. (see screenshot below)



3. Click/tap on the disk # (ex: Disk 4) of the MBR disk you want to convert to GPT, and click/tap on the Convert MBR Disk to GPT Disk link in the left pane. (see screenshot below)



4. Click/tap on the Apply (check) button in the toolbar. (see screenshot below)



5. Click/tap on Yes to confirm. (see screenshot below)



6. The data disk will now start converting from MBR to GPT. (see screenshot below)



7. Click/tap on OK when it has successfully finished. (see screenshot below)



8. You can now close MiniTool Partition Wizard if you like.




OPTION TWO [/i] Convert MBR Disk to GPT Disk using EaseUS Partition Master Free without Data Loss
1. If you haven't already, you will need to download and install EaseUS Partition Master Free.

2. Open EaseUS Partition Master.

3. Click/tap on the disk # (ex: Disk 3) of the MBR disk you want to convert to GPT, and click/tap on the Convert MBR to GPT link in the left pane. (see screenshot below)



4. Click/tap on the Apply (check) button in the toolbar. (see screenshot below)



5. Click/tap on Yes to confirm. (see screenshot below)



6. The data disk will now start converting from MBR to GPT. (see screenshot below)



7. Click/tap on OK when it has successfully finished. (see screenshot below)



8. You can now close EaseUS Partition Master if you like.




OPTION THREE [/i] Convert MBR Disk to GPT Disk using Disk Management with Data Loss

*Warning You will lose all data on the disk you are converting using this option.

1. Press the Win+R keys to open Run, type diskmgmt.msc in Run, and click/tap on OK to open Disk Management.

2. In the disk (ex: Disk 3) that you want to convert, right click or press and hold on each partition (volume) on the disk, and click/tap on Delete Volume until the disk shows as unallocated. (see screenshot above)

*note You can only convert a disk from MBR to GPT partition style in Disk Management if the disk does not contain any partitions or volumes.




3. Right click or press and hold on the disk # (ex: Disk 3) box of the MBR disk you want to convert to GPT, and click/tap on Convert to MBR Disk. (see screenshot below)



4. You can now create a New Simple Volume on the unallocated GPT disk. (see screenshot below)







OPTION FOUR [/i] Convert MBR Disk to GPT Disk using Diskpart command with Data Loss

*Warning You will lose all data on the disk you are converting using this option.

Be sure you verify the correct disk number of the disk you want to convert from Disk Management (diskmgmt.msc) before starting this option.

1. Open either an command prompt at boot for what you want to use.

2. Type the command below, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
diskpart
3. Type the command below, and press Enter.
list disk
4. Type the command below, and press Enter.
select disk #

*note Substitute # in the command above with the actual disk number (ex: "3") of the disk you want to convert.

For example: select disk 3
5. Type the command below, and press Enter.
clean
6. Type the command below, and press Enter.
convert gpt
7. You can now create a New Simple Volume on the unallocated GPT disk.





That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials

• How to Check if Disk is MBR or GPT in Windows
• How to Convert GPT Disk to MBR Disk in Windows 10
• How to Convert Windows 10 from Legacy BIOS to UEFI without Data Loss
• How to Convert NTFS to FAT32 without Data Loss in Windows
• How to Convert FAT32 to NTFS without Data Loss in Windows

:)

 

3TB Drive format windows 10 not working

This is because your hard disk is MBR disk, you can check it in Disk Management.
which only supports 2 TB drive. so the only way to get your space backup is to convert your disk back to GPT disk. Disk management can only convert a disk to MBR when it is empty. Therefore, you need a third party software to

convert MBR to GPT on Windows 10 without affecting the OS, such as AOMEI Partition Assistant.after installing this software, the Convert mBR/GPT wizard will guide you through the process. How to Convert GPT to MBR or Convert MBR to GPT without Losing Data?

 

Windows Installation

On EFI systems, Windows can only be installed to GPT disks. If you use MBR disk, you will receive this error message: Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk has an MBR partition table. You can convert MBR to GPT and try it again.

 

Hello Sam, *Smile

That is a good option for the OS drive.

*Arrow Convert Windows 10 from Legacy BIOS to UEFI without Data Loss Installation Upgrade Tutorials