How to partition a hard drive from Windows 10 without losing data?

Partitioning a hard drive in Windows 10 without losing your data is entirely possible with the right steps. Here's a comprehensive guide to help you partition a hard drive from Windows 10 without losing data.

Step 1: Before making any changes to your hard drive, it's crucial to back up your important files. You can back up your data using an external hard drive, USB flash drive, or cloud storage services like Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive.

Step 2: Press Win + X on your keyboard and select Disk Management from the menu. Once Disk Management is open, you'll see a graphical representation of your hard drives and their partitions.

Step 3: To create a new partition, you first need to shrink the existing one to free up space. In the Disk Management window, right-click on the partition you want to shrink (usually the C: drive) and select Shrink Volume.

Step 4: The system will query the volume for available shrink space. After a moment, you'll see the total size before shrink, the size available to shrink, and the amount you want to shrink. Enter the amount of space to shrink in megabytes (MB).

Step 5: With the unallocated space ready, you can now create a new partition now. Right-click on the unallocated space and select New Simple Volume. The New Simple Volume Wizard will open. Click Next. Specify the volume size. Click Next. Assign a drive letter of your choice and click Next.

Step 6: After completing the wizard, the new partition should appear in Disk Management and File Explorer with the assigned drive letter and name.

Step 7: Choose the file system (typically NTFS for Windows), set the allocation unit size to Default, and you can also name the volume (e.g., "Games" or "Work"). Ensure the Perform a quick format option is checked for faster setup, then click Next. Review your settings and click Finish to create the partition.

By following these steps carefully, you can successfully partition Windows 10 hard drive without losing any data. Taking the time to back up and prepare ensures a smooth and safe partitioning process.