How to merge two partitions in windows 11/10 without losing data?

 This is a simple way to merge two partitions in Windows 11/10:

https://www.gicmodo.com/how-to-merge-two-partitions

Hey! Merging two partitions on Windows sounds straightforward, but there are a few gotchas and downsides you should keep in mind — from my own experience and just general know-how. Here’s the lowdown:

If you delete a partition to merge, any data on that partition is gone unless you back it up first. So, if you forget to save important stuff, it’s a big bummer. Windows Disk Management only allows merging adjacent partitions. If the partitions aren’t next to each other, you’re out of luck without third-party tools.

Messing around with partitions can be tricky. Accidentally deleting the wrong one or messing up the process can cause headaches or data loss. If you’re merging system or boot partitions, it can sometimes cause boot problems or instability if not done carefully.

After merging, you can’t easily split the partition back unless you back up and reformat, which is a pain. Merging partitions doesn’t really improve performance — it just consolidates space. But if you’re not careful, it could cause fragmentation or other issues.

In short: Be super careful, back up everything, and maybe consider third-party partition tools if you need more flexibility. Merging two partitions can be handy, but it’s not without its risks!

As far as i know, Windows Disk Management is pretty limited if you are going to merge two partitions without losing data—unless you use third-party tools, you can only merge neighboring partitions. Trying to merge non-adjacent ones without the right software will just give you errors or refuse to work. If your partitions aren’t next to each other, plan to move or delete partitions first.

It sounds obvious, but double-check which partition you're deleting. Accidentally deleting your C: drive or system partition can be disastrous. Take your time and verify which partition is which. Avoid merging system or recovery partitions unless you really know what you're doing. These are often critical for Windows recovery, and messing with them can make your system unbootable.

If you are going to merge two partitions without losing data on Windows computer. Please make sure no files or programs are running from the partition you're deleting or shrinking. Close everything first, or Windows might block the operation. If you’re using third-party tools, read their instructions carefully. Some tools might have quirks or limitations, like not supporting certain file systems or partition sizes. In my experience, taking your time, backing up, and double-checking before hitting "delete" or "extend" saves a lot of headaches later. Merging is powerful but can turn into a disaster if you're careless.

To merge two partitions on Windows computer, you typically need to delete one of the partitions and then extend the other to include the freed space. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Using Windows Disk Management
1. Open Disk Management:
* Press Win + R, type diskmgmt.msc, and press Enter.

2. Identify the partitions:
* Find the two partitions you want to merge. Ensure one is adjacent to the other.

3. Delete the partition to merge:
* Right-click on the partition you want to delete (the one you want to merge into the other).
* Select Delete Volume.
* Confirm the deletion. This will turn that space into Unallocated.

4. Extend the remaining partition:
* Right-click on the partition you want to keep.
* Select Extend Volume.
* Follow the wizard to merge two partitions on Windows computer.

There are a few things you should pay attention to when using the cmd (diskpart) to merge two partitions in Windows 11 or Windows 10.

Do NOT merge partitions without backing up data

DiskPart deletes the partition you want to remove, erasing all data on it.

Always back up important files before deleting or modifying partitions.

Do NOT try to extend a partition into non-adjacent unallocated space

DiskPart’s extend command only works if the unallocated space is immediately after (to the right of) the partition you want to extend.

If unallocated space is not contiguous or on the left side, DiskPart can’t extend.

Do NOT delete the wrong partition

Double-check partition numbers and sizes before deleting.

Accidentally deleting the wrong partition can cause data loss and system instability.

Do NOT merge partitions with different file systems

You cannot merge partitions formatted with different file systems (e.g., NTFS and FAT32).

Both partitions should ideally be the same type (usually NTFS).

Do NOT merge system or boot partitions carelessly

Merging or deleting system partitions (like the C: drive or EFI system partition) can make your system unbootable.

Avoid modifying system-critical partitions unless you fully understand the consequences.

In short, please don't forget to backup the data before merging two partitions without losing data in Windows 11/10. 

The built-in diskpart utility is a free command line (cmd) tool you can use for merging two partitions on any Windows 11 and Windows 10 computer. It will delete one partition and then extending the other to use the freed space.

How to merge two partitions using cmd in Windows 11/10

Open a new command prompt window and enter the following command to open diskpart utility.

diskpart

List disks and select disk for merging two partitions without losing data.

list disk

Identify the disk that contains the partitions you want to merge. Suppose it’s Disk 0, then type:

select disk 0

List partitions on the target disk.

list partition

Identify the two partitions you want to merge. For example, Partition 1 and Partition 2.

You can only extend a partition into unallocated space directly after deleting an adjacent partition. To delete Partition 2 (for example), type:

select partition 2
delete partition

Warning: This will delete all data on Partition 2.

Now select Partition 1 to extend it into the newly unallocated space:

select partition 1
extend

DiskPart will extend Partition 1 to include the space that was previously Partition 2.