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

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!